Make the Future.

Shaping the ‘verse IRL for a pan-galactic celebration.

CitizenCon 2953 marked a momentous occasion for the Star Citizen community, ending a four-year hiatus of Cloud Imperium Games’ (CIG) beloved annual fan festival tailored for the game’s most ardent players. This highly anticipated event’s core mission was to immerse fans in the next era of Star Citizen by showcasing the captivating new world of Pyro and unveiling the game’s exciting new direction. The game itself stands as one of the most ambitious IPs, fueling passion and demands from the dedicated community. CIG forged a universe, backed by fervent fans, redefining the sci-fi space genre and setting a new standard in visuals, physics, gameplay, exploration, and navigation. With countless players longing for this universe’s realization, CitizenCon 2953 was not merely an event—it marked a monumental update of great significance.

CitizenCon 2953 serves as a dynamic platform for the fans to come together, exchange insights on game development for both Star Citizen and its single-player campaign companion game Squadron42, unveil new in-game components such as ships, equipment, planets, and capabilities, and most importantly, celebrate the devoted community of fans. The overarching goal was to not only provide attendees with a firsthand experience but also to ignite their enthusiasm, fostering deeper engagement and retention.

Services

• Audience Journey

  Creative & Environment Design

  Art Direction

  Booth Design

  Keynote Content & Production

  Technical Design & Implementation

  Project Management

Solution

InVision, the creative agency behind CitizenCon 2953, orchestrated a multi-faceted experience across two expansive halls. The main general session stage was designed as the more civilized Stanton system within the game. This stage was jam-packed with two full days of a diverse array of content, panel discussions, remote interviews streamed live from around the festival floor, a captivating 25-minute opening video, and a thrilling cosplay contest. Additionally, a live streaming component was seamlessly integrated, expanding the event’s reach to a global audience and further enhancing engagement.

Adjacent to the main stage, InVision brought the uncharted, lawless world of Pyro to life. Fans had the unique opportunity to physically step into this unexplored in-game star system. The immersive entry experience was almost cinematic – a narrow corridor cloaked in black drapes with hazers filling the atmosphere with an unsettling mist. Eerie red lighting emanated from LED tube lights along the walls, while overhead, giant old tires, burn barrels, and scraps of cardboard added to the ambience. This immersive entryway set the tone for what lay ahead.

As fans ventured deeper into the expo space, they entered “Rundown Station,” a visually stunning amalgamation of decay and revival. This space celebrated the essence of the Star Citizen fanbase. Community booths provided a platform for players to express their passion for the game amidst a setting that seamlessly blended with the Pyro theme. Weathered tarps, rusted metal sheets, and graffiti from in-game rival gangs served as backdrops, creating an authentic atmosphere. The inclusion of game audio further heightened the sense of immersion.

Fans had the opportunity to explore demo stations for hands-on gameplay, watch intense Player vs. Player action on the ATMO eSports stage, browse a merchandise booth, and capture memorable moments with photo ops featuring a step and repeat backdrop as well as the iconic Dragonfly—an in-game hovercraft available for a fans to pose on.