CUSTOMIZE YOUR DREAM COCKPIT WITH PILOT-GAMING’S NEW CUSTOM PANEL DESIGN SERVICE!
CUSTOMIZE YOUR DREAM COCKPIT WITH PILOT-GAMING’S NEW CUSTOM PANEL DESIGN SERVICE!
Getting started in Star Citizen can seem intimidating given the complexity of this ambitious space universe. This guide will walk you through, step by step, to turn your first hour of gameplay into a fascinating rather than frustrating experience.
Step 1: Understand Where You Are
You wake up in your habitat (hab) in one of the starting space stations. Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the basic controls: WASD keys to move, the mouse to look around.
Crucial Tip: Press F1 to open your mobiGlas, your multi-function personal interface. It is your central tool for accessing missions, managing your inventory, and navigating the universe.
Step 2: Your First Mission
In the mobiGlas (under the “Contracts” tab), look for a simple initiation mission, typically a local package delivery. These missions are designed to teach you the basics organically:
Navigating a station
Interacting with terminals
Accessing the spaceport
Calling your ship
Objective: This first mission will earn you your first aUEC while familiarizing you with the fundamental mechanics.
Step 3: Taking the Controls
Once at the spaceport, use an ASOP terminal to call your starter ship (Aurora MR or Mustang Alpha). Head to the indicated hangar.
Essential controls for takeoff:
R: Turn engines on/off
N: Raise/lower landing gear
Spacebar: Ascend (with engines in takeoff mode)
Ctrl: Descend
Hold Spacebar: Vertical boost
Note for beginners: Simultaneously managing multiple systems (power, shields, weapons, landing gear) can be confusing at first. If you plan to play Star Citizen seriously, the General Systems panel from Pilot Gaming centralizes all these functions onto a physical panel, turning a gymnastics of keyboard shortcuts into intuitive and immediate controls. It’s an investment that significantly reduces the learning curve and improves your gameplay comfort from the very first hours.
Step 4: Your First Quantum Jump
To travel quickly through space:
Press B to enter Quantum Drive mode.
Hold B to align your ship with the destination.
Press B again to initiate the jump.
It’s during this first jump that the magic of Star Citizen truly happens: watching a planet grow from a pinpoint of light to a 1:1 scale world is an unforgettable moment.
Star Citizen is in active development. You will encounter bugs. Here are the most common ones and their solutions:
The 3 Common Problems
The “Bed Logout Bug”: You log out in your ship’s bed but reappear elsewhere or lose your gear.
Solution: Prefer logging out in space stations until this feature is more stable.
Spontaneous Fatal Falls in Stations
Solution: Avoid running near stairs and elevators. Walk carefully in high-risk areas.
Ship Disappears or is Destroyed for No Reason
Solution: Use the insurance claim system via the ASOP terminals. Your ship will be returned to you after a short delay.
Mindset to Adopt: These bugs are not personal failures but temporary aspects of the alpha. Reporting issues through the Issue Council makes you an active participant in the development process.
The New Pilots Hub
The official RSI website offers a dedicated resource center with:
Short videos on specific actions
A beginner’s checklist
Career progression guides
The In-Game Guide System
Star Citizen includes a system that connects new players with veteran volunteers. Activate this option in your settings to receive personalized help.
The Community
Joining an organization (guild) will significantly speed up your learning. The Star Citizen community is generally welcoming and ready to help new pilots.
Part of Star Citizen’s complexity comes from the considerable number of commands to master. Beyond a good HOTAS, investing in dedicated control panels radically transforms the experience:
The General Systems panel from Pilot Gaming is particularly recommended for beginners because it:
Groups the most frequently used functions (power, shields, doors, landing gear).
Eliminates the need to memorize dozens of keyboard shortcuts.
Allows you to keep your eyes on the action rather than on your keyboard.
Makes emergency situations much more manageable.
For those who wish to specialize quickly, Pilot Gaming also offers themed panels (Mining Systems for mining, Targeting Systems for combat) that simplify learning specific careers.
Week 1: The Fundamentals
Successfully complete your first delivery mission.
Engage in basic combat against NPCs.
Earn your first 50,000 aUEC.
Explore a moon or planet.
Weeks 2-4: Choosing a Direction
Try different types of missions (combat, delivery, mining).
Join an organization.
Save up for your first upgraded ship (target: Avenger Titan).
Participate in community events.
Beyond: Forging Your Legend
Once you’ve mastered the basics, Star Citizen becomes a sandbox where you define your own goals: become a dogfighting ace, build a mining empire, explore the far reaches of the universe, or simply enjoy the immersion with your organization.
Don’t buy everything immediately: Resist the temptation to buy ships with real money. Progress in-game to understand what you truly enjoy.
Playing alone for too long: Star Citizen truly shines in multiplayer. Even if you enjoy playing solo, try out team missions.
Getting angry at bugs: Remember that you are testing a game in alpha. Your patience will be rewarded with a unique experience.
Neglecting preparation: Heading out on a mission without checking your gear, fuel, or ammunition is a guarantee for a frustrating failure.
Your first hours in Star Citizen will likely be confusing. That’s normal. This game is unlike any other and requires an investment of time to appreciate its depth. But once you’ve successfully taken off for the first time, made your first quantum jump, and gazed at the immensity of a planet from orbit, you will understand why millions of players support this ambitious project.