Cloud Imperium Games has eliminated alpha access and module passes to Star Citizen, which for the non initiates among you means that all backers with game packages now have access to all aspects of the game. The news came in Chris Roberts' most recent Letter From the Chairman update, in which he also announced that Star Citizen has surpassed one million backers.
"Anyone who has pledged for a Star Citizen Package can now play today without worrying they won’t have access to some portion of the ‘Verse in the future. No Star Marine pass, no Alpha 2.0 pass… no additional payment needed for any module in the works, pre-release," Roberts wrote. "Going forward, should we need to put out some sort of limited release it will be done through the PTU test server. All backers will have access to any live release, the moment it publishes."
Backers with alpha access packages will be given 10,000 UEC [United Earth Credits, Star Citizen's in-game currency], with the UEC cap raised to accommodate the boost. Roberts also said players who have purchased a separate Arena Commander pass would get 5000 UEC, but Community Manager Jared Huckaby clarified in a forum post that they'll actually be given $5 of in-store credit.
"You also have my most sincere thanks: you were our vanguard, the battalion that fought the good fight from the beginning," Roberts wrote. "Your impact on Star Citizen will never be forgotten, for without your early faith we couldn’t be where we are today."
The credit payout will require "a big script," he added, and so is expected to take a few days to work out.
