Star Citizen’s annual Ship Showdown is back, and this year’s celebration comes with a Free Fly event from August 26 to September 2, giving everyone the chance to play for free and fly the community’s top eight ships. Players have already nominated their favorites in the Community Call phase, sharing an incredible range of original creative submissions including cinematic videos, catchy songs, hand-crafted miniatures, stunning photos, and more, making it one of the most impressive fan showcases of the year.
Voting kicked off August 18, with the top ships going head-to-head across eight categories. Rewards will be given out based on which ships rise to the top, from exclusive paints and posters for the finalists to a championship pennant for the ultimate winner. What better way to choose your favorite than by jumping in during Free Fly week and taking them all for a spin.
The Free Fly also offers the perfect chance to experience Alpha 4.3.0: Dark Territory, the latest update to Star Citizen, featuring:
- Onyx Facilities – Massive, multi-wing research complexes, long abandoned but filled with secrets. Players will recover valuable scientific data, solve environmental puzzles, and navigate stealth encounters to claim unique rewards.
- Dynamic Snow Weather Effects – Adds further immersion to planetary exploration.
- Kruger L-21 Wolf – A light fighter blending the legacy of 20th-century warbirds with the interstellar heroes of tomorrow.
With their eerie atmosphere, investigative gameplay, and layered objectives, Onyx Facilities mark a major leap forward in Star Citizen’s storytelling and gameplay depth.
When:
Free Fly access runs from 4:00 p.m. UTC on Tuesday, August 26, to 4:00 p.m. UTC on Tuesday, September 2.
Where:
Sign up for a free account or log in at play.sc to download the Star Citizen client to and join the Ship Showdown Free Fly event. Vote for your favorite ships on the official Ship Showdown page, and explore Alpha 4.3.0: Dark Territory on the dedicated patch page.
For full details on downloading and playing Star Citizen, visit the official website. For continued updates, follow Star Citizen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
Media Contact: Cloud Imperium Games PR Team
Email: press@cloudimperiumgames.com
About Cloud Imperium Games
Cloud Imperium Games is the independent studio behind Star Citizen and Squadron 42, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of game development and interactive storytelling. Founded by legendary game designer Chris Roberts, CIG is committed to creating the most ambitious space simulation universe ever built.