Star Citizen guide #21: ships on the RSI website (packages, CCUs, melting, gifting)

On the Roberts Space Industries website, ships are bought with real money: these are called “pledges,” because the purchases fund the game’s development. First things first: it’s not required. Every flyable ship can also be earned by playing. If you do buy, here are the rules to know.

The game package

• To play, you need a game package: game access plus a starter ship. It’s the only purchase you actually need.
• A ship bought on its own (standalone) is added to your account but doesn’t grant game access.
• “Concept” ships (not flyable yet) come with loaner ships in the meantime.

Upgrades (CCUs)

• A CCU (Cross-Chassis Upgrade) replaces a ship with a more expensive one; you only pay the difference.
• It keeps the perks of the original package, such as lifetime insurance (LTI) if your ship had it.
• “Warbond” prices (paid with new money, not store credit) are often cheaper during sales.

Melting and buy-back

• Melting a package turns it into the same amount of store credit, usable for other purchases. It is not a refund.
• A melted package can, under certain conditions, be bought back. The rules change regularly: check the official FAQ before melting anything important.

What changed on October 1, 2026

• Each account now has a protected Game Access pledge, for Star Citizen and for Squadron 42. That pledge can’t be melted or gifted, but its ships can still be upgraded with CCUs.
• Until November 1, 2026, you can choose which pledge is protected, in the Game Access section of your hangar on the website. After that, the choice is locked.
• A purchase meant as a gift must now be marked as a gift at checkout. What you already owned keeps its original rules.

The grey market

Some players resell ships to each other for real money on third-party sites. It’s risky: scams, payment disputes and locked accounts happen. If you buy a ship, use the official website.

💡 Beacon tip: set a budget before opening the store, and try the ship in game before buying it (rental, free-fly events, a friend who owns it). Beacon Mag earns nothing from these sales: this is advice, not an ad.

Read next: Buying a ship in game · Understanding insurance

Written for Star Citizen Alpha 4.10.2 (October 2026). The game changes with every patch: if something has moved, tell us in a reply and we’ll update the guide.