© ROOT-NATION.com - Use of content is permitted with a backlink.
With a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign under its belt, Cloud Imperium Games has been developing the science-fiction RPG Star Citizen for over a decade. Originally planned for release in 2014 as a PC-exclusive title, the game has since undergone a series of delays. And now, the developer has announced yet another delay for the major story campaign.
Star Citizen is a multiplayer “sandbox” game focused primarily on simulating spaceship flight, while Squadron 42 is set to be a AAA single-player story campaign with a cohesive narrative. Currently, only the multiplayer component is available to players for testing in the alpha version. Over the past few years, the developers have regularly showcased gameplay from the story campaign in trailers.
However, in a letter to the community published by Cloud Imperium founder and CEO Chris Roberts, it was officially announced that the release of the Squadron 42 campaign has been postponed, meaning the game will not be released in 2026. It had been scheduled for that time back in 2024, shortly after the announcement that the project had already reached “feature complete” status.
Read also: Video Game Reviews
The reason cited for this latest delay is the November release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to capture all the “hype” in the gaming industry.
“Like the rest of the industry, I don’t want to release my spiritual successor to Wing Commander – a game into which we’ve poured blood, sweat, and tears over the past twelve years – just to be overshadowed by the media frenzy surrounding GTA VI,” reads Chris Roberts’ statement. “Although GTA VI isn’t coming out on PC this November, virtually all media outlets and most content creators will be focused on it, leaving little room to cover other games.”
Read also: Everything We Know About GTA VI
Due to the delay, the studio is now targeting the second quarter of 2027 as the new release window for Squadron 42. The multiplayer component of Star Citizen does not yet have a clear timeline for a full release and appears set to continue receiving alpha updates for the foreseeable future.
It is noted that the story campaign will last between 30 and 40 hours. It will also feature well-known actors, including Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Liam Cunningham, Mark Strong, John Rhys-Davies, Henry Cavill, and Andy Serkis.
Read also: Gothic 1 Remake review: The World Is Still the Real Character
Just a few months ago, Star Citizen surpassed the $1 billion mark in crowdfunding. According to the company’s official funding tracker, the project has since raised nearly $50 million more, and it appears that community support remains unwavering.