Chris Roberts believes his game Squadron 42 could be as big as GTA VI, set to release in 2026

[Alfonso Maruccia]

In a nutshell: Squadron 42 is the single-player spin-off of Star Citizen, widely regarded as the most crowdfunded gaming project – and to some critics, a piece of vaporware. Cloud Imperium Games CEO Chris Roberts recently claimed the game will finally launch next year and predicted that fans will buy it in droves.

According to a recent interview with La Presse, Chris Roberts expects Squadron 42 to finally become a "real" gaming product in 2026. The single-player space adventure, set in the Star Citizen universe, was originally slated for release in 2014 but instead became part of the ongoing crowdfunding campaign Roberts launched 15 years ago under the Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) banner.

Roberts revealed the tentative timeline for Squadron 42 while discussing the rebranding of Turbulent, the Montreal-based studio that has long contributed to both Star Citizen and Squadron 42. Turbulent will now operate as Cloud Imperium Games Montreal.

CIG Montreal plans to ship Squadron 42 in 2026. Roberts expressed hope that the launch won't be overshadowed by GTA VI, arguably the most anticipated game of the decade. He suggested that Squadron 42 could become the most high-profile AAA release of the year outside of GTA VI, and he hopes it will earn a comparable place in gamers' minds – and wallets.

Despite being a multiplayer game with no official release date after 13 years in development, Star Citizen has become one of the most successful crowdfunding projects of all time. Funding for the ambitious space sim surpassed $800 million earlier this year, as Cloud Imperium Games and Chris Roberts continue to inflate the project's already "larger-than-life" expectations.

According to CIG, Star Citizen boasts over one million active players who return to explore the game's perpetual alpha each month. The studio also claims that more than 25 million people have tried the unfinished game at least once. CIG hopes that the release of Squadron 42 will finally capitalize on this massive interest with a finished, fully packaged single-player experience.

After Squadron 42, the company plans to launch version "1.0" of Star Citizen in 2027 or possibly 2028. Roberts describes the MMO's development model as unconventional, saying it represents the full realization of the vision he first pursued with 2003's Freelancer. Unlike traditional publishers, CIG funds development entirely through player contributions, primarily by selling in-game items. Roberts insists that this model will ultimately deliver the best game ever, as many backers still expect.

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Chris Roberts believes his game Squadron 42 could be as big as GTA VI, set to release in 2026

 

[m4a4]

InB4 the intellectually dishonest "scam" bandwagoners jump on this.

I do hope they don't mismanage this deadline lol.
Maybe they can even throw out a SP demo soon so people who refuse to join in on the free weekends can actually see how far their development cycles have brought them.

But as big as GTA6? I mean, isn't it already close (or more) with how ridiculous the crowdfunding has been? Otherwise, they don't have previous games in the franchise to expect that sort of pull...

 

[HermitBoy]

I backed this way back when, I think I stopped caring much after about 6 years.

Glad I never put that much money into it - and if it does actually come out, it'll feel like getting a free game.

But I'm not holding my breath for anything. Just going to let them do their thing, and only think about them when articles like this show up.

 

[Billybobjoey]

I'm much more interested in Squadron 42 than whatever the heck the main game is since it's supposed to just be a regular linear video game, buuuuuuut...

The single-player space adventure, set in the Star Citizen universe, was originally slated for release in 2014 but instead became part of the ongoing crowdfunding campaign Roberts launched 15 years ago under the Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) banner.

Let's just say I'll believe it comes out next year when I can actually buy and play a finished product.

 

[Beerfloat]

I might well enjoy the final game if it ever comes out. But I am putting the odds of this ever getting anywhere close to GTA VI level of influence on popular culture about as high as finding dinosaurs on the moon.

 

[nnguy2]

I've been enjoying Elite Dangerous on and off the past 10 years.

I got a Star Citizen voucher when I bought my AMD Radeon 290X back in 2013!!!

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Good on Roberts.

A fool and his money are soon parted, and Roberts seems to have found a treasure trove of fools.

 

[Lionvibez]

Lol scamcitizen still at it I see.

 

[guillejp]

Industry giants, both publishers and devs shy away from GTA 6 launch date and delay their games...

Except for 1 man...

Who has the BALLS, the SPINE, the NERVE and the STRAIGHT FACE to say...:

 

[NumberNine]

Chris Robert's opinion has been disconnected from reality for quite some time now.

 

[Puiu]

I also had delusions when I was 2 years old.

 

[Puiu]

InB4 the intellectually dishonest "scam" bandwagoners jump on this.

