Star Citizen

Star Citizen
Developer(s)Cloud Imperium Games
Publisher(s)Cloud Imperium Games
Director(s)Chris Roberts
Writer(s)
  • Dave Haddock[1]
  • Will Weissbaum
  • Adam Wieser
  • Cherie Heiberg
Composer(s)
EngineStarEngine[3][4]
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseNET 2026 (Squadron 42)
Genre(s)
Mode(s)

Star Citizen is an in-development multiplayer, space trading and combat simulation game. The game is being developed and published by Cloud Imperium Games for Windows. An extended retry of unrealized plans for Freelancer, Star Citizen is led by director Chris Roberts. The game was announced via a private crowdfunding page in September 2012, followed on October 18, 2012 by a successful Kickstarter campaign which drew over US$2 million.[5][6] Pre-production of the game began in 2010, with production starting in 2011.

Star Citizen has garnered considerable criticism during its long production process, both for the lack of a clear release date and for the challenges backers have faced in getting a refund after abandoning the project. The launch of the game was originally anticipated for 2014, but has been repeatedly delayed.

In 2013, Cloud Imperium Games began releasing parts of the game, known as "modules", to provide players with the opportunity to experience gameplay features prior to release. The most recent module, the "Persistent Universe", was made available for testing to pre-purchasers in 2015 and continues to receive updates. After more than a decade in development, no projected date for the commercial release of Star Citizen is currently given.

After the initial Kickstarter ended, Cloud Imperium Games continued to raise funds through the sale of ships and other in-game content. These crowdfunding methods have led to further criticism and legal issues for the project. It is noted for being one of the highest-funded crowdfunding projects, having raised over US$700 million as of May 2024.[7][8] In addition to crowdfunding, marketing is funded through external investment, having received US$63.25 million as of March 2020.[9][10]

Squadron 42, a single-player game set in the same universe, was initially announced in the Kickstarter as an included campaign in Star Citizen, but is now intended to be a standalone product.

  1. ^ Lesnick, Ben; Haddock, Dave (September 2, 2013). "Dragon Con 2013: Star Citizen's Lesnick and Haddock on player feedback, CitizenCon, and more" (Interview). Interviewed by Jef Reahard. Atlanta. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  2. ^ Reahard, Jef (November 27, 2013). "CIG releases Star Citizen livestream vids, tops $33 million". Massively. AOL. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  3. ^ "Cloud Imperium shows an impressive StarEngine Tech Demo". DSOGaming. October 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "Star Citizen's new StarEngine tech demo is one of the most impressive we've ever seen". TweakTown. October 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Chris Roberts on Star Citizen Crowdfunding Success, and Why He Doesn't Want a Publisher". Game Developer. September 26, 2013.
  7. ^ "Star Citizen Raises $700 Million In 12 Years, Still No Release Date". TheGamer. May 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "Star Citizen still doesn't have a release date, but has raised over $700m". Eurogamer. May 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "'Star Citizen' Studio Gets $46 Million Investment From Billionaire Clive Calder And Son". Forbes. December 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cloud Imperium secures $17.25m in additional investment". GamesIndustry.biz. March 30, 2020.