Star Citizen Alpha 4.0 will be released as a “preview” version that will run alongside the ongoing Alpha 3.24.3

CIG has promised this again and again Star Citizen would receive its Alpha 4.0 release before the end of this year, and technically speakingThis goal has been achieved: the new alpha build is actually live, but as Chris Roberts explains in a speech in the chairman’s letter, it is the 4.0 preview and not the full build replacement that the studio usually releases.

Roberts explains that Alpha 4.0 will run alongside the currently released Alpha 3.24.3, which is happening because not all of the game’s mission types could be carried over from the latter version into the former, but CIG needed the high traffic of a Live Alpha 4.0 in order to to fully test the server meshing. However, this means that once work on 4.0 is fully completed, the progression from Alpha 3.24.3 will not be carried over, but character progression in 4.0 will be retained.

While this means managing two alphas of the same game at the same time, Roberts tries to present this in a way that gives players a choice SC Experience they want. “For the first time in our history, we will be running two live releases in parallel, each with its own progression and consistency,” the speech reads. “This means you have a unique opportunity to decide which version you want to immerse yourself in, at least for a short time.”

Roberts also talks about CIG’s plans for 2025 in his address, with a commitment to “decouple feature development from content creation and general fixes” so that new feature creation doesn’t hold up new content or destabilize live play. This is done by using the Tech Preview server and opening a new experimental public test server when a new feature is “deemed complex or risky enough to require targeted testing.” Roberts claims that this approach will free developers to focus more on quality of life and playability in the future.

As for the content of Alpha 4.0, this of course includes server networking as well as the expensive addition of the Pyro system with all its different planets, locations, currently available missions and gameplay features such as the PvPvE battle zone. The patch also brings improvements to the Carrack ship and releases the brand new Mirai Guardian fighter ship. The patch notes detail all additions and updates.

Last week also saw the sandbox’s festive Luminalia event, which primarily focused on seasonal cargo delivery missions, an 11-day Advent calendar promising free gifts, and a video clip contest.