Star Citizen changed how players gift ships, starter packages, and other RSI pledges on October 30, 2026. The biggest difference is when you make the decision: new purchases intended as gifts must be designated as gifts at checkout, while eligible pledges bought before that date retain the older My Hangar gifting process for now. The change also affects what happens after a gift is claimed, whether melting or upgrading can restore gift eligibility, and how long a recipient has to redeem a new gift code. At the same time, a separate Game Library system protects the pledges responsible for access to Star Citizen and Squadron 42. With IAE approaching, these details matter before you spend real money on a ship, build a CCU chain, or choose a game package for a friend.
Short answer: For pledges purchased on or after October 30, 2026, you can only gift an eligible item by selecting "Buying as a gift?" during checkout. Older eligible pledges can still use legacy gifting, but a protected game-access package cannot be gifted or melted, and upgrading or buying back a new pledge does not make it giftable.
What Changed to Star Citizen Gifting on October 30, 2026?
The new system separates purchases intended for the buyer from purchases intended for someone else. Previously, a player could buy an eligible pledge, leave it in My Hangar, and decide to gift it later. That flexibility remains for qualifying legacy pledges, but it is no longer how newly acquired pledges work. CIG confirmed the October 30 implementation date and the checkout-based process in its October 27 gifting FAQ.
The purchase date matters more than the ship model. Two players may own the same ship, with identical insurance and an apparently identical hangar entry, yet face different gifting options because one pledge was acquired before the change and the other afterward. Before planning a transfer, check the original acquisition date, the payment method, whether the item was already gifted, and whether it is tied to protected game access.
| Pledge situation | Can it be gifted? | What happens next? |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible pledge acquired before October 30 | Yes, under legacy rules | Use the Gift option in My Hangar, provided the pledge still meets the older restrictions. |
| New pledge bought for your own account | No | It stays on your account. Eligible items may still be upgraded or reclaimed, but those actions do not create gift eligibility. |
| New pledge marked "Buying as a gift?" | Yes, if that option is offered | A redemption code is sent to the recipient. The pledge enters their hangar after they claim it. |
| New gift already claimed by its recipient | Cannot be gifted again | The recipient may use eligible upgrade or reclaim options, but cannot restore transferability through melting, CCU, or buyback. |
| Protected game-access pledge | No | The pledge is locked against gifting and reclaiming. Eligible ship upgrades remain possible. |
| Gift code issued before October 30 | Existing redemption remains valid | Legacy gift codes retain their previous conditions and do not receive the new 30-day claim deadline. |
One point deserves emphasis: an eligible product is not automatically giftable simply because it is a standalone ship or a game package. For new purchases, the checkout must actually display the gifting option. If it does not appear, do not assume that paying with fresh money, buying a Warbond version, or applying a later upgrade will solve the problem.
Can You Still Gift Ships Purchased Before October 30?
Yes. CIG grandfathered pledges originally acquired before the October 30 change. If one of those pledges was giftable under the old system and remains eligible, its owner can still open My Hangar, expand the pledge, and select Gift. That is a meaningful exception for players who accumulated ships, packages, or CCU projects before the new checkout system arrived.
Legacy status does not mean every old item is transferable. A pledge purchased wholly or partly with RSI Store Credit may be ineligible. Promotional and referral rewards can be account-bound. High-value pledges and specific restricted ships can also be excluded. Most importantly, a pledge designated as protected game access cannot leave the account even if it was acquired years ago.
What if an old giftable ship has been upgraded?
Under the legacy rules, applying a Cross-Chassis Upgrade generally does not change the underlying pledge's gift status. An eligible cash-purchased base pledge can therefore remain giftable after an upgrade, provided it does not cross an applicable value restriction or become protected game access. Conversely, an originally non-giftable base pledge does not become transferable just because you apply a Warbond CCU.
That distinction is especially important when evaluating an older CCU chain. A ship's current appearance is not proof of how its original pledge was purchased. The relevant information is the underlying pledge history and the gifting controls available in My Hangar.
Do older unclaimed gifts expire after 30 days now?
No. The new 30-day claim window applies to gifts purchased under the system introduced on October 30. Gifts initiated before the change, including existing unredeemed gift codes, continue under the earlier rules. CIG did not retroactively attach a 30-day expiration date to them.
How to Gift a Star Citizen Ship or Game Package Now
For a new purchase, gifting happens during the transaction rather than through a ship temporarily stored in the buyer's hangar. The process is straightforward, but the recipient's account and the timing of the email deserve attention. RSI's updated official gifting instructions explain the required checkout option and redemption flow.
