The Saga of Star Citizen:
Star Citizen and its single-player counterpart, Squadron 42, have been plagued by delays since Cloud Imperium Games first announced the ambitious space project almost 13 years ago. Despite facing skepticism and accusations of being a scam, the crowdfunding campaign has seen a surge in financial success in recent years. While doubts linger about whether the games will ever reach version 1.0, some are now speculating whether Cloud Imperium will surpass $1 billion in funding first.
Crowdfunding for Star Citizen has now exceeded $801 million, with over $100 million raised in the past year alone. The game, which has been in development for over a decade without an official release date, was initiated by Wing Commander series creator Chris Roberts in 2012 as a spiritual successor to the iconic sci-fi franchise. Star Citizen aims to combine spaceflight simulation with first-person shooter gameplay, allowing hundreds of players to interact across different planets and in space seamlessly.
Despite being in alpha phase for many years, the game is playable and regularly updated. Backers can access the alpha client, and free-to-play events are occasionally held. While many features are still in development and bugs persist, a dedicated community continues to explore and test each new release.
Version 4.0 of the alpha was released in December, introducing a new solar system with multiple planets to explore and debuting the much-anticipated server meshing feature. This feature allows multiple servers to collaborate, enabling players to travel between different areas without loading screens.
Currently, up to 500 players can interact within a single server group. Cloud Imperium has also added new ships, weapons, environments, AI behaviors, and various gameplay adjustments in recent months.
For the full release, the company plans to include a main storyline, base building, crafting systems, a player-driven economy, and various social features. The game will expand to include more planets, a deeper persistent universe, life support mechanics, radiation hazards, ship engineering, taxes, insurance systems, and even an in-game sports league.
Squadron 42, the single-player story mode, has also faced delays. The company released a gameplay showcase of the cinematic space adventure last year, featuring performances by Gillian Anderson, Henry Cavill, Gary Oldman, and Mark Strong. Promising 30 to 40 hours of narrative-driven gameplay, Squadron 42 is now expected to be ready by 2026.
Despite the extended development period and massive budget, funding for the project has surged since 2020. Cloud Imperium has raised over $100 million annually in recent years, with peak months like May 2023 and November 2024 bringing in over $20 million each.
