Do you need a subscription?

[Johnmakuta]

I am clicked the "Fly Now" button and it brought me to a screen where I could buy a ship. I knew I had to buy a ship but I thought I also needed a subscription to play the game.

[dalekphalm]

5 minutes ago, Johnmakuta said:

I am clicked the "Fly Now" button and it brought me to a screen where I could buy a ship. I knew I had to buy a ship but I thought I also needed a subscription to play the game.

There is no subscription required.

 

If you buy the base game, you'll get some shitty basic starter ship to start out, and you'll have to earn credits to buy in-game each other ship.

 

If you "buy" a ship now, you'll get that ship from the start (And, depending on when you bought it, lifetime insurance in case you blow it up). In the current state of the game, I believe you can only fly ships you already own - but I haven't really logged in since the earliest Hanger Alpha days, so I can't give you specifics.

[Napper198]

9 minutes ago, Johnmakuta said:

I am clicked the "Fly Now" button and it brought me to a screen where I could buy a ship. I knew I had to buy a ship but I thought I also needed a subscription to play the game.

You don't. You'll only need to but a package that includes one of the games (Star Citizen or Squadron 42) and you're good to go.

 

(Squadron 42 is not out yet and you'll will not gain access to the currently running alpha by pre-ordering Squadron 42. If you want to fly now you'll need Star Citizen.)

 

 

Edit: buying guide here, Explanation on Rental equipment and some more info and refferal codes

 

Patch 2.4 is about to hit us with an actual mean to earn (alpha) credts and maybe the ability to buy ships with said (alpha) credits.

 

[rucdoc]

just to make it confusing, you can get a subscription, it's not required, but it helps fund all the video content they make, and you get access to a digital magazine, and some random crap for your hangar