- Sign in to your RSI account. You cannot complete a gift purchase anonymously.
- Choose the ship, game package, or other eligible pledge. Check its exact contents, including whether it provides Star Citizen game access.
- Look for "Buying as a gift?" at checkout. Select it before paying. If the option is absent, that particular offering is not available for gifting under the new system.
- Enter the intended recipient's details. RSI accepts the supported recipient email or handle information shown during checkout.
- Pay using an eligible cash payment method. RSI Store Credit cannot fund a gift purchase, even partially.
- Complete the order. The buyer receives a receipt and redemption code, while the recipient receives a separate gift email containing the single-use code and a link to claim the pledge.
- Have the recipient sign in, verify their email, and redeem the code. Once successfully claimed, the pledge and its associated entitlements are assigned to their RSI account.
The recipient does not need to have an RSI account when you make the purchase. They can create one after receiving the gift email, provided they complete account setup and confirm the email address before redeeming the code. The buyer never needs to place the new gift in their own hangar first.
Why the gift email and redemption code matter
The code is effectively the key to the pledge. It is not restricted to the account associated with the email address entered during checkout: anyone holding the valid code can redeem it while signed into an eligible RSI account. A typo, forwarded email, or accidentally shared screenshot can therefore create a genuine problem. Verify the recipient's address before purchase and treat the code like private account information.
If you have multiple RSI accounts, double-check which one is signed in before redeeming. Once the code has been claimed, the entitlement belongs to that account. The buyer cannot simply pull the ship back into their own hangar because they meant to use a different recipient.
The 30-day deadline, automatic refunds, and gift scheduling
Newly purchased gifts must be claimed within 30 calendar days of the transaction. If nobody redeems the code before that deadline, RSI automatically cancels the gift and initiates a full refund to the buyer's original payment method, including applicable taxes. The buyer can also cancel an unclaimed gift through RSI's available cancellation process. A cancelled or expired code cannot subsequently be used.
Once a new gift has been claimed, it is no longer covered by RSI's voluntary change-of-mind refund arrangement for these gifts. Applicable statutory consumer rights remain separate. This is why the recipient should examine the package carefully before redeeming, particularly when it will become the account's protected game-access pledge.
There is also no delayed-send feature. The gifting email is generated when the purchase completes, not on a date you choose later. If you want a new IAE ship to arrive as a birthday or holiday surprise, time the transaction accordingly; purchasing it weeks early will not keep the gift hidden until the celebration.
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Why Game Access Can Prevent Gifting or Melting
The October gifting overhaul is only one part of the account changes. Star Citizen's Game Library system arrived on October 1, 2026, and identifies the pledge responsible for access to each game on an account. A protected pledge cannot be gifted away or reclaimed for Store Credit, preventing the owner from accidentally losing access by removing the wrong package.
RSI allowed players to review and change their protected Game Access Pledge selections until November 1, 2026. As of November 2, that selection window has closed, so older advice telling players to switch their protected package before melting another one is no longer generally actionable. The official Game Access Pledge guide describes the selection system, its deadline, and the locked status displayed in My Hangar.
A standalone ship is not the same as a game package
A ship can be valuable, rare, or expensive without including the entitlement needed to launch Star Citizen. An ordinary standalone pledge does not automatically grant the Star Citizen Digital Download. A player who only receives a standalone ship must already have game access through an eligible game package or another qualifying account entitlement.
For someone starting from scratch, a genuine Star Citizen game package is usually the relevant gift, not merely a standalone ship with a higher price tag. Read the package contents rather than judging access by the ship shown on the store page. Squadron 42 access is also a separate entitlement; owning Star Citizen does not automatically establish that every account has both games.
Once a new pilot has access to the Persistent Universe, other progression systems become relevant. For example, faction reputation progression determines access to certain mission chains and higher-tier contracts, but it does not replace a game license. A service or in-game unlock cannot turn an account without Star Citizen access into an account that owns the game.
Can you upgrade the ship inside a protected game package?
Yes, if the relevant Cross-Chassis Upgrade is available and applicable. The protection applies to the pledge that carries game access, not to the exact ship configuration forever. You may upgrade the ship inside it while the protected game entitlement remains attached.
What you cannot do is use that upgrade to unlock gifting or melting. A protected starter package remains protected after its starter ship becomes a more expensive vessel. This matters for long CCU chains: upgrading a ship and retaining the flexibility to exchange the entire pledge later are two different decisions.
