When the UEE Navy pulled Invictus from Stanton, Drake CEO Anden Arden turned it into an opportunity. DefenseCon 2956 opened its doors in Star Citizen, running through May 27 with a rotating manufacturer showcase and new ships launching throughout the event. Better yet, the game is free to play through May 27, so there's no reason not to show up.
Who:
Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), developer of Star Citizen and Squadron 42, is an independent studio dedicated to delivering AAA games outside the established publisher system. Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, CIG is shifting the paradigm of game development towards a more inclusive process, offering its global community an unprecedented level of visibility and engagement by granting ongoing access to a product in active development.
What:
DefenseCon 2956 is Drake's answer to the UEE Navy stepping back from Stanton. Set against the backdrop of a grinding Vanduul War and rising crime across the system, the event leans into the spectacle: big ships, loud music, and the kind of attitude that Drake has never been shy about. A rotating lineup of manufacturers takes the spotlight each day at the Bevic Convention Center, with over 100 ships available to rent and fly for free via in-game kiosks. The Free Fly event also lands the day after the release of Alpha 4.8, which introduced Tactical Strike Groups, a new large-scale mission built for coordinated fleet combat.
When:
DefenseCon 2956 is live, and its accompanying Free Fly will run from May 15 at 4:00 pm UTC through May 27.
Where:
The Bevic Convention Center in Area18, ArcCorp. Visit defensecon.com for the full manufacturer schedule and event details.
Click above to watch the DefenseCon 2956 trailer
Highlights for DefenseCon 2956 include:
- Fly for Free: Star Citizen is free to download and play from May 15 at 4:00 pm UTC to May 27. Over 100 ships are available to rent and fly.
- Drake Opens DefenseCon with Two New Ships (May 14-15): The Ironclad is Drake's heavy freight juggernaut: over 2,200 SCU of cargo space, a detachable command module, and enough turrets to make it a credible threat on long deep-space hauls. Its sibling, the Ironclad Assault, trades some of the cargo room for 34 jump seats, bays for up to four armored vehicles, and a built-in refuel and repair bay. A serious option for anyone running hot combat drops. Joining them on day one is the Pitbull, Drake's stripped-back solo snub fighter built entirely around putting fire on target.
- Origin M80 Makes Its Debut (May 16-17): Origin's first heavy fighter for solo pilots arrives during Origin's manufacturer days. Sleek, fast, and deceptively dangerous, the M80 keeps its weapons retracted until it's ready to use them, all tucked behind a finish that wouldn't look out of place in a showroom.
- MISC Starlite Takes to the Skies (May 18-19): Not every ship at DefenseCon is built for combat. The Starlite is MISC's new solo-flyable light refueler, designed for players who keep the rest of the fleet in the air. It uses a rear-mounted fuel arm to top up other ships mid-flight.
- Aegis Tiburon Arrives Built to Kill Capital Ships (May 20-21): The Tiburon is a heavy gunship with a loadout built for one job: taking down the biggest ships in the 'verse. Five turrets, a deadly beam weapon, and enough missiles to ruin anyone's day make it one of the most purpose-built anti-capital platforms in the game.
- Anvil Reveals the Odin Battlecruiser Concept (May 24-25): The most ambitious ship concept CIG has ever put forward sits between the Javelin and the Bengal in scale. Twenty-three turrets, ten torpedo launchers, seven hangars, and 8,000 SCU of cargo. Five exclusive paints are included with the concept pledge.
- Tactical Strike Groups in Alpha 4.8: Released yesterday, Alpha 4.8 adds the Tactical Strike Group mission to the game. Players are hired to investigate a missing pilot and quickly find themselves coordinating a multi-phase assault: defending an Idris under fire, running a trench against capital-class turrets, infiltrating a station via EVA, escorting a hostage out, and fighting off a Vanduul ambush.
- Not Just a Drake Show: DefenseCon 2956 may carry Drake's name and colors, but the manufacturer spotlight rotates daily across a lineup that includes MISC, Mirai, Greycat, Aegis, Crusader, Tumbril, Anvil, and more. 34 ships and vehicles are on the show floor throughout the event, with a wider selection at rental kiosks changing almost every day. If a ship has caught your eye recently, there's a good chance it shows up here.
- Twitch Drops: Watch four hours of any Twitch Drops-enabled Star Citizen stream during DefenseCon 2956 and earn a Murray Cup themed Flight Suit, delivered straight to your hangar.
- Referral Rewards: Veteran players who refer new pilots during DefenseCon 2956 receive a Drake Dragonfly with Coalfire Paint. New recruits get a DefenseCon T-Shirt, Hat, and cargo pants for free.
For full details on the DefenseCon 2956 schedule and manufacturer showcase, visit defensecon.com.
Follow Star Citizen on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch for the latest from DefenseCon 2956.
Media Contact: Cloud Imperium Games PR Team
Email: press@cloudimperiumgames.com