I do hope they don't mismanage this deadline lol.
Maybe they can even throw out a SP demo soon so people who refuse to join in on the free weekends can actually see how far their development cycles have brought them.

But as big as GTA6? I mean, isn't it already close (or more) with how ridiculous the crowdfunding has been? Otherwise, they don't have previous games in the franchise to expect that sort of pull...

"I do hope they don't mismanage this deadline lol." - kinda late for that... pfff hahaha

 

[dangh]

I remember I backed this game in 2012, with a 2016 planed release. I stopped caring 2 years after that date. I installed it a few times but it was crap, and still is. Bad code, bad optimization, bad network utilization, bad planning, bad management, bad game, great pr team making them money on selling dreams and promises.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

InB4 the intellectually dishonest "scam" bandwagoners jump on this.

I do hope they don't mismanage this deadline lol.
Maybe they can even throw out a SP demo soon so people who refuse to join in on the free weekends can actually see how far their development cycles have brought them.

But as big as GTA6? I mean, isn't it already close (or more) with how ridiculous the crowdfunding has been? Otherwise, they don't have previous games in the franchise to expect that sort of pull...

Cloud Imperium has been "working" on this game for 13 years now. They underwent massive expansion nearly a decade ago to facilitate the scope creep of the project. The project has brought in over $800 million, now approaching 900 million, far larger than GTA VI's budget. Chris Roberts has purchased multiple supercars, a yacht, and multiple mansions since this project started.

Yet despite all this, the game remains in a perpetual alpha state with half the promised features STILL not in the game, the ones that are there are janky at best, and the game runs like garbage. Oh yeah, and SQ42 was supposed to come out, what, 8 years ago? Despite ALL that, the company has no issue selling you proto-NFTs in the form of virtual ships and land worth thousands of dollars on the back of yet more promises they have yet to fulfill. They hire hundreds of people, yet progress on the game still progresses at a glacial pace and the grifting intensifies.

Yeah, there's a good reason many people reflexively call this game a "scam".

I remember I backed this game in 2012, with a 2016 planed release. I stopped caring 2 years after that date. I installed it a few times but it was crap, and still is. Bad code, bad optimization, bad network utilization, bad planning, bad management, bad game, great pr team making them money on selling dreams and promises.

I remember being really interested when it was announced.

Then after half a year of delays, any interest I had completely evaporated. I figured I might give it a try when it comes out. Since then, there's been plenty of footage of the game and reviews, none of which have been enticing, and the game is still unfinished.

I'm glad I was too poor to back it when it first asked for money.

 

[m4a4]

Yeah, there's a good reason many people reflexively call this game a "scam".

Is it because it's one syllable and easy to type on a keyboard? Because it's still not the textbook definition of a scam.
You bandwagoners always beat around the bush (never applying the term properly), and always feel called out when someone asks to apply it or someone goes against the bandwagoning...

 

[dangh]

Is it because it's one syllable and easy to type on a keyboard? Because it's still not the textbook definition of a scam.
You bandwagoners always beat around the bush (never applying the term properly), and always feel called out when someone asks to apply it or someone goes against the bandwagoning...

"a dishonest plan for making money or getting an advantage, especially one that involves tricking people"

One could argue 14 years of development when promising 5 years of development, selling non flyable or non existing ships for tons of money, buying $5 000 000 mansion without even releasing the product, having product after this 14 years without a proper network code, not meeting any deadline and constantly moving the delivery date can be considered matching above definition.

There is much more than that. "Chris Roberts took $93M of the $156M backer money, and built a UK studio for his brother. A studio that has NO reason to exist. Then, sold his shares in the studio, back to the parent company, thus "cashing out" with backer money."

https://archive.is/cJxMB

Not technically illegal, but this it making money thanks to tricking people to give him money for totally different purpose.

 

[Burty117]

Hot Take: Ignoring everything behind the companies, just taking the offcially released footage and trailers for both games.

I'm way more hyped for Squadron 42. GTA hasn't even released any gameplay, and it's GTA, been there, done that.

Squadron 42 has released the entire intro-mission gameplay video, It's fairly rare a good space game comes out, feels like nothing proper has come out since Mass Effect to be honest, it looks and feels like something new.

I know, I know, I'm sure it's all fake and it'll never release blah blah blah, but based on the offcially released footage of both games so far? Come on, GTA doesn't look that promising, whilst the 1+ hour of the introduction mission of SQ42? Looks like stuff made of my space nerd dreams.
Edit: Sorry need to link this, I forgot how epic SQ42 is shaping up:

 

[Jarenien]

I am so much more looking forward to S42 than I am for GTA6. GTA6 has been done before, whereas S42 will be revo-effin-lutionary.

