Star Citizen IAE 2026: Free Fly guide for new players

Try Star Citizen before buying: IAE 2956 runs from 13 November at 16:00 UTC through 27 November 2026. That opening is 17:00 in Denmark and Central Europe. RSI confirms public Free Fly access for accounts without a Game Package. The show is at Tobin Expo Center, New Babbage, microTech, Stanton. Sources checked 11 November 2026; the event has not opened at this check.

You do not need to buy a ship to attend. Start with a small ship, learn one flight, then use the free rentals to discover what you enjoy. This is a suggested first-visit route based on RSI's event rules and ship roles, not a claim that we have played the upcoming event.

Before you install

1. Check your PC. You need Windows, a compatible processor, at least 16 GB RAM, a compatible GPU with 4 GB VRAM and 150+ GB on an SSD. RSI recommends 32 GB RAM and an 8 GB VRAM GPU. Read the full requirements. Free Fly lets you assess performance on your own PC; meeting a specification is no guarantee of smooth play.
2. Create one RSI account and confirm its email. If you want to support Domux, use official signup with STAR-JTV7-FXLR. Add the optional referral at signup or within 24 hours of creating a new, unlinked account. The code is not required for IAE and is not a discount. The standard 50,000 UEC benefit has separate Game Package conditions; buying can wait. RSI referral rules.
3. Install the official launcher and select LIVE. Follow RSI's Play Now instructions when the Free Fly opens. Use the same RSI account in the browser and launcher. An account created before 13 November does not make the trial start early. Launcher and download help.

On 11 November 2026, official deployment status still identifies Alpha 4.10.2 as LIVE. RSI's 9 November update targets 4.10.3 for this week; that target and the separate Alpha 5.0 PTU preview are not proof of a new LIVE release. Install the launcher’s current LIVE version at the time you join.

Your first visit: get to the show, then make one short flight

1. Start close to the expo. During character setup choose Stanton, then New Babbage as your primary residence. Follow the IAE signs and ride the Metroloop to Tobin Expo Center. If you already live elsewhere, fly to New Babbage's spaceport and follow the signs from there. Official travel instructions.
2. Use the free Aurora Mk II first. RSI makes it available to every account throughout IAE. At an ASOP ship retrieval terminal, retrieve the ship and read its assigned hangar. Follow the signs to that hangar. Use the game's tutorial or Welcome Hub for the current flight controls.
3. Practise a small loop. Try entering the cockpit, requesting departure, taking off, flying clear and returning to land. Learn this before accepting a risky contract or loading purchased cargo. Keep the default gear while learning; a first test flight does not need a shopping trip.
4. Rent one different role. Back at the expo, use the Traveler Rentals terminals in the main IAE hall during that manufacturer's day. The rental is free for 48 hours and each vehicle can be rented once. Retrieve a ship at a suitable ASOP terminal afterward. Ground vehicles need suitable ground retrieval facilities; they do not all appear in a spaceport hangar.
5. Get help before scaling up. The official Welcome Hub and Guide System connect new players with learning resources and experienced volunteers. Ask a guide to show you one task, such as landing or a first contract. A large multicrew ship is more useful with people to operate it.

What should a beginner try?

These are suggested comparisons, not a ranking or a promise that every mission or ship system works in the current alpha. Match the rental to its manufacturer day. The full official roster has more than 200 ships and ground vehicles across the event; it is not all unlocked on the first day.

• Everyday flying: use the event Aurora Mk II, then compare an Origin 100i, Drake Cutter or Crusader Intrepid. Try getting in and out, cockpit visibility, takeoff and landing. You are finding a ship you can use comfortably, not choosing the largest hull.
• Moving small cargo: look at the Cutter, Intrepid or Aegis Avenger Titan. Check the cargo area and loading access before risking your starting money. A short practice flight is enough to compare handling without buying trade goods.
• Industrial work: RSI Salvation, Drake Golem and MISC Fortune give you different salvage or mining roles to investigate. Learn the controls with a guide and read the current mission requirements first. Renting a ship does not supply a profitable route, tools, cargo or a completed contract.
• A big ship with friends: visit the RSI Galaxy debut on RSI day. Explore its layout and ask a group or guide how crew jobs differ. You can enjoy the showcase without buying the ship or treating a multicrew vessel as your first solo starter.

Manufacturer schedule: pick a day for your test

The date ranges below follow RSI's official manufacturer schedule. Check that page for the full vehicle list and the terminal's actual availability.

If you can only visit once and want the broadest comparison, consider the finale. Each rental still has its own 48-hour limit, and public game access does not become permanent. The official FAQ gives 27 November as the end date without an exact closing time.

What can you get, and what expires?

• Free access and ship rentals: temporary. The Aurora Mk II is available during IAE; rented vehicles last 48 hours. Neither becomes a free permanent pledge in your web Hangar.
• Twitch Drops, 13 to 27 November: link your RSI and Twitch accounts through RSI Settings, Linked Accounts. Watch Star Citizen streams marked Drops Enabled. At 2 hours claim Venture Undersuit Black/Grey; at 4 hours claim Venture Black Armor Set; at 6 hours claim MacFlex Backpack Orange. Six hours total reaches all three milestones. Claim each unlocked item in Twitch's Drops inventory, then check the linked RSI Hangar. Prime Gaming or Amazon Luna is not required. No paid subscription is required for these watch-time milestones. Official Drops instructions and troubleshooting.
• Best in Show paints and extras: ownership rewards, not rewards for a test flight. The exact eligible Perseus, M80, Corsair or Ironclad Assault must meet RSI's web-Hangar/end-of-event conditions; variants and Buyback listings do not qualify. Distribution follows the event. You do not need to buy one to enjoy IAE. Full Best in Show conditions.
• Referral benefit: the standard 50,000 UEC account benefit is separate from trial ships, Twitch items and temporary incentives. No additional IAE referral gift was confirmed in the official event sources checked here. Domux can receive a Recruitment Point only when RSI's separate Game Package and qualifying-spend rules are met; free registration alone is not a qualified purchase.

Before deciding whether to buy

Try the game first. Judge how it runs on your PC and whether you enjoy the basic tasks. If you want to continue after the trial, check a Game Package that actually includes Star Citizen access. A standalone ship is not a game license. The current package guide separates permanent contents, temporary loaners, dated prices and checkout tax. A manufacturer day does not guarantee a discount; the FAQ's Warbond daily deals last 24 hours and have their own payment conditions.

If the launcher says you have no access, first check the event has opened, the account matches, and RSI's Play Now instructions are complete. If servers are down, check RSI Status before reinstalling. Alpha bugs, queues and interruptions are possible. Our before-buying checklist covers the remaining account, PC and purchase checks.

Sources consulted 11 November 2026: manufacturer schedule, original staff FAQ and Twitch Drops. This is an independent newcomer guide by Domux. No account registration, purchase, credited balance or IAE gameplay was tested.

IAE questions