A hot potato: Information technology's been 11 years since Star Citizen went into pre-production, just the aggressive space sim still has no terminal version release engagement, and some supporters are losing their patience. One of them went so far as to complain to the United kingdom'southward Advertizing Standards Potency (ASA) over its practice of selling virtual concept ships to keep on funding development, but the agency has handed out trivial more than a alert.

As reported by Eurogamer, Reddit user Mazty filed a complaint with the ASA in July over the sale of virtual concept ships, which aren't actually in the game but are scheduled to appear at some indicate, though even that could modify.

The complaint came later on a marketing email was sent out to subscribers that stated, "Concluding Hazard to Catch the Gatac Railen!" and "Don't miss your adventure to pledge for the Gatac Manufacture Railen. This alien concept ship will be leaving the pledge store on Monday..." The e-mail failed to clarify that the Railen is not in the game all the same, and in that location'due south no estimated date for when it volition appear.

The ASA assessed the complaint and concluded that "the fact the ship was a concept product could accept been fabricated clearer."

"On that footing, we issued an Advice Notice advising the advertiser, in future, to ensure that its ads include any material information and significant limitations."

An Advice Notice doesn't involve whatever financial penalties. They are issued when the ASA considers in that location to be issues, but they aren't significant enough to warrant a full investigation. Despite amounting to little more than than a slap on the wrist, the discover has prompted Star Citizen developer Deject Imperium Games to make information technology clear what buying the concept ships entails.

"The Crusader Ares (Inferno and Ion), A2 Hercules, Genesis Starliner, are being offered here as a express vehicle concept pledge," reads the latest email.

"This means that the vehicle is in evolution just is non still ready to display in your Hangar or fly in Star Citizen. It will be bachelor every bit playable content in a later patch. In the time to come, the vehicle price may increase and Lifetime Insurance or whatever extras may not exist available."

Additionally, players who buy the concept ship will now receive a loaner vehicle for the game that offers like size and functionality as the Railen.

Mazty isn't satisfied with the outcome. They say that "the diction is still extremely misleading every bit they claim the ships Volition be playable."

Despite all the controversy, the total amount of money crowdfunded by Star Denizen passed $350 one thousand thousand from over 3 million backers in March. Those waiting for the Squadron 42 single-player chemical element, which features Hollywood stars such equally Henry Cavill, Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, and John Rhys Davies, were disappointed in December when all mention of the beta was removed from its roadmap. A couple of months earlier, studio boss Chris Roberts ominously warned that it would exist "done when it'due south done."

A damning report in 2022 shone a lite on Star Citizen's troubled development and Roberts. Former Cloud Imperium employees painted him as a poor micromanager while describing the work environment equally being cluttered. There have also been plenty of stories about those who pledged money getting it retuned but merely later arduous fight through the courts, while other haven't been so lucky. Merely it doesn't seem to have dissuaded people from handing over their cash.