This just in: Star Citizen is the most expensive free-to-play game.
Just kidding.
Star Citizen isn't going free-to-play. It's not even out yet. However, as part of the game's annual Foundation Festival, potential citizens can pilot one of six ships in Star Citizen for a limited time without paying for it.
The "Free Fly" event will run from July 8 to July 15 and let players try out the ambitious space sim without paying at least $45 for the cheapest starter pack. The free ships are the Cutlass, the Avenger Titan, the Dragonfly, the Arrow, and the Mercury. Unfortunately, you can't keep the said ships forever once the promotion ends. After July 15, you'll have to give the ships back or buy them.
Star Citizen is easily the most expensive video game ever made with a running development cost of $400 million (and growing). What makes Roberts Space Industries' project unique is that it doesn't sell gamers the actual game. Instead, the crowd-funding revolves around individual ships that can range in price from $45 to tens of thousands of dollars. Despite its notoriety, Star Citizen boasts a healthy community of players eager to help out newbies.