Try Star Citizen For Free! - Access Nearly 200 Ships & Vehicles!
This page offers both new and returning players instructions to access the ships for the 2955 Intergalactic Aerospace Expo.
Free to Fly & Expo Dates: Thursday 20th November 2025 to Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Location: Vision Center -> Orison -> Crusader Planet -> Stanton System
Biggest Ship Featured This Year - RSI Perseus
Other new ships that could be revealed at the expo:
- RSI Hermes
- Greycat MDC
- Kruger L-22 Alpha Wolf
- Drake Clipper
- RSI Salvation
Ship Sale Info
Different ships will be available for sale from the different manufacturer's for two days every two days. Not all ships will be for sale but nearly all. Sale means "for sale" as in available to purchase and not discounted prices. Ships for sale during IAE come with 120 month insurance (read more about insurance). The ship sales on the website run in parallel to the free fly event. New Ships for sale at IAE will come with Lifetime Insurance if paid for with cash (not Store Credit).
Important For 2025 IAE: This year there will be no concept sales. A concept sale is a ship that is sold without being flyable / playable that will release later one (usually years but some are still not out even thought it has been a decade or more since they were sold in concept). This means that Star Citizen ships being sold will be released during or before the expo. It is possible that one large ship larger than the Javelin Destroyer will be sold which is a Battlecruiser class ship but it is speculative at this point.
How to use this guide
- Important Information For New Players (Don't have an account)
- Quick Start Info (Already have an account)
- Getting To The Expo
- Expo Dates by Ship Manufacturer
- Frequently Asked Questions
Ship Expo Dates By Manufacturer
Important Information For New Players (Don't have an account)
Before starting your Star Citizen adventure it can be good to consider game requirements and other details. Here are the 5 steps to get you up and flying in no time!
1 - Before you create an account make sure to have a referral code
2 - Check your system requirements before you download
3 - Sign up for the free fly and download the game
4 - Alpha 4.4 Player Guide - How To Play
5 - New player checklist
1 - Create An Account - Use A Referral Code!
Creating your account is your first step into the Star Citizen universe. Using a referral code grants you an extra 50,000 UEC (in game credits) if you decide to one day purchase the game.
Creating an account is free (whether you buy the game or not). If you do not have a referral code from a friend then use the following code:
Use this referral code: STAR-TL3M-N6YJ
Find out more on the Star Citizen Referral Code
2 - Check the system requirements
To get the most out of your Free Fly event you will want to make sure your computer can handle Star Citizen. It is an advanced MMO universe under construction therefore the system requirements are quite steep. Even if your computer can handle other games Star Citizen can be very demanding on system resources.
Star Citizen has the following minimum requirements. CIG strongly recommend having a system with these minimums to effectively install, load, and play the games.
- Windows 11
- DirectX 11 Graphics Card with 8GB+ VRAM
- Quad Core CPU or better
- 32GB+ RAM Recommended
- SSD required (M.2 recommended)
CIG also recommend the following:
- Drive should be NTFS formatted with at least 110 GB for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen for installation
See how your computer specs compare and what framerates to expect - visit the official Star Citizen Telemetry.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT EXPECTED PERFORMANCE
The game is expected to run terribly for the event and especially if Nyx system has been released. Major issues to be expected:
- Unable to log in
- Unable to load into a server
- Huge frame drops
- Poor and low frames per second
- Stutters
- Desync
Unfortunately stability has been poor in Star Citizen Universe lately and is expected to be even worse during the Free Fly, New Patch and Ship Expo all happening at once. Do not expect the game to run well even on top of the range hardware. If the issues are sorted by the time the event launches great, however, please temper your expectations.
3 - Sign up for the free fly and download the game
Step 1 - Create Account - Make sure to use the Referral Code STAR-ZZSP-L5P6
Step 2 - Download the game
Enjoy the Star Citizen Free Fly!
4. Alpha 4.4 Player Guide - How To Play
Official Star Your Adventure - Recommended. You can also choose a player to guide you getting started if you want.
You will be granted a ship to fly around with until for the duration of the free fly. You can also rent for ships for free at the Expo.
First Steps
To get into the Persistent Universe (The Aerospace Expo is taking place at Vision Center at Orison City on Crusader Planet in Stanton System) you will need to select [Persistent Universe] from the main menu when the game loads.
Character Creation
After you have selected a destination if it is the first time you are logging into the Universe you will be prompted with the Character Creation Screen. Here you will be able to customize your character's appearance. You can come back and change this later at any time.
Select Starting Port
The next screen you will be presented with is the Space Port selection screen. Here you will choose which port you wish to start at.
The Expo from where you can rent ships for free is happening at VISION CENTER at Orison on Crusader in the Stanton System.
To choose the fastest way to get to the expo select Orison.
This selects your spawn point (imprint location).
5. New player checklist
Please check the following items before your free fly:
- You have set up an account and used the referral code
- You have checked the system requirements (and have 110GB free)
- You have downloaded the game (https://robertsspaceindustries.com/download)
- You have researched which points of interest you intend to visit
- You have a suitable webcam (30fps to 60fps) for FOIP - Optional
- You have a Joystick or Gamepad - Optional
Quick Start Info (Already have an account)
If you already have an account and the game downloaded simply head to Orison and then take the sky shuttle to Vision Center. Simply follow the signage to the expo center.
Getting to the expo
There will be three Systems available, Stanton, Pyro and Nyx (New). The expo is taking place on a planet in the STANTON System.
Head to Stanton system if you started at Pyro or Nyx systems.
Once in Stanton head to Crusader planet.
The expo is taking place at Vision Center at Orison - The City in the Sky on Crusader gas giant.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Expo
What Time Does The Free Fly Start and End?
The Free Fly Starts on November 20 at 16:00 UTC. The Free Fly lasts as long as the Expo and will end on the 3rd December.
I am a Free Flier, how can I travel?
Travel in Star Citizen happens on foot, in vehicle, atmosphere and in space. You will be given a ship to travel in for the duration of the free fly. Your ship will have a jump drive allowing you to move around Stanton System and get yourself to the Expo.
Do I Keep The Free Fly Things Forever?
No. Free Fly granted things are not kept. They are provided for you to try Star Citizen for free. It is possible, that achievements unlocked and rewards earned in game may stay on your account for future plays.
Are in game rewards earned during the IAE Free Fly removed after the event is over?
No. If you unlock achievements or earn in game rewards during a free fly you will still have them when you log back in during another Free Fly or if you eventually buy or are gifted a game package for Star Citizen. Also, any in game credits earned may also carry over to the next event unless there is a balance reset in between.
Can I Still Get to the Expo If I Cannot Fly?
Yes! Fellow Star Citizens will gladly take you. Just ask in in-game chat.
Will All Ships Be Available To Purchase?
Most but not all. Some ships are rare or limited quantity or only available to achieve. The Expo offers almost all ships for sale during their manufacturer days and also on the last days. If your in-game chat is turned off press F12 to enable it.
What Kind Of Performance Should I Expect?
Expect the worst performance possible. The combination of the free fly, the ship expo and the new system will mean that the game is expected to run really poorly.
