Star Citizen Is Free to Play Starting Today — Here’s How to Jump In

Star Citizen just swung the hangar doors wide open. Cloud Imperium Games has kicked off its annual in-lore Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE 2955), and the whole thing comes with a full two-week free fly that runs through December 3, 2025. If you’ve ever wondered what 13 years and over $885 million in crowdfunding buys when a game is still technically in alpha, this is your no-risk peek. No game package required, no content paywalls during the event. Just jump in and see what the fuss is about.

What the expo actually is

IAE 2955 turns Orison’s Vision Center in the Stanton system into a giant, floating showroom. Each day, a different manufacturer takes over the floor with massive displays, playable ships, and themed sets that range from luxe to straight-up military recruitment energy. You can walk around everything, climb inside cockpits, and, most importantly, rent the ships for free from kiosks and take them out for a spin.

More than 150 ships and ground vehicles will rotate through the event. Names you’ll recognize if you’ve been orbiting this project for a while: Roberts Space Industries, Aegis Dynamics, Anvil Aerospace, Origin Jumpworks, Drake Interplanetary, and more. The last four days, November 30 through December 3, flip the switch to let you try basically everything at once.

And yes, that includes the big-ticket toys that usually cost hundreds of real dollars, like the newly flyable RSI Perseus heavy gunship. If you want to find out what kind of ship and playstyle actually clicks with you before spending anything, this is the way.

How to jump in quickly

Setup is simple, the download is not. Expect 100+ GB and anywhere from minutes to over an hour depending on your connection. Here’s the fast path:

• Create a free account on the Roberts Space Industries site with your email.
• Verify your email via the confirmation link.
• Download and install the RSI Launcher from the download page.
• Log into the launcher with your new account.
• Install Star Citizen through the launcher (make room for 100+ GB).
• Launch the game, pick a starting location, and customize your character.
• Run the basic tutorial to learn movement, interaction, and flight controls.
• Optional: there’s a way to enlist a veteran player as a personal guide; check RSI’s site for how that mentor program works.

Reality check before you spawn

This is a persistent alpha with a lot going on: multiple star systems, a bunch of professions, fairly deep flight and combat systems, and survival mechanics that punish sloppy play. It will absolutely throw a ton at you right away. Cloud Imperium has an official New Player Guide that covers core mechanics, good starter activities, and pitfalls to avoid. It’s genuinely worth a read before your first session and will save you hours of confusion.

Dates that matter (and why you should not wait)

The free fly is live now and ends December 3, 2025. Because there’s a learning curve, the earlier you get in, the more you’ll actually see. If you only log in on the final weekend, you’ll have everything unlocked but less time to figure out what you’re doing.

Bottom line: whether you’ve been watching from a distance or only know Star Citizen by reputation, IAE 2955 is the cleanest, cheapest way to kick the tires. Download it, rent a few ships, and find out if this thing is your kind of chaos.