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BoredGamer
Star Citizen Alpha 4.8 Has Huge Changes To Ship Balance - Why Is There No CitizenCon?!
⏱ 33 min video · 3 min read11 May 2026
TL;DR
BoredGamer covers the absence of CitizenCon 2026, Squadron 42's potential delay due to GTA 6, and major Star Citizen Alpha 4.8 PTU changes including dramatic ship balance overhauls, armor/shield reworks, and the upcoming Drake Defense Con Fleet Week starting May 14.
Key points
1
CIG has confirmed there will be NO CitizenCon in 2026 in any form - no live event, no digital direct, nothing.
2
Chris Roberts hinted Squadron 42 may be timed around GTA 6's November release to avoid being overshadowed, with an advertising campaign expected around October.
3
Alpha 4.8 PTU saw ship reclaim prices spike 10-20x before being rolled back; Idris reclaim is now 720k aUEC with a 13-hour timer alternative.
4
Major shield and armor rework in PTU: shield strength down ~20% but regen up ~60%; capital ship armor now requires size 5+ weapons to deal any damage, meaning fighters can no longer whittle down large ships.
5
Drake Defense Con replaces Fleet Week starting May 14, introducing the Tibberon, Battle Cruiser (Odin), Drake Pitbull, M80, and Starite - the Battle Cruiser is rumored at $5,500 and gated behind a Founders Club application.
Key updates
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Shield regen up ~60% but strength down ~20% means sustained fights favor ships that can maintain shields, not burst them down quickly.
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Capital ship armor now blocks damage from weapons below size 5, so players need to refit loadouts with larger caliber weapons or use torpedoes to engage large ships effectively.
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Ship reclaim costs are being balanced - torpedoes and ordnance are now significantly cheaper (size 12 torps under 100k aUEC), but consumables are NOT returned on reclaim, incentivizing pilots not to lose their ship.
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The Tibberon (Hammerhead-frame anti-capital ship with fixed beam weapon) is expected between $700-$900 real money; all new ships will take 2-4 months after launch before being obtainable in-game.
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Alpha 4.8 release cycle: 4.8.1 mid-June (defend location missions), 4.8.2 late June (Gatac Railen, Alien Week), 4.8.3 end of June (Xenothreat missions return).
Notable quotes
“A stock Connie can't hurt another stock Connie.”
“I really like ships that are combat military, larger ships not being at threat from smaller fighters and smaller caliber weapons because that means you have to use fighter bombers, you have to use larger weapons, you have to use other capital ships or large ships, you have to use torpedoes.”
Worth watching?
⏭️
Worth watching the full video?
All the key details on the 4.8 balance changes, CitizenCon cancellation, and Defense Con ships are captured here - only watch the full video if you want the casual conversational commentary between the hosts.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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