Dear Chris, I am a day 1 backer that windmill slammed the Kickstarter page on the very day this was revealed at GDC, and I write to request urgent clarity on a fundamental design question that continues to divide the community: the role of PvP combat in the persistent universe. The Core Issue The community remains fractured between those who envision Star Citizen as a primarily PVE experience with optional PVP elements, and those who see unavoidable player conflict as essential to the game's vision. This division stems from fragmentary messaging over the years and what can be perceived to be an evolution away from multiple early promises: Original Kickstarter Vision (2012); A PU by CIG, private servers with player-hosted drop-in/drop-out gameplay and full modding support PVP Slider Concept (2013): First mentioned in 10 for the Chairman episode 1, this was meant to allow players to control their exposure to PVP combat Dynamic Ecosystem (2020): Laid out in Calling All Devs (Player vs Player) in 2020, the video introduced the concept which we experience today in Live As someone who used to work in this industry, I completely understand that game development is iterative, and that ideas naturally evolve over more than a decade of development. Projects of this scope require flexibility, and sometimes early concepts prove unworkable or incompatible with the larger vision. Not only is this acceptable, it's necessary for creating the best possible product. However, when fundamental design pillars shift, clear communication about these changes becomes crucial for maintaining community trust and alignment. What We Need 1. Definitive Server Architecture Decision Will Star Citizen's PU offer separate PVE-focused servers, or will all players share the same universe with mandatory PVP exposure? The current "one universe" messaging conflicts with many backers' understanding of original promises 2. Address Evolved Design decisions The original Kickstarter promised private servers that players could host, modify, and customize, including PVP/PVE rulesets. Later came the PVP slider concept for the persistent universe. If these approaches are no longer viable due to technical constraints or design evolution, that's completely understandable. But the community needs transparent communication about what has replaced them and why the changes were necessary. 3. Clarify NPC-to-Player Ratios It has been stated NPCs should comprise a significant majority (up to 90%) of the universe's population. How does this reconcile with concerns about player griefing and the overall gameplay experience for those seeking primarily PVE content? Why Clarity Matters Natural Evolution: Understanding how the vision has evolved from private/moddable servers to the current approach would help backers align their expectations Development Focus: PVP and PVE systems require fundamentally different design approaches, and clarity helps efficient resource allocation Community Unity: The current uncertainty is creating unnecessary division when clear communication could unite everyone around the current vision Informed Support: Backers can better support the project when they understand what they're ultimately funding Realistic Expectations: Clear direction allows the community to provide more constructive feedback aligned with your actual goals My Request With CitizenCon 2025 scheduled for October, this would be an ideal occasion to provide the comprehensive communication the community needs. I suggest either a dedicated presentation segment or detailed developer video addressing: Your current vision for PVP's role in Star Citizen Whether separate server types are technically and philosophically viable How you plan to cater to both PVP-focused and PVE-focused backers A timeline for implementing whatever solution you choose CitizenCon's format allows for the kind of in-depth discussion this topic deserves, and would demonstrate CIG's commitment to transparency on this foundational issue. Moving Forward Together I remain committed to Star Citizen's success, but clarity is needed between your vision and community expectations. Definitive answers now, even if they mean acknowledging changed directions, serve everyone better than continued ambiguity. It's my opinion that we need definitive answers on this foundational question. As someone who has supported this project for years, I'd greatly appreciate knowing what game we're ultimately building together. Respectfully, Davlos / #41073