Foundation Festival is all about spotlighting what makes the Star Citizen community stand out: a commitment to collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and helping others find their footing among the stars. This year, we're celebrating Foundation Festival from now through August 12 with a Referral Bonus, rewards for those using the newly upgraded Guide System, and Twitch Drops for tuning into your favorite participating streamers! Got friends who've never flown before? There is also a Free Fly running through August 10. If it's your first time in the 'verse, our refreshed Welcome Hub is a great launchpad with a collection of key resources to help you get off the ground and into the action. But if you’re looking for a more personal way to connect, learn, or lend a hand, the Guide System is the perfect place to start. Guides are Star Citizen’s ambassadors and, often, the first friendly face new players meet in Star Citizen. With so much to see, learn, and explore, the 'verse can feel a little daunting at first. That's where Guides come in. As a Guide, you can carry the torch, offering light, support, and experience to help others find their way. As a Recruit, teaming up with a veteran player can turn uncertain first steps into confident strides. And during this year's Foundation Festival, there are plenty of opportunities for both those lighting the path and those stepping onto it for the first time to earn epic rewards. From July 29 through August 12, every Guide who uses the Guide System will automatically earn Foundation Festival-themed rewards. The more guide sessions you complete (or the more categories you help with), the more you'll rack up. 1 session gets you a beanie bundle. Complete 2 sessions and you'll add a hat to that. 3 sessions unlock everything above, plus a brand-new Foundation Festival armor (its in-game look is still catching up and will match the design pictured below in an upcoming patch). Please note that while rewards will be distributed throughout Foundation Festival, it can take some time for items to show up in your hangar. A successful guide session is one that lasts at least 30 minutes and ends with a verified Endorsement* from the Recruit. Only sessions that meet both criteria will count toward Foundation Festival rewards. * Recruits (the ones requesting a Guide) will receive a message prompt after a successful session, asking them to verify the Guide and confirm the tutorial category completed. This prompt will appear via Private Message on Spectrum. Heads up! If you already own one of the rewards, you won't be able to receive it a second time. Also, please remember that we can monitor and verify all Guide interactions and disqualify players attempting to game the system. In addition to the above rewards, those who lend a hand (or reach out for one) will be rewarded with Foundation Festival-themed ship liveries honoring each tutorial path. Only one paint is awarded per guide category (for both the Guide and the Recruit), but you can earn up to thirteen in total by completing all thirteen categories. Rewards are determined by the category endorsed by the Recruit at the end of the session. Check below to see which livery goes with which category: Beginner Basics: Anvil Arrow Foundation Festival Paint Vehicle Combat: Aegis Gladius Foundation Festival Paint FPS Combat: Anvil Valkyrie Foundation Festival Paint Mining: MISC Prospector Foundation Festival Paint Salvaging: Drake Vulture Foundation Festival Paint Missions & Reputation: Drake Cutlass Black Foundation Festival Paint Trading: Drake Caterpillar Foundation Festival Paint Medical: Drake Cutlass Red Foundation Festival Paint Racing: Mirai Razor Foundation Festival Paint Refueling: MISC Starfarer Foundation Festival Paint Touring: Origin 600i Touring Foundation Festival Paint Miscellaneous: Crusader Mercury Star Runner Foundation Festival Paint Refresher Basics: RSI Aurora Mk II Paint (New! :fire:) Head over to the Guide Hub to get started! Thank you to everyone who goes the extra mile to make this community special: the ones mentoring new pilots, flying wing for someone they've just met, or answering the same question on Spectrum for the tenth time without losing patience. Happy Foundation Festival!