Introduction of "Flight Blades" and Pay-to-Win Concerns: CIG introduced new ship customization items, called "flight blades," available exclusively through the cash shop, which enhance ship performance, leading to accusations of pay-to-win mechanics. This has frustrated players, particularly long-time backers who feel it undermines the game's integrity and prioritizes revenue over fairness.
The "Flight Blades" system in Star Citizen was scrapped after intense community backlash due to its initial real-money-only availability, which sparked widespread accusations of pay-to-win monetization.
Ongoing Development Delays and Financial Scrutiny: With Star Citizen still in alpha after over a decade and $800 million raised, fans are increasingly skeptical of CIG's financial management and development progress. Critics argue that the reliance on new monetization strategies suggests funding issues, despite the massive crowdfunding success.
