SCRefCode - New player guide
Star Citizen Free Fly
Try free - Still enlist with a referral code for 50,000 aUEC
Create your account with a code (even for Free Fly)
STAR-HBP4-QP46
Standard new-player bonus: 50,000 aUEC. Any valid STAR-XXXX-XXXX code grants the same amount.
Rules:
official Referral Program FAQ.
No public Free Fly is live (October 10, 2026). Ship Showdown 2956 free flight of the tournament Elite 8 ran August 26 through September 2, 2026 and is closed. Alpha 4.10.2 went live October 9 with RSI Discovery Month. That is an in-game event for people who already have access, not a public Free Fly. There is no CitizenCon in 2026. A closed Squadron 42 event in Manchester (October 9-11) is not a public Free Fly. The next widely expected public window is IAE in November 2026 (dates TBA). Confirm dates on the RSI homepage (new accounts vs existing backers can differ).
Earlier 2026 windows: Foundation Festival (July 29–August 10) and DefenseCon (May 14–27). Details: Foundation Festival 2026.
Extra referral kits (for example the Foundation Festival Ready for Anything Career Kit) are separate from Free Fly access and are not currently advertised as live. See the referral guide promo section and trust RSI banners for dates.
What is Free Fly?
During Free Fly, Cloud Imperium opens temporary free access to the Star Citizen alpha. You still need an RSI account and the RSI Launcher. Most events include a set of loaner ships so you can try more than one role without pledging them.
When the event ends, free access stops unless another Free Fly is running. Your account remains; permanent play needs a game package.
Free Fly is the best time to check whether your PC can run the game and whether you enjoy the alpha - see system requirements - before you spend money.
Why use a referral code during Free Fly?
- Referral codes work at enlist whether or not a Free Fly is active.
- The 50,000 aUEC new-player bonus is separate from free weekend access.
- If you skip the code and miss the ~24-hour grace window, you cannot add it later on that account.
- Events often stack extra referral rewards (kits, ships, armor) for recruit and referrer when you buy a qualifying package during the promo window - see the referral guide and RSI Free Fly welcome article.
Best practice: create your account with STAR-HBP4-QP46 (or a friend's code) before or during Free Fly, even if you wait to buy a pack.
When do Free Flys usually happen?
CIG does not publish a fixed annual calendar, but Free Flys often appear around:
- Major patch launches
- DefenseCon (spring 2026; historically Invictus Launch Week)
- Foundation Festival (often mid-summer)
- Ship Showdown (late August / early September)
- IAE (often November). CitizenCon usually sits nearby, but CIG is not holding CitizenCon in 2026
- Holiday or marketing windows
Official announcements on RSI and Spectrum are the source of truth for exact start and end times.
How to join a Free Fly
- Create an RSI account with code STAR-HBP4-QP46 (or a friend's code).
- Install the RSI Launcher from the official site and log in with that account.
- Download Star Citizen when the event is live (plan for a large install on an SSD).
- Confirm your PC can handle the alpha - system requirements.
- Fly the loaners, learn basics, and decide if you want a permanent package.
- If you enjoy it, buy a starter pack for continuous access after Free Fly ends.
After Free Fly ends
- Without a package, you generally cannot keep playing until the next free window.
- Your handle, email, referral status, and hangar history stay on the account.
- If a limited-time referral promo is still open, a qualifying purchase may still earn the extra reward - check RSI for the exact end date.
- Next Free Fly will be announced by CIG; bookmark the RSI homepage rather than third-party calendars alone.
Free Fly FAQ
New player guides
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