Citizens, sound the alarms and fire up those engines! Ship Showdown 2955 has officially begun, and the 'verse is locked and loaded for the fiercest clash yet in the battle for aerospace supremacy! Last year, the F8C Lightning blitzed to victory through a gauntlet of fierce competitors. But the C1 Spirit, Terrapin, and Reclaimer also claimed their moment in the sun, each earning Best in Show honors and making clear how deeply you, the community, hold them to heart. As we kick off this year's event, we're honoring these beloved champions by making them available for the next 48 hours (until July 31 at 2000 UTC). Now, the arena is set for a new battle. The question remains: Will Lightning strike twice, or will a fresh contender rise to claim the title? Ship Showdown is a month-long event to crown the most beloved flyable or drivable vehicle in the 'verse. There are epic ships to win, a Free Fly featuring the Elite Eight, exclusive Best in Show paints, and in-game manufacturer-themed posters for the Final Four — plus a special champion's prize for this year's ultimate victor. YOU hold the power to decide the outcome, starting right now with Phase 1 of Ship Showdown! Welcome to Ship Showdown 2955 - Phase 1 July 29 through August 12 Phase 1 is your battlefield. Fight for your favorite flyable or drivable vehicle and rally support with an original creation (any medium, any style, anything goes) as long as it celebrates your chosen champion. Spin up a space shanty or battle ballad; forge your fighter with plastic parts, paint or pixels; snap a sensational screenshot; make a music motion masterpiece; or throw together a triumphant trailer. Hell, build the ship for real if you're up to it! Post your creation to the Community Hub or on X using #ShipShowdown by August 12 @ 20:00 UTC. But the fight isn't just creative, it's real. Your in-game hustle matters: flight and drive time, hauling, mining, salvaging, and combat all contribute. Every minute spent in related gameplay activities helps fuel your champion's push toward the Top 16. So grab your Vulture and salvage, load up your RAFT and haul, or take your favorite ride for a joy flight across Stanton. Pilot your favorite vehicle like the title depends on it — because it does. That said, don't rely on gameplay alone; submissions still carry major weight in the final tally! Need a spark of inspiration? Here's a glimpse at some of the incredible submissions we've seen in past years. The top 16 vehicles revving up the most action and passion will move on to Ship Showdown Phase 2 - the Live Showdown (from August 18 through September 2), where they will go head-to-head in the biggest annual space smackdown in the 'verse. To keep the battle fierce and balanced, the Top 16 will be divided into distinct ship divisions: :gear: Heavy Duty Division (Industrial) :checkered_flag: Speed Demons Division (Racing) :gun: Run & Gun Division (Combat)