 

[m4a4]

"a dishonest plan for making money or getting an advantage, especially one that involves tricking people"

One could argue 14 years of development when promising 5 years of development, selling non flyable or non existing ships for tons of money, buying $5 000 000 mansion without even releasing the product, having product after this 14 years without a proper network code, not meeting any deadline and constantly moving the delivery date can be considered matching above definition.

There is much more than that. "Chris Roberts took $93M of the $156M backer money, and built a UK studio for his brother. A studio that has NO reason to exist. Then, sold his shares in the studio, back to the parent company, thus "cashing out" with backer money."

https://archive.is/cJxMB

Not technically illegal, but this it making money thanks to tricking people to give him money for totally different purpose.

Oh don't get me wrong; one could try to argue that... if they were ignorant of the constant honest progress made to this epic space simulator MMO. And ignored the audited company financial documents (that show where funds are going). And only tried to really focus on a few scummy things Roberts has done (and ignore the progress still being made to the game). And didn't try to reason a better word (like mismanagement) to criticize them because "scam" still doesn't fit.

But intellectually concluding scam? Lazy and dishonest at this point. Besides, after 10+ years, there would've been some promising legal action taken against them for such a poorly planned scam.

As I implied, the only people unironically using "scam" are the ones who can only bandwagon (and not think for themselves).

 

[wiyosaya]

Oh don't get me wrong; one could try to argue that... if they were ignorant of the constant honest progress made to this epic space simulator MMO. And ignored the audited company financial documents (that show where funds are going). And only tried to really focus on a few scummy things Roberts has done (and ignore the progress still being made to the game). And didn't try to reason a better word (like mismanagement) to criticize them because "scam" still doesn't fit.

But intellectually concluding scam? Lazy and dishonest at this point. Besides, after 10+ years, there would've been some promising legal action taken against them for such a poorly planned scam.

As I implied, the only people unironically using "scam" are the ones who can only bandwagon (and not think for themselves).

At last, a cogent argument as to why it is not a scam.

IMO, the most important point is that no AGs, DAs, FTC, or any other entity has brought charges of fraud against RSI, Roberts, or anyone else involved with RSI.

But, in these times, conspiracy theories are En Vogue!

 

[verthias]

SQ42 isn't a spin-off, it's always been just a separate part of the game, the single player campaign has been a pledge for over a decade and it's not like it's being spun off.
Still, SQ42? Not a chance. Star Citizen itself? Absolutely. Star Citizen is basically the perfect space sim and that's why it's taking such a ridiculously long time to develop. CR hasn't been hobbled by EA or BlackRock demanding he release his game yesterday and with cut rate features.
It's simultaneously one of the best FPS games, the best space combat simulator, and potentially will be just as good as EVE is at being a spreadsheet generator in economics. It's also going to have unlimited RP potential, VR compatibility, high stakes combat, drama, and everything else.
I'm not even considering buying GTA 6

 

[captaincranky]

I not going to involve myself in the real versus scam portion of this discussion.

What I'm going to do is kick back and wait for the Roberts bot to come in and tell all the haters they're wrong.

Who knows, maybe I'll even buy it, as long as it can be bought in one download, not to exceed one terabyte.

 

[AlexIL]

I remember backing that in 2014. With promised release in 2016. It's what, 2025 more like soon 2026. If it ever gets released and actually playable, I will be surprised.

 

[bviktor]

InB4 the intellectually dishonest "scam" bandwagoners jump on this.

I do hope they don't mismanage this deadline lol.
Maybe they can even throw out a SP demo soon so people who refuse to join in on the free weekends can actually see how far their development cycles have brought them.

But as big as GTA6? I mean, isn't it already close (or more) with how ridiculous the crowdfunding has been? Otherwise, they don't have previous games in the franchise to expect that sort of pull...

If a game (SC) that's burnt through more than 800 million dollars to date (with marketing costs alone exceeding $100m), with 13 years in development and counting, with still no release date, and you still don't see that as proof that it's a scam, I don't know what to tell you.

For reference, juggernaut games like RDR, TLOU, Horizon, GTA cost around $300m. The Mass Effect games were below $100m.

Yeah, I don't care if this is a "different" game. Yeah, it's the same universe from the same developer with the same several year promises. They promised the first playable beta for 2020Q2, then... they "abandoned the roadmap".

Yup, not a scam at all.

 

[m4a4]

Yup, not a scam at all.

Considering you didn't even try to apply the meaning, yup. Agree with this statement.