Manchester, UK — March 26, 2026 — Cloud Imperium Games today released Star Citizen Alpha 4.7: Welcome to the Rock. The update introduces Operation Breaker Stations, a new multi-stage mission in which players restore a derelict asteroid mining facility, fire a colossal laser array deep into the rock, and descend into the asteroid itself to extract what’s inside. Plus, Crafting T0 arrives as the first implementation of a full player crafting system, a highly anticipated milestone for the Star Citizen community.
Operation Breaker Stations: Restore, Fight, Mine
Operation Breaker Stations takes players to the Keeger Belt, where Shubin’s recently acquired QV Breaker stations sit abandoned and unpowered, their rock-cracking capabilities long dormant. To unlock what’s within, players must bring the facility back to life.
There’s no easy way in. With no hangar access, the only entry point is a landing pad next to the maintenance port. From there, players suit up and make their way inside on foot, navigating icy caverns to locate the central power core. It’s not unoccupied. The Claw Salamanders, a gang of hardened deep-space scavengers who thrive in cold, remote environments, have taken up residence throughout the station. Valakkar, in a new icy variant, roam the caverns. Getting through takes coordination, with miners, haulers, crafters, and fighters each having a distinct role to play.
Restoring power opens up the rest of the facility, including an operations center and a tram line running to the laser array. Players can craft lens components throughout the station to strengthen the laser’s output. More lenses and mirrors mean a more powerful beam, deeper drilling into the asteroid, and access to rarer resources. Once the laser breaks through, players descend into the rock to extract what lies within.
Players can acquire Exclusive rights for a private run or Shared rights, which allow other groups into the same station simultaneously, opening the door to PvP encounters. The mission is fully replayable.
Crafting T0: The Beginning of Something Bigger
Crafting T0 marks the first step in what Cloud Imperium Games plans to be a deep, long-term crafting system for Star Citizen. Players can now craft FPS weapons and armor using earnable blueprints, with material quality directly shaping the stats of the finished item. Any item with a blueprint can also be dismantled for materials.
Rare minerals and blueprints earned through Operation Breaker Stations give crafting immediate purpose from day one, though blueprints can also be acquired through other missions across the verse. It’s an early glimpse of how CIG intends crafting to sit at the center of Star Citizen’s broader gameplay loops as the system expands in future updates.
RSI Aurora Mk II: A New Era
From the Zeus that first carried humanity into space to the Aurora Mk I that put the stars within reach of every pilot, RSI has been there at every step. The Aurora Mk II is the next one, a new starter ship built for the evolving scope of the verse. The Mk II introduces a modular system that lets pilots adapt the ship to their playstyle from day one. The Cargo Module adds 6 SCU of additional storage on top of the ship's base 2 SCU, enough to start building a career in the cargo market. The Combat Module arms the ship with additional missile racks and a third shield generator for those bound for more perilous territory.
Click above to watch the Star Citizen - Alpha 4.7: Welcome to the Rock trailer
For more information, including how to download and play Star Citizen Alpha 4.7: Welcome to the Rock, visit the official website. For updates, follow Star Citizen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, X, and YouTube.
About Star Citizen
Star Citizen is a space simulation developed by Cloud Imperium Games, set in a persistent universe with a player-driven economy, multi-crew ship gameplay, and first-person combat. The game is in active development, with regular alpha updates expanding gameplay and the playable universe.
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.
Media Contact: Cloud Imperium Games PR Team
Email: press@cloudimperiumgames.com