Star Citizen, one of the most ambitious and controversial projects in the video game industry, still does not offer a definitive release date after more than a decade in development.
However, Chris Roberts, the game’s director, revealed in a recent interview that the goal is to launch the long-awaited single-player campaign, Squadron 42, in 2026, marking 14 years of work since its inception.
If this milestone is achieved, it would surpass the development time of other legendary titles like Duke Nukem Forever.
Star Citizen surpasses 858 million dollars in funding
Roberts did not hold back in raising expectations for Squadron 42, suggesting that its impact could be “almost as great” as that of one of the most anticipated titles of the decade, Grand Theft Auto VI, scheduled for May 2026.
Additionally, he emphasized that the budget for Squadron 42 will likely make it one of the most expensive AAA games of the year, an aspect that underscores the magnitude of the project and the investment it has attracted to date.
Since its early access launch, Star Citizen has raised over 858 million dollars, surpassing the 800 million mark in April 2023. However, the full version of the game remains a topic of uncertainty, with a tentative release window between 2027 and 2028.
These deadlines should be taken with caution, given the history of delays that has characterized the development of the game.
To keep their community active, Cloud Imperium Games has currently launched a “free fly week,” allowing new players to experience the game at no cost until September 2.
This is an opportunity for both the curious and the skeptics to discover the current state of a title that, despite the criticism and doubts, continues to generate great anticipation among millions of players around the world.