Current Gameplay

For Current gameplay, Star Citizen 3.1 (And subsequent minor patches 3.1.1 and 3.1.2) is a major release of the Star Citizen Persistent Universe. In this universe, up to 50 players in a single server may walk through stations, fly their ships, and explore the Stanton system.

Note: Star Citizen is still in early Alpha, meaning that you will experience game crashes, instability, low FPS, broken mechanics, and unpleasant player interactions. Please be sure to reproduce and report any significant bugs and issues on the Star Citizen Issue Council

Purchase
Guide:Pledging Entry into the Star Citizen Universe requires a "Game Package". This package can be purchased on the Roberts Space Industries website. From there, purchase either the Mustang Alpha (Small, light starter craft) or the Aurora MR (Tough, versatile starter) game package for $45 USD.

You may decide to add-on the single-player Squadron 42 package for $15 USD at this point. Then, you may download the installer and the game and join the universe.

System Requirements

 * Windows 7 (64bit) with Service Pack 1, Windows 8 (64bit), Windows 10 - Anniversary Update (64bit)
 * DirectX 11 Graphics Card with 4GB RAM
 * Quad Core CPU
 * 16GB+ RAM
 * SSD strongly recommended

Arena Commander
(belongs to the multiplayer part of the game) (not totally balanced, some minor bugs - but runs smoothly)

(approx. 3h playtime to learn the basics, a lot more if you want to master your ship)

For all modes you can select different ships and change their loadout

Multiplayer
Vanduul swarm/ Pirate swarm (fight waves of enemy ships, 1-4 players) 2 maps Battle royal (fight 15 other player ships) 2 maps Free flight (no rules, up to 16 players) 2 maps Classic race (race against 3 other players) 1 map, 3 different courses Squadron battle (Team deathmatch 8 vs. 8) 2 maps Singleplayer

Free Flight (explore the maps alone) 2 maps Pirate-/ Vanduul swarm (fight waves of enemy ships with 3 NPCs) 2 maps Classic Race (race alone against the clock) 1 map, 3 different courses Private custom match (play with friends only)

Battle royal (fight up to 15 other player ships) 2 maps Free Flight (no rules, up to 16 players) 2 maps Pirate-/ Vanduul Swarm (fight waves of enemy ships with friends and NPCs) 2 maps Squadron Battle (Team deathmatch up to 8 vs. 8) 2 maps Classic Race (race against 3 other players) 1 map, 3 different courses Earn REC-credits by playing multiplayer games, to rent ships and equipment for Arena Commander

Flight mechanics and ship handling are more on the simulation side, learning to fly your ship takes some hours of practise

Star Marine
(belongs to the multiplayer part of the game) (Not totally balanced, minor bugs, FPS drops)

(approx. 1h playtime, very standard shooter at the moment)

For all modes you can change loadout

Multiplayer (2 different maps)

Last stand (domination mode with up to 12 vs. 12) Elimination (free for all with up to 24 players) Private (2 different maps)

Last stand (domination mode with up to 12 vs. 12) Elimination (free for all with up to 24 players)

Hangar
(some minor bugs and glitches but runs smoothly)

(approx. 10min - 1h playtime to see everything, depends on how many ships you have)

Walk around your hangar

Look at and access your ship

Decorate your hangar with flair items

Only singleplayer

It is currently not possible to start your ship from the hangar

Universe
(belongs to the multiplayer part of the game) (very buggy, crashes often, low FPS and FPS drops due to netcode and server restrictions are normal)

(approx. 3h playtime for just the missions, additional a lot more if you like to explore everything)

Planets
Crusader (gas giant, not landable)

Moons
Yela (fully explorable)

Outposts to explore and trade with asteroid belt

Cellin (fully explorable)

Outposts to explore and trade with Daymar (fully explorable)

Outposts to explore and trade with Delamar (fully explorable)

Outposts to explore and trade with Levski station

Space stations
Port Olisar (fully explorable)

Shops: merchants, weapons, clothes, components Spawn ships

GrimHEX (fully explorable)

Shops: merchants, weapons, clothes, components Spawn ships

Security Post Kareah (partially explorable)

Hack computer to lose crime-stat

Covalex Hub Gundo (partially explorable)

Short story driven mission

Cry-Astro Service stations

Repair and refill your ship Comm arrays

Hack or repair missions Missions

Simple delivery Search and investigate Reputation

Simple reputation system to gain access to different missions

Beacons
Make contracts with other players (combat assistance, personal transport) Ships

Change loadout
Equipment

Change personal loadout

50 players per server
Fly together in multicrew ships, walk around inside the ship, man a turret

Ships
(all ships are work in progress everything can and will change)

All ships (not all are currently buyable) https://robertsspaceindustries.com/ship-matrix

Ship status (can I fly them already?) https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/1/thread/concept-ship-loaners

The Future
Development roadmap for 2018

Primary Source copied with author permission.