Few games have been in development as long as Star Citizen, clocking in at 12 years and counting. However, its standalone spin-off, Squadron 42, isn't far behind, with a decade having passed since its announcement. At this year's CitizenCon 2954, Cloud Imperium refrained from confirming a definite release date for Squadron 42 in 2026. Yet, Cloud Imperium CEO Chris Roberts expressed confidence that the game will be released within two years.
To bolster his assertion, Roberts showcased an hour-long gameplay demo of Squadron 42, which encountered a few hiccups. Despite the technical issues, the demo highlighted the Wing Commander-inspired gameplay and intense sci-fi action, complemented by numerous cutscenes. The game boasts an impressive roster of celebrity talent, including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis, Henry Cavill, Gillian Anderson, Mark Strong, Jack Huston, and Ben Mendelsohn, who have lent their voices and likenesses.
Cloud Imperium's financial prowess is evident, having raised over $700 million through crowdfunding since 2012 for both Squadron 42 and Star Citizen. Leading up to CitizenCon 2954, the company reportedly imposed a seven-day-a-week crunch schedule on its employees to meet convention deadlines. Despite this effort, the demo was marred by bugs, prompting Roberts to apologize for the crashes. Squadron 42 was declared 'feature-complete' at last year's CitizenCon, but it's clear that significant work remains.
Meanwhile, Star Citizen, Cloud Imperium's flagship title, remains in alpha with no projected release date. Earlier this year, the company offered a $48,000 bundle featuring every ship in the game. One can only hope that players will eventually receive a full game to complement these ships.
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