What Happens When You Melt, Buy Back, or Upgrade a Pledge?
Players often use "melt" to mean reclaiming a pledge for RSI Store Credit. It is not a cash refund, and it is not an alternative gifting method. Whether a ship can be melted depends on the pledge's status and restrictions, while the gift rules depend on how and when that pledge was acquired.
Melting a ship purchased for your own account
An eligible new personal purchase may still have the Exchange for Store Credit option in My Hangar. Reclaiming removes the whole pledge, including its applied upgrades and bundled contents, and assigns the applicable pledge value to your RSI account as Store Credit. Taxes paid on the original purchase are not included in the melt value. RSI also applies a 24-hour cooldown after a purchase before a pledge can be reclaimed.
Check the package name before confirming. If you melt a package containing a ship, insurance, and other items, those contents go together. Applied CCUs are stripped, and any possible buyback generally concerns the original base pledge rather than the upgraded ship. Some pledges cannot be bought back at all.
The crucial gifting consequence is permanent for newly acquired personal pledges: melting the ship and buying it back does not make it eligible to send as a gift. Neither does rebuilding it with upgrades. If your real objective is transferring ownership to a friend, you must choose the gift route at the original eligible checkout.
Can the recipient melt a gifted ship?
Usually, a recipient who has claimed an eligible gift can reclaim it for Store Credit on their own RSI account. That Store Credit belongs to the recipient, not the person who originally paid. However, the normal reclaim exclusions still apply. In particular, a pledge protected as the recipient's game-access package cannot be melted.
Reclaiming a claimed gift does not reopen the transfer path. For gifts governed by the October 30 rules, an exchange, an upgrade, or a subsequent buyback cannot turn the item into something the recipient can gift onward. The one-way nature of the transfer is part of the new ownership model.
RSI Store Credit and aUEC are completely different
RSI Store Credit is an account balance used for eligible transactions in the official pledge store. aUEC is the currency used inside the playable Star Citizen Alpha economy. Players use in-game aUEC for ships, equipment, and other gameplay purchases, but it cannot pay an RSI gift order or alter a pledge's gifting status.
Likewise, earning a ship in the game is not the same as purchasing a permanent website pledge. In-game currency, reputation, and reward ships follow their respective gameplay systems; RSI's October 30 gifting rules address qualifying pledge-store entitlements and redemption codes.
What to Check Before Buying Ships or Gifts at IAE 2956
IAE encourages players to compare ships, try unfamiliar roles, and reconsider the composition of their fleet. The new gifting rules add a decision that must happen before payment: are you buying the pledge for your own account, or specifically for another player? Answer that question first, then work through the actual package and its restrictions.
If you want to give a new player their first ship
Look for a package that explicitly includes Star Citizen game access. Confirm the "Buying as a gift?" option, use an eligible payment method, and give the recipient time to create and verify their RSI account. A standalone ship may be an excellent addition to an existing player's fleet, but it is not automatically a playable starter package for someone with no game entitlement.
Do not expect a gift purchased early in an IAE sale to wait in your hangar until the end of the event. The code is sent automatically, and the new 30-day redemption clock begins when the transaction completes.
If you are building a CCU chain for yourself
You can still purchase eligible upgrades, apply them to compatible ships, and change what you fly. What has changed is the ability to turn a newly purchased personal pledge into a future gift. If you buy the base pledge for yourself after October 30, upgrading it into a different ship does not create a transferable gift.
This matters even more for expensive chains. The advertised upgrade value, insurance, and final ship do not override the original pledge's ownership restrictions. If that base is your protected game-access package, a CCU can change the ship without making the package meltable.
If your main goal is simply to fly a different ship
A pledge-store purchase is not always the only way to expand the ships available to your character. Depending on the current Alpha economy and available activities, an in-game purchase or a reward obtained through a contract may suit your goal. For example, Wikelo contract ships are acquired through specific collection or crafting objectives rather than the RSI gift-code process.
Those alternatives have their own requirements and persistence rules. They should not be described as substitutes for a permanent pledge entitlement, and an in-game reward does not grant Star Citizen access to an account that lacks it.
Before checkout: Check the original pledge date, whether the listing offers gifting, the payment source, the recipient's account needs, the exact game-access entitlement, and any protected-pledge status. For a new gift, also consider the automatic email delivery and 30-day redemption deadline.
