The 11-Year Wait is Ending: Squadron 42’s Release Date Has Been Announced
Squadron 42 is preparing for a 2026 launch. The game, which will be released in the same year as GTA VI, is notable for its massive budget and long development process.
After a long wait, Squadron 42, the single-player spin-off from the Star Citizen universe, is planned for release in 2026. This date will be exactly 11 years after the game’s initial target release year of 2015.
Cloud Imperium Games CEO Chris Roberts says that the launch of Squadron 42 could have as big of an impact as Grand Theft Auto VI, which is also expected to be released in the same year.
Will Not Clash with GTA VI’s Release Date
According to a report by the Canadian publication La Presse, Squadron 42’s release is planned for May 2026, a date set to avoid overshadowing the launch of GTA VI. In an interview with the French press, Roberts commented on the comparison between the two games, stating, “We hope it will be an event of almost the same scale. GTA VI will probably be the highest-budget AAA game of the year.”
Massive Budgets and High Expectations
Although Roberts’ claim may seem ambitious, some data supports this comparison. While GTA VI’s development cost is estimated to be around $1 billion, the Star Citizen project has been sustained by a total of $859 million in crowdfunding to date. Despite this, the difference in expectations between the two games is noteworthy. About 1 million people play Star Citizen’s monthly alpha version, and a total of 25 million players have had the opportunity to try it at least once. However, GTA V has sold 215 million copies to date and attracts 20–30 million active players each month with its online mode.
A Challenging and Long Development Process
The foundations of Star Citizen were laid with a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 that raised $6.3 million. This was just a few months after GTA V was first released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. While Rockstar remained silent about GTA VI for years, Roberts Space Industries shared regular and detailed reports on their development process. This transparency also exposed the game’s internal issues.
In his statement to La Presse, Roberts mentioned that the independence provided by crowdfunding allowed them to work without succumbing to the pressures of traditional game studios: “The players who fund us expect the best game. That’s why we don’t have to change our business model.”
Star Citizen’s Full Version in 2027–2028
The La Presse report also indicates that the full version of Star Citizen could be released between 2027–2028. However, the game’s development history to date and the lack of a clear source cause these dates to be met with skepticism.
You Might Also Like;
