CitizenCon Direct 2955 (2025) Complete Guide

1. Major Technical Milestones

Server Meshing Live
Working flawlessly at scale with up to 700 players per shard. Stable performance achieved across nine months of testing.

Nine Patches Released in 2025
Record release cadence with a focus on live stability, quality-of-life, and over 2,000 bug fixes.

Increased Engagement
Daily average users up 45% and playtime up 15%. The game is more stable and populated than ever.

2. The Nyx System

Overview
Nyx arrives with Alpha 4.4 in November 2025. It is the third star system after Stanton and Pyro. Independent frontier tone, cooler star, and proximity to Vanduul space.

Lore & Factions
Home of the People’s Alliance of Levski, rebels who fled the Messer regime to form their own egalitarian society. They now face new internal and external threats as the Empire becomes more democratic.

Atmosphere
Nyx is less lawless than Pyro but rugged and free. It features dense nebulae and a red glow on the horizon indicating Vanduul territory.

3. Key Locations

Levski (Levkī)
Built into asteroid Delamar within the Glacian Belt.
Main social and trade hub for Nyx with full EVA traversal.

Features:

Mercy Hospital (medical respawn point)
The Grand Bazar (shops, bars, vendors, weapon and armor dealers)
Hab pods and living quarters for miners
Refinery deck for mining gameplay
Statue of Anthony Tanaka, symbol of anti-Messer resistance
Cargo operations, including Hull C loading and group logistics

Glacian Belt
Vast asteroid and gas hybrid region rich in mining opportunities.
Full of hazards, resource nodes, and ambush points for pirates.
Primary transit zone between Pyro and Nyx.

4. Storyline and Missions

Welcome to Nyx
Continuation of the Science Runner arc.
Players are hired by Intersect Defense Solutions to investigate illegal tech at a derelict QV Planet Services station.

Key elements:

Space combat inside the Glacian Belt
First appearance of Vanduul in the Persistent Universe
Vanduul ships: Glaive, Blade, and the new Stinger heavy fighter
Ground and ship boarding combat
Exploration of a derelict Polaris and asteroid bases
Discovery of a new human faction with unknown motives
Repeatable, persistent mission type

5. Project Genesis – Planet Tech Revolution

Genesis is the new planetary generation system launching in 2026.

Features:

Procedural biomes generated from real data (geology, humidity, erosion, temperature)
Unified “from orbit to surface” coloration and detail
Physical accuracy: cliffs, rock formations, and meadows
True grass meadows and swamps
Virtual Terrain system for seamless performance
Used to rebuild Stanton and Pyro as well as create Nyx I, II, and III

Nyx Planets

Nyx I: “Hero planet” with mountains, forests, wetlands, and swamps
Nyx II: Toxic high-pressure world with high-risk gameplay
Nyx III: Blue gas giant

6. Gameplay Systems

Crafting System

Introduces player progression without levels
Focuses on FPS weapons and armor in first phase
Players gather resources, refine them, and craft items
Material quality affects performance and durability
Blueprints earned via missions or preloaded for testing
Crafting machines usable in hangars or ships
Crafted gear can outperform shop-bought items
Future updates will add research and upgrades

Instancing System (2026)

Provides small-group or solo content inside the Persistent Universe
Enables private mission zones without removing open-world freedom
Seamless entry with no loading screens
Allows curated co-op and narrative experiences
First use: reworked Siege of Orison event
One of the pillars of the 1.0 release model

Interstellar Cargo Missions

System-to-system freight across Stanton, Pyro, and Nyx
Supports Hull C and large cargo ships
Risk-reward routes with pirate ambushes and tight deadlines
Immersive freight gameplay connecting the star systems

Rockcracker Operations

Players restore derelict asteroid mining stations
Objectives: power up, clear enemies, activate mining lasers, extract resources
Cooperative sandbox activity ideal for orgs and groups
Potential for high-value minerals and long-term mining loops

7. Narrative and Immersion

Reintroduction of physical mission givers with full voice acting
Two-way conversation system planned for future missions
Cinematic storytelling with camera and dialogue systems
Dynamic persistent storylines that connect events, factions, and systems
Hatheror, Onyx, and Levski becoming permanent, evolving story locations

8. Ships and Vehicles

Anvil Paladin

4-crew gunship designed for sustained combat
360-degree turret coverage
Heavy armor and remote turrets
Deployable forward armor plating
Functional interior with shared quarters and gunner decks

Esperia Vanduul Stinger

Human-built replica of a Vanduul heavy fighter
Massive firepower and strong hull
Hybrid organic-metal design with prone cockpit
Customizable human weapon mounts except for one Size 5 plasma cannon

The Shiv (Grey's Industries)

Experimental black-market design from underground builder Grey's
Fast, dangerous, and unconventional ship for independent pilots
Connected to a new Nyx faction

9. Expanded Ship Gameplay

Each ship role receives dedicated gameplay loops
Mining, salvage, refueling, and cargo loops expanded
Every ship will have an individual function tied to its manufacturer and purpose
Improved radar, scanning, and quantum systems under development

10. Events and Future Plans

Siege of Orison Rework (2026)

Redesigned as a smaller, instanced cooperative event
Balanced for 15 to 30 players with specific combat roles
First implementation of new instancing system

Dynamic Events and Missions

Persistent, repeatable story-driven missions across all systems
Expanding events to involve the People’s Alliance, Vanduul, and Intersect factions

Roadmap Beyond 2026

Genesis tech fully integrated into all planets
Advanced crafting and engineering gameplay
Inventory overhaul and physicalized item management
Continued work on radar, scanning, and Quantum 2.0

11. Community and Extras

CitizenCon held as global watch parties with developer attendance
Contest winners awarded Kruger L21 Wolf ships
Digital Goodies Pack includes:
- Paladin flight suit and helmet
- Two faction armor sets
- Intersect BDU outfit
- Vanduul knife and plush
- Levski-themed merchandise and weapons
New music from Pedro Camacho premiered during the show

12. Table of Announced Features

Category	Feature / Content	Details / Notes
Core Tech	Server Meshing	700 players per shard, stable and scalable
Systems	Nyx System	3rd system, frontier society, near Vanduul space
Locations	Levski	Mining hub, hospital, markets, full EVA
Locations	Glacian Belt	Hybrid asteroid/gas mining region
Story	Welcome to Nyx	New mission arc, Vanduul combat debut
Planet Tech	Project Genesis	Data-driven biome creation and realism
Gameplay	Crafting	Weapons and armor crafting, material quality, blueprints
Gameplay	Instancing	Private missions, cooperative story events
Gameplay	Rockcracker	Restore derelict asteroid mines, sandbox gameplay
Gameplay	Interstellar Cargo	Cross-system hauling missions
Ships	Anvil Paladin	4-crew gunship with full turret coverage
Ships	Esperia Stinger	Vanduul heavy fighter replica
Ships	The Shiv	Underground prototype ship
Events	Siege of Orison Rework	Instanced group event test case
Features	Ship Roles Expansion	Dedicated gameplay loops for all ship types
Features	Physical Mission Givers	Voiced, interactive NPCs returning
Future	Crafting Expansion	Research, upgrades, engineering loops
Future	Quantum 2.0	Advanced travel and economy system
Future	Radar & Scanning	FPS and ship-level updates
Future	Inventory Overhaul	Physical item handling improvements
Art & Audio	New Music	Pedro Camacho compositions
Community	Digital Goodies Pack	Levski and faction-themed items