When Star Citizen launched a Kickstarter back in October 2012, the initial release date at the time was expected to be November 2014. But that date came and went without the finalized product being released, and the development for the Star Citizen universe elongated into a more complicated timeline. Some say it’s to be expected, others are skeptical as to why this happened.
Regardless of stance, the official Star Citizen terms of service recently updated once more to reflect this shift in development. The rules that allowed refund requests after an 18 month delay have been removed from the terms of service for the game altogether. This means the clause to provide financial accountability has no deadline whatsoever to let the backer community know where their money went:
For the avoidance of doubt, following the Cancellation Period, in consideration of RSI’s good faith efforts to develop, produce, and deliver the Game with the funds raised, you agree that any Pledge amounts applied against the Pledge Item Cost and the Game Cost shall be non-refundable regardless of whether or not RSI is able to complete and deliver the Game and/or the pledge items. In the unlikely event that RSI is not able to deliver the Game and/or the pledge items, RSI agrees to refund any unearned portion of your Pledge, and to post an audited cost accounting on the Website to fully explain the use of the amounts paid for Pledge Item Cost and the Game Cost. In consideration of the promises by RSI hereunder, you agree that, following the Cancellation Period, you shall irrevocably waive any claim for refund of any Pledge that has been used for the Game Cost and Pledge Item Cost in accordance with the above.
This recent change was noted by a recent report via Kotaku, which contrasted the changes made from the previous TOS, to the most current one mandated to people who wish to continue being involved in the ongoing development of the game. According to the Terms of Service from February 1st 2015:
RSI [Roberts Space Industries] agrees to use its good faith business efforts to deliver to you the pledge items and the Game on or before the estimated delivery date communicated to you on the Website. However, you acknowledge and agree that delivery as of such date is not a firm promise and may be extended by RSI since unforeseen events may extend the development and/or production time. Accordingly, you agree that any unearned portion of your Pledge shall not be refundable until and unless RSI has failed to deliver the relevant pledge items and/or the Game to you within eighteen (18) months after the estimated delivery date.
To the new changes made just recently on June 10th of this year:
RSI agrees to use its good faith business efforts to deliver to you the pledge items and the Game on or before the estimated delivery date communicated to you on the Website. However, you acknowledge and agree that delivery as of such date is not a firm promise and may be extended by RSI since unforeseen events may extend the development and/or production time. Accordingly, you agree that any unearned portion of your Pledge shall not be refundable until and unless RSI has ceased development and failed to deliver the relevant pledge items and/or the Game to you. (Pledges made under previous Terms of Services continue to be governed by the corresponding clause of the Terms of Services, or of the Commercial Terms, as applicable, which were in effect at the time of making the Pledge).
The Kotaku report goes on to state that their legal adviser thought the likelihood of refunds under either terms of service was incredibly slim.
Star Citizen‘s most recent update to their persistant universe arrived in Patch 2.4. This opened up a shopping outlet at the “ArcCorp” section of the game. You can read in detail about the numerous additions and tweaks to the game here, which include the addition of an in-game currency called UEC.
