Your First 10 Minutes

1. Where you wake up

Depending on where you log in, you wake up in a hab (a small rented apartment) or, as of 4.3+, directly in your personal hangar at your home location. Away from home you usually spawn in a hab or at the last medical bed you set. Take a moment: look around with the mouse, walk with W A S D , sprint with Left Shift and jump with Space .

2. Learn the interaction system

Almost everything is "physical": doors, buttons, beds, terminals, items. Look at something and press F to use its default action. Hold F to enter interaction mode . A cursor appears and highlights everything you can use; click an option to pick it. When something "doesn't work", hold F and look for a different option.

3. Open your mobiGlas

Press F1 to open the mobiGlas , the wrist computer that holds your apps: Home - your wallet balance, CrimeStat and vitals. Health - hunger, thirst, injuries and more. Contracts - your missions. Maps - the starmap (also F2 ). Commlink - friends, party and ATC (also F11 ). Reputation , Wallet , Journal , Assets and vehicle tools.

4. Watch your hunger and thirst

Your character needs food and water . Check the Health app or the small status icons on your HUD. If you neglect them you'll get warnings and then penalties such as reduced stamina and, eventually, health damage. Buy drinks and snacks at vending machines, food stalls or convenience stores, then eat or drink them by holding F on the item or using it from your inventory.

5. Open your inventory

Tap I to open your inventory . As of 4.7 it uses a two-panel layout: your character on one side, nearby containers (lockers, ship storage, a crate, a body) shown as tabs on the other. Drag items between them to equip or store. Items stored at a location stay at that location. Your apartment or hangar storage in Lorville is not the same box as storage in Area18.

6. Get dressed for the job

You start with basic clothes or an undersuit. Before leaving the city: Wear an undersuit and a helmet so you can survive vacuum or a hull breach. Left Alt + H equips your helmet. Add armor (light is fine at first) for protection. A backpack adds carrying space. Flight suits help with G-forces when flying (since 4.8), while heavy combat armor lowers your tolerance.

7. Leave your hab or hangar

Head to the exit and take the elevator . Elevator panels list destinations by name; use F on the destination you want. If you woke up in your personal hangar, its elevator links to the rest of the spaceport and city. If you are in a hab, the elevator takes you to the hab lobby and on toward transit, shops and the spaceport.

8. Follow the wayfinding signs

Cities and stations are big. Look for overhead signs : they point to the spaceport, hangars, transit, shops, medical and habs. Many have arrows and small icons. The mobiGlas Maps app also has local maps for many locations, and you can set waypoints for some destinations.

9. Ride trains and trams

Some cities are too big to walk: Lorville and New Babbage use metro/tram lines between districts and the spaceport. Orison uses sky shuttles between its platforms. Area18 is compact and mostly walkable with elevators. Check the line map on the platform, board, and watch the stop names. Doors open automatically at each station.