The RSI Perseus is the winner of Ship Showdown 2956, CIG’s annual vote for the most loved flyable or drivable vehicle in Star Citizen. It beat the Drake Ironclad Assault in the final, with the Origin M80 and Drake Corsair rounding out the Final Four. CIG announced the result on September 2 after a contest that ran from July 28.
The result matters beyond bragging rights because the prizes are handed out at the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE), the annual ship show later this year. Owners of the four finalists get Best in Show paints, coins and a coin case, and all backers get a commemorative bomber jacket. Here is how the contest worked and what to expect at IAE.
The Final Four and the result
The Perseus took the title from the RSI Polaris, which won in 2955 ahead of the Asgard, Zeus ES and Gladiator. CIG gave last year’s finalists a victory lap from July 28 to August 3 before the new contest began.
- RSI Perseus, champion: the gunship CIG describes as the modern successor to its historic Perseus, built for civilian and paramilitary operations
- Drake Ironclad Assault, runner-up: a heavy dropship with room for cargo, troops and small vehicles alongside its firepower
- Origin M80: Origin’s first heavy fighter, with retractable weapons, missiles and high durability
- Drake Corsair: the exploration ship pitched for battle, discovery and delivery
Phase 1: creative entries and play time
Phase 1 ran from July 28 to August 14 at 20:00 UTC. Players backed a vehicle by posting an original creation, in any medium, to the Community Hub or to X with the StarCitizen and ShipShowdown hashtags. CIG mentioned LEGO builds and a ship made of grain among the entries.
Time spent using a vehicle in game also counted, whether flying, driving, hauling, mining, salvaging or fighting. The 16 vehicles with the most support advanced. The top ten Community Hub entries and top five X entries each won an L-22 Alpha Wolf with Lifetime Insurance, the perk that means a ship’s insurance never expires.
Phase 2: daily head-to-head votes
Phase 2 ran from August 18 to September 2 as daily bracket matches. The Top 16 were split into eight divisions so like faced like in the opening round, and players who voted in every matchup earned a Ship Showdown 2956 Spectrum badge.
- August 18, Freighter: Drake Ironclad Assault vs RSI Hermes
- August 19, Road Warrior: Greycat UTV vs Greycat MTC
- August 20, Pathfinder: Drake Corsair vs Anvil Carrack
- August 21, Underdog: Drake Clipper vs RSI Aurora Mk II
- August 22, Heavy Duty: Argo MOLE vs Aegis Reclaimer
- August 23, Run and Gun: Origin M80 vs Grey’s Market Shiv
- August 24, Eclectic Exotic: Gatac Railen vs Esperia Prowler Utility
- August 25, Big Hitters: RSI Perseus vs Aegis Idris-P
The Elite Eight Free Fly and the benched ships
The eight winners became the Elite Eight, which went on a Free Fly from August 26 so anyone could try them, with the exception of the Idris because of its performance impact. Because the Idris-P reached the Top 16, CIG also sold a limited number in six waves across August 25 and 26.
A handful of vehicles were ineligible from the start: the Esperia Glaive, Vanduul Scythe, CNOU Mustang Omega, Aegis Sabre Raven, Greycat PTV and every variant of the Argo ATLS GEO IKTI. The Aegis Idris could compete all the way to the final but was excluded from the Free Fly.
What the prizes are and when you get them
Everything is distributed at IAE 2956 later this year, during the Best in Show days when the four finalists take centre stage.
One detail shifted during the contest. The Phase 1 and Phase 2 posts said the bomber jacket would go to backers who own the champion. The final announcement on September 2 says all backers receive the commemorative jacket at IAE. Go by the later post, and expect CIG to confirm the mechanics closer to the show.
- 2956 Best in Show paints for the Perseus, Ironclad Assault, M80 and Corsair, given to anyone who has the ship in their hangar at the start of Best in Show
- In-game manufacturer-themed coins for each of the four, plus a coin case to display them
- A commemorative themed bomber jacket for all backers, honouring the Perseus
- The four ships will be sold during IAE with the Best in Show prizes included
What this means for new players
If you are new, the practical takeaway is to wait for IAE before spending on any of the four. Owners get the paints and coins there if the ship is in their hangar when Best in Show starts, and CIG says the ships will be on sale during IAE with the prizes included, so there is no advantage to buying early. The commemorative jacket goes to all backers regardless of what you own. Use the weeks in between to try ships in game and decide whether a big gunship, a dropship, a heavy fighter or an explorer suits how you play. Our Star Citizen referral code guide explains how the 50,000 UEC signup bonus works and how to apply code STAR-6WPK-3K56 before you enlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RSI Perseus. It beat the Drake Ironclad Assault in the final, which CIG announced on September 2, 2026.
The RSI Perseus, Drake Ironclad Assault, Origin M80 and Drake Corsair.
Best in Show paints, manufacturer-themed coins and a coin case for owners of the Final Four, plus a commemorative bomber jacket for all backers, all distributed at IAE 2956.
According to CIG’s final announcement, no: all backers receive the commemorative jacket at IAE. Earlier contest posts had tied it to owning the champion, so check CIG’s IAE details when they arrive.
The RSI Polaris, ahead of the Asgard, Zeus ES and Gladiator.
Source: Ship Showdown 2956 – And the Winner is…. Details come from CIG’s four Ship Showdown 2956 announcements on Spectrum, posted between July 28 and September 2, 2026.
