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Happy Monday, everyone!
We have some seriously good stuff lined up for you this week, but first, last weekend: two Bar Citizens, thousands of miles apart, and one community that somehow always finds each other. No matter where in the world we land, you make it feel like home. Thank you for having us, Seoul and Paris! Next stop on the Bar Citizen World Tour 2026: Basel, Switzerland. We hope to see you there!
Last week, the April PU Monthly Report and the Roadmap Update took a look at progress made last month and what's on the development horizon. Star Citizen Live tackled some of your questions on vehicle gameplay, design, and balance. And for the full Alpha 4.8 preview, Inside Star Citizen took us behind the scenes — starfighters in flight, a whole lot to sink your teeth into, and, topping the bill, Tactical Strike Groups.
We can't wait for you to get your hands on Tactical Strike Groups. Every ship, every role, every area of expertise gets its moment: space combat, a trench run, boots-on-the-ground FPS action, and a massive showdown to cap it all off. This is what you and your friends have been training for. Round up your allies, prep your ships, and get ready. And if you've always been a lone wolf, no judgment, but this might be the time to find your pack. We've put together this list to help you do just that.
Now, you may have heard the news: Invictus Launch Week is headed to Sol this year, and some invitations might... uh... have been lost in the mail. But don't worry, DefenseCon is stepping up with full fattitude (yes, we do mean fire + attitude), and the REAL party can begin here in Stanton — BIGGER, bolder, and bringing manufacturers you don't want to miss! DefenseCon 2956 is right around the corner!
From May 14th through the 27th, Drake Interplanetary is throwing the doors open to the Bevic Convention Center in Area18. New reveals, hardware that means business, free ship rentals on rotation, and enough firepower on the floor to make any admiral nervous. Come find your next ride-or-die.
And if you have friends who haven't enlisted yet, Star Citizen is Free to Play starting on May 15 through the end of DefenseCon. With Referral Bonuses that reward both the veteran and the rookie (stand by for more details), there has never been a better time to bring them in. Plus, Twitch Drops are live for the full two weeks; tune in to any participating channel for four hours, and you'll walk away with some sweet swag.
Lock in, pilots, here's what's happening this week:
Monday kicks things off with the DefenseCon 2956 Spectrum FAQ. If you've got questions ahead of the event, that's your first stop.
Tuesday brings the DefenseCon 2956 Manufacturer Schedule Comm-Link. Everything you need to plan your visit and make the most of it.
Wednesday sees Alpha 4.8 going live, and with it, Tactical Strike Groups. This is your moment, pilots — and it's just the start of what 4.8 has in store. If you want to go deeper on Tactical Strike Groups specifically, keep an eye out for the accompanying Spectrum FAQ. Plus, there will be a Q&A Comm-Link with answers to some of your biggest questions about new features and content coming with the patch.
We know many of you are making plans for Patch Day, so we want to give you a heads-up. With the release of Alpha 4.8, we'll be performing a wipe of in-game resources, items, vehicles purchased with aUEC, reputation progression, earned aUEC balances, and Wikelo and Executive Hangar rewards.
This reset is an important step toward stabilizing the economy as various new systems come online. Alongside it, we've also introduced additional safeguards aimed at reducing the exploits and duplication issues that impacted the economy previously.
Here's what you'll keep:
- Blueprints
- Any item or vehicle entitled to your account (visible in the "My Hangar" section at robertsspaceindustries.com)
More information on upcoming changes is coming soon — stay tuned!
On Thursday, the doors to the Bevic Convention Center in Area18 open, and DefenseCon 2956 officially kicks off with Day 1 featuring Drake Interplanetary. The Ironclad, Ironclad Assault, and the Pitbull get their moment in the spotlight, with a dedicated Ships Q&A Comm-Link covering hot new thangs unveiled at DefenseCon 2956. We'll be updating the comm-link throughout DefenseCon, so you might want to check back regularly! And if you fancy yourself an everyday hero of the 'verse, we might just have a contest right up your alley.
Tune in on Friday for Star Citizen Live: DefenseCon Showcase at 14:00 UTC on Twitch, with an enormous roundtable discussion (and live in-engine visuals) of each flyable ship being introduced at this year's event.
Friday will also see the RSI Weekly Newsletter zipping straight into your inbox.
And finally, Saturday, the Bar Citizen World Tour 2026 makes its next stop in Basel. Come meet your fellow citizens, talk ships, and share your thoughts on everything you've seen at DefenseCon so far. See you in Switzerland!
D4L!
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The Weekly Community Content Schedule
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026
- This Week in Star Citizen
- DefenseCon 2956 Spectrum FAQ
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026
- DefenseCon 2956 Manufacturer Schedule Comm-Link
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026
- Alpha 4.8 Goes Live!
- Alpha 4.8 Features Q&A Comm-Link
- Tactical Strike Groups Spectrum FAQ
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
- DefenseCon 2956 Day 1: Drake Interplanetary & Grey's Market
- DefenseCon 2956 Ships Q&A Comm-Link: Drake Ironclad & Ironclad Assault, Drake Pitbull
- DefenseCon 2956 Referral Bonus Comm-Link
FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026
- Star Citizen Live: DefenseCon Showcase (twitch.tv/starcitizen)
- RSI Weekly Newsletter
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026
- DefenseCon 2956 Day 3: Origin Jumpworks, RSI, Kruger Intergalactic
- DefenseCon 2956 Ships Q&A Comm-Link: Origin M80
- Bar Citizen World Tour 2026: Basel, Switzerland