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A Decade in the Making
After more than ten years of development and hundreds of millions invested, Squadron 42 — the cinematic single-player spin-off of Star Citizen — may finally be approaching release. The long-delayed project has often been criticised as one of the industry’s most notorious “what-ifs,” but Cloud Imperium Games founder Chris Roberts remains confident in its future.
Speaking with French outlet La Presse (via PC Gamer), Roberts reaffirmed that Squadron 42 is still on track for 2026, offering around 30–40 hours of content. While no precise date has been chosen, the studio intends to avoid a clash with Rockstar’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.
Roberts hopes the release will be treated as a significant industry moment, positioning Squadron 42 alongside Rockstar’s juggernaut in terms of scale and hype.
Claimed as the Second-Biggest AAA Project Ever
Roberts went further, claiming that Squadron 42 is now the second most expensive AAA video game ever made, with only GTA VI surpassing it in budget. Featuring a Hollywood-level cast including Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, and Gary Oldman, the game has been promoted as a cinematic space adventure designed to rival the biggest projects in gaming history.
In the same interview, Roberts confirmed that funding for Star Citizen has surpassed US$1 billion. However, he did not specify how much of that total has been allocated to Squadron 42 directly.
The milestone highlights both the extraordinary ambition and the ongoing controversy surrounding Cloud Imperium’s projects, which have faced scrutiny for their prolonged development timelines.
What It Means for Players
If Squadron 42 meets its 2026 target, players could finally see one of the most ambitious single-player space sims ever created. But with years of promises and sky-high expectations, the bigger question remains: can the game truly deliver on its unprecedented budget and decade of hype?