Gift Limits, Ineligible Pledges, and Third-Party Transfers
Even with the correct checkout option, RSI imposes additional limits. These restrictions can affect both older pledges and new gift purchases, so a successful purchase by itself should not be treated as proof that every resulting item is transferable.
- Store Credit: A new gift order cannot use RSI Store Credit, whether for the full price or only part of it.
- Individual pledge value: Pledges valued above US$1,000 are excluded from gifting under the current rules.
- Daily gift volume: RSI restricts accounts from sending more than US$1,000 worth of gifts within a 24-hour period.
- Protected game access: A locked game-access pledge cannot be gifted or reclaimed.
- Restricted items: Certain promotions, referral rewards, physical merchandise, and other specifically excluded items cannot be gifted.
- Account requirements: RSI's existing gifting guidance includes multi-factor authentication and a 30-day lock after an account's first pledge. The available checkout options and current account eligibility remain the final practical checks.
The rules also address a question that becomes particularly relevant around major ship sales: gifting is not an authorized method for selling pledges to other players. RSI's Terms of Service prohibit requesting or receiving payment or other consideration in return for gifts covered by the new rules, and they prohibit using the feature to facilitate secondary-market sales or trades through unauthorized websites. RSI does not provide ordinary purchase protection for those outside transactions.
That is a separate issue from helping another player earn a ship through gameplay. When evaluating any listing or offer, identify whether the advertised result is an RSI website pledge, a code-based gift, an in-game contract reward, or something else. The delivery method determines which restrictions and risks actually apply.
Why a Gift or Melt Option Might Be Missing
When a button disappears from My Hangar or checkout, it is tempting to assume the website is broken. Usually, the first step is to identify which rule applies to the specific pledge. An item that was bought for personal use after October 30 is a different case from an older pledge that was once giftable but later became protected game access.
| Problem | Likely explanation | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No Gift button on a new ship in My Hangar | New personal purchases are not converted into gifts afterward. | Check the original purchase date and whether gifting was selected at checkout. |
| No "Buying as a gift?" option at checkout | That item or offer is not eligible for the new gifting process. | Review the exact pledge listing; do not assume another payment method will create the missing option. |
| Gift purchase rejects Store Credit | Gift orders require an eligible cash payment method. | Remove Store Credit from the gift transaction. |
| Exchange for Store Credit is unavailable | The pledge may be protected, restricted, or still subject to the reclaim cooldown. | Inspect its game-access status and the specific pledge's reclaim eligibility. |
| Recipient cannot redeem a code | Wrong account, unverified email, expired code, or another redemption issue. | Confirm the logged-in RSI account, email verification, and the code's stated deadline. |
| Upgraded ship still cannot be gifted | CCUs do not override the original pledge's new gifting restrictions. | Review whether the base pledge was a legacy item or a post-change personal purchase. |
If your situation does not match one of these explanations, check the account's actual pledge entry and contact RSI Support with the order information. This is particularly useful for unexpected game-access locks or redemption errors. Support cannot simply designate a ship-only pledge as a game-access package when the entitlement is not included.
Star Citizen Gifting Changes FAQ
These additional questions cover details that are easy to miss when planning a gift or managing several RSI accounts.
Can I buy a ship as a gift now and choose the delivery date later?
No. For purchases under the new system, the gift email is sent automatically after the transaction completes. There is no built-in scheduling option.
Who receives the badges, perks, and referral credit from a new gift?
The recipient receives the pledge's associated badges and perks when the gift is claimed. CIG says referral credit connected to the purchase remains with the buyer.
Does receiving a gifted pledge make the recipient a Backer?
Not automatically. RSI distinguishes between receiving a gift and making an eligible cash pledge on your own account. A gifted game package can grant its listed game entitlement without turning the recipient's gift into their own qualifying purchase for every account-status purpose.
Can someone redeem my gift code using a different email address?
Yes. The redemption code is not locked to the email entered by the buyer. It can be claimed by an eligible, signed-in RSI account with a confirmed email address, so keeping the code private is essential.
Conclusion
For new Star Citizen purchases, the critical choice now happens at checkout: buy for yourself or designate an eligible pledge as a gift immediately. Legacy purchases keep their older gifting path, while protected game-access pledges stay locked and eligible ships can still receive CCUs. Before IAE spending, verify the exact package contents and transfer rules. A few minutes checking those details can prevent you from buying a ship that cannot be gifted, melted, or used to access the game in the way you intended.
