RSI Perseus: Inside the Heavy Gunship Arriving for IAE

When Cloud Imperium Games drops a “Behind the Ships” feature, it usually means something big is about to enter the ‘verse — and this time, it’s the RSI Perseus. After years of anticipation, design revisions, interior overhauls, and a major armament upgrade, the heavy gunship is finally preparing to go flight ready at this year’s Intergalactic Aerospace Expo.

What CIG reveals in this feature isn’t just a ship showcase. It’s a look at how the Perseus evolved into a brutally efficient war machine with a clear purpose: dominate mid-to-large engagements and reshape the way crews approach fleet combat.

A Heavy Gunship Built for Bigger Fights

The Perseus occupies a unique space. It isn’t a capital ship — but it’s built for players who want to step beyond corvettes and gunships like the Hammerhead without committing to true capital-scale logistics.

CIG describes it as:

A heavy-duty gunship designed for multi-target engagements
A defensive brawler, built to absorb punishment
A threat to larger ships, not fighters

If the Hammerhead screens fightercraft, the Perseus steps in when the targets get bigger. This is the ship for pushing into contested space, holding ground, and engaging multiple hostiles at once without ever needing to dogfight.

RSI Styling: Brutal, Menacing, Purposeful

Visually, the Perseus is pure military intimidation. Long, armored, and unmistakably RSI, it carries:

A long, pointed bow that channels classic naval destroyers
A center-set bridge, reinforcing that warship silhouette
Massive RSI thrusters on outboard nacelles

It looks like a warship because it is one — and the video makes it clear that the silhouette was preserved carefully, even as the interior and weapon systems evolved.

The Big Upgrade: Size 8 Manned Turrets

One of the largest changes during development is the firepower. The concept originally carried size 7 guns — but as larger ships entered testing, the team realized the Perseus needed more bite.

Now it boasts:

Two manned size 8 turrets
Full 360° traversal
A cockpit-to-turret mechanism where the seat shifts and transforms so the gunner aligns perfectly with the turret pivot

It’s an elegant technical solution players will barely notice, but the result is tight, intuitive turret control that keeps up with the ship’s battlefield role.

Point-Defense Network

Across the hull, the Perseus carries:

Point-defense turrets (PDTs) for missile and torpedo interception
Fully interchangeable systems matching current PDT tech
Additional remote size 3 turrets operated directly from the bridge

This turns the Perseus into a layered defensive platform — one that guards itself while still projecting massive offensive firepower.

The Polaris Test: Gunship vs Torpedo Boat

One highlight of the feature is a candid anecdote:
CIG pit three Perseus against a Polaris in internal testing.

What happened?

The Polaris never got the breathing room to bring torpedoes into play. The Perseus’ guns have no range limit, so the gunships pushed straight in, hammering the Polaris down its throat until it folded under constant fire.

After a joking warning to avoid using the phrase “unstoppable,” the devs clarify: it can be stopped — but only with smart tactics and a coordinated response.

Still, the message is clear: when the Perseus is flown aggressively with a full crew, it’s a serious problem.

Three Ways In — One Central Heart

CIG put major thought into how players board and navigate the ship:

Docking collar for stations and large ships
Personnel lift for clean entry without depressurizing the cargo bay
Main cargo lift for vehicles and squads

All three routes converge into the central cargo bay, the ship’s main internal hub. From here, paths branch into engineering, torpedo handling, upper fire control, crew areas, or forward to the bridge.

Interior flow and navigation were major feedback points on previous large ships — and the Perseus is CIG’s answer.

Nautical Inspiration and Reinforced Structure

Inside, the Perseus leans into real-world naval influences:

Directional signage and labeling everywhere
Large structural beams tying walls, floors, and ceilings together
A strong “steel skeleton” aesthetic that communicates survivability
A basketball hoop in the cargo bay — yes, really

These touches help the Perseus feel like a functional warship rather than a sci-fi hallway maze.

Torpedoes: The V-Shaped Bay

One of the biggest changes from concept is the torpedo loading system.

Instead of a hidden, inaccessible mechanism, the Perseus now features:

A visible V-shaped torpedo bay
Room for 20 torpedoes
Easy, fast loading and unloading
Immediate visibility of what’s armed and ready

This is not only more functional — it adds a dramatic, industrial sense of purpose to the lower deck.

Above it is the fire control center, an atmospheric combat nerve point built entirely around weapons management.

Engineering, Crew Life, and the Captain’s Deck

The rear of the ship layers three essential spaces vertically:

Lower Deck — Engineering

All the key ship components live here, with space for future engineering gameplay.

Mid Deck — Habitation

Shared bunks
Bathroom
Weapons and armor storage

A deliberately tight, military-style living space.

Upper Deck — Captain’s Quarters

Directly behind the bridge for fast response times, supported by a new triple-door EVA airlock that solves the “forever to get out of the ship” issue while protecting against boarding.

Bridge: Commanding View, Battleship Feel

The three-seat bridge (pilot, co-pilot, gunner) gives the Perseus its signature feel:

The pilot seat slides upward and forward, revealing the massive turret in front
Panoramic visibility across the entire bow
A powerful sense of piloting a modernized naval warship

It’s built to be functional, readable, and atmospheric — perfect for a ship that expects to be in the thick of combat.

A New Era of Group Combat

CIG ends the feature by emphasizing the Perseus’ purpose: this is a ship meant to change the way players fight, especially in coordinated groups.

It’s built to:

Pressure larger ships
Thrive with multiple operators working together
Slot into future “tactical strike groups,” especially alongside the RSI Namad

After a long wait from concept to completion, the Perseus arrives not just as promised — but improved in nearly every way.