“Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.”
- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Persistent Universe of Star Citizen is a stellar example of this analogy, and so it can be daunting for newcomers to know where to start. This guide aims to acquaint players with the major currently implemented locations in the ‘verse. There are many more exciting, dangerous and lucrative areas waiting to be discovered!
The first orbital stations and landing zones available for players reside within the Stanton star system, and for players looking for additional challenges there is also the option of starting in the Pyro and Nyx systems. In the future, options further abroad may be available as well. For the purposes of catering to brand new players, we are focusing on locations in the Stanton system as it is much safer than both the lawless Pyro or frontier-centric Nyx to explore and learn the ropes.
To learn how to cross a star system, be sure to check out the How to Quantum Travel guide. For a comprehensive overview of all of the planned star systems, visit our interactive ARK Starmap web app.
New Babbage | microTech - Landing Zone
Stanton system’s final explorable planet is the icy world of microTech. The home and HQ of the eponymous mega-corporation (makers of the mobiGlas among countless other things) was rendered mostly frozen by a terraforming accident and is now battered by brutal weather and unrelenting storms.
New Babbage is a high-tech metropolis, making it the perfect headquarters for the company that owns it. For shoppers, choose your mobiGlas variant at The Factory Line - microTech's flagship store, or browse the highest fashion in Stanton available at Aparelli. For the health conscious, there is the open gym, yoga, and a climbing wall, and for those that don't want to worry about all that, Walley's Bar is the place to be.
Area18 | ArcCorp - Landing Zone
Area18 is one of the main commercial ports for interplanetary traffic for the surrounding region of ArcCorp and the site of the iconic IO-North Tower. Travelers can find a variety of goods from trusted names as well as local providers that line the plazas and alleys of the city.
For sightseers, Area18 offers stunning views of the city-planet that never sleeps, whether from the Central Plaza, the scenic 'sky-train' that connects the city to its spaceport, or from atop one of the countless skyscrapers that pierce through the No-Fly Zone.
Orison | Crusader - Landing Zone
From the intergalactic bustle of the August Dunlow Spaceport to the calming serenity of the peace garden, Orison boasts every amenity expected of a galaxy-renowned tourist destination. And whether you’re visiting for business, pleasure, or laying low, the inescapable beauty of the Crusader gas giant makes any trip a memorable one.
Visit Crusader’s own Welcome to Orison page to discover more about Stanton’s iconic floating city and ship manufacturing hub.
Lorville | Hurston - Landing Zone
Lorville is one of the many company towns Hurston Dynamics has established for its employees on the company-owned planet Hurston. While the city overlooks some of the larger strip-mining operations that are currently underway, it exists in the shadow of Central Tower, the corporate headquarters for Hurston Dynamics.
Lorville is surrounded by a wall that dwarfs even decently sized ships. The city is located in the desert and is close to the "polluted coast" biome.
The Lorville Mass Transit System consists of four main lines taking you to various locations within the city boundaries. There is a general no-fly zone over Lorville, with landing clearance granted at Teasa Spaceport. Garages to store and retrieve vehicles can be found at the six perimeter gates.
For Lorville travel information, see the Lorville Mass Transit System guide.
Grim HEX | Yela - Orbital Station
Found within Yela's ring, this station began as a Green Imperial Housing Exchange. Everline Structures Incorporated built it into a hollowed out asteroid to provide affordable accommodation for miners. When jobs dried up, the station fell into disrepair, and its main sign was defaced to read GrimHEX. Ever since, the station became a haven for those looking to avoid the law and those with no other place to go.
Free from the shackles of UEE regulation, the fearless will find unique trade and contract offerings, as well as the same repair, re-arm and re-fuel amenities found at other, more upstanding rest-stops.
Those who undertake contracts from the station’s most infamous resident, Ruto, will likely need to take advantage of the provided EZ-habs, to "lay low" for a while.