[BUG] Reporting a bug properly (and the 10 golden rules to avoid them)

Bugs & fixes 0 replies

JakeCook Administrator 19 October 2026

Beacon Mag banner: Reporting a bug properly (and the 10 golden rules to avoid them)

A well-reported bug is a bug with a better chance of being fixed. Here’s how to do it, and the golden rules that will save you a lot of trouble.

📣 Where to report what

Issue Council (on the RSI website): for game bugs. First check whether the bug already exists (STARC-xxxxx reference) and confirm it rather than opening a duplicate: the more a bug is confirmed, the higher it climbs.
RSI support ticket: for anything to do with your account (items, sanctions, stuck character).

📎 What to attach

The error code and the time it happened.
The Game.log file, in the game’s LIVE folder.
The launcher’s log.log file (%appdata%\rsilauncher\logs\) if it’s a launcher problem.
Your PC specs (CPU, graphics card, memory, drive type).

🏅 The 10 golden rules

Never quit the game during a server recovery.
At the ASOP terminal: Retrieve, never Claim (except as a last resort).
Store your ships before a patch.
Log out in a bed in your hab or a station rather than on board a ship.
Back up your Mappings folder.
Keep space in your inventory.
Only open one launcher at a time.
Character Repair only as a last resort, then 1 hour without logging in.
Check the status page before taking everything apart.
Stay calm. It’s an alpha, and we love it anyway.

📖 Mini glossary

Term	Explanation
PU	The persistent universe, the “real” game
Shard	A copy of the universe, shared by hundreds of players
Shard lock	Your character is stuck in a shard that no longer responds
ASOP	The terminal where you call and store your ships
Retrieve / Claim	Get your ship back / file an insurance claim (new but empty ship)
Game Package	The game pack you can’t play without
USER folder	Your local settings, safe to delete without risk to your account
Shaders	Your graphics card’s rendering cache
Issue Council	The official bug-reporting platform

See you in the ’verse, servers permitting. o7

🆘 Still stuck?

Work through the first-aid kit in order, then report the bug properly. Found another tip that works? Post it as a reply and we’ll add it to this sheet with credit.

📚 Every bug and its fix (contents) · 📖 The great bug bestiary, on a single page

Sheet 18 · Alpha 4.10.2 LIVE, updated 19 October 2026. Sources: RSI support (Known Issues 4.10.2), patch notes and Community Tech Support on Spectrum. Star Citizen is a game by Cloud Imperium Games.

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