The anticipated single-player component of Star Citizen, titled Squadron 42, is now projected for release in 2026, marking an 11-year delay from its original target in 2015. Cloud Imperium Games CEO Chris Roberts expressed optimism that the game would gain traction comparable to another highly awaited title set to debut in 2026: Grand Theft Auto VI.
A report from the French Canadian news outlet La Presse highlights that the launch of Squadron 42 is strategically timed to avoid competition with the anticipated May release of Grand Theft Auto VI. Roberts noted in his interview with La Presse, “We’re hoping it’ll be almost as big an event,” emphasizing the high stakes for both releases. He further mentioned that outside of GTA VI, Squadron 42 is likely the highest-budget AAA game expected this year.
This assertion from Roberts comes amidst a troubled development history for Squadron 42, which has recently been deemed “feature complete.” Nonetheless, it appears to be a reasonable claim when considering Grand Theft Auto VI’s development budget is nearing $1 billion, paralleled by the $859 million in crowdfunding reported for the Star Citizen project.
However, the ambition of equating Squadron 42’s launch with that of Grand Theft Auto VI might be a stretch, particularly given the differing levels of public engagement and sales. While Roberts Space Industries can showcase a million players participating in the monthly Star Citizen alpha and 25 million lifetime users, Grand Theft Auto V has sold approximately 215 million copies and consistently retains 20 to 30 million players in its online mode every month. These numbers indicate a significant disparity in anticipation levels.
The long and winding road
Star Citizen’s $6.3 million Kickstarter campaign might seem a distant memory, having occurred just months prior to the release of Grand Theft Auto V on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Development on GTA VI did not enter its serious phase until 2020, according to publisher Take Two, around the same time Roberts Space Industries was addressing a contentious lawsuit and restructuring its development strategy.
In stark contrast to the secretive approach of Rockstar and Take Two regarding Grand Theft Auto VI, which has seen minimal public updates, Roberts Space Industries has been transparent, providing extensive updates about the ongoing development of Star Citizen and Squadron 42. This transparency, while informative, has at times highlighted perceived internal challenges.
Roberts articulated to La Presse that the expansive crowdfunding model allows for a flexibility that traditional studios often lack. “The players who fund us expect the best game, period. We don’t have to streamline, cut jobs, or change our business model,” he remarked.
As the long pre-launch development phase progresses, reports suggest that a full 1.0 release for Star Citizen may be on the horizon for either 2027 or 2028. While this outlook is hopeful, the previous development history of Star Citizen leaves some room for skepticism regarding these timelines.