1 week Ago By Kevin Low
share 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Despite not having a clear version 1.0 release date after 12 years, Cloud Imperium Games’ controversial multiplayer space simulation video game Star Citizen has now raised over US$800 million , making it one step closer to becoming the first billion-dollar gaming project that isn’t even complete. As seen on the game’s official funding tracker , the game has raised US$802.
3 million at the time of writing, backed by almost 5.6 million players. The title’s previous crowdfunding milestone came in May last year, where it surpassed the US$700 million mark , with the game consistently making an additional US$100 million in each of the past three years , propelling it towards its status as one of the lengthiest and most expensive game development cycles to date.
Amidst all its earnings, Star Citizen is still nowhere close to being finished, having been stuck in its paid alpha phase since the release of its “Hangar Module”, a limited enclosed space where players could explore, over a decade ago in 2013. The game initially targeted a 2014 launch, but it laughably fell short of its initial plans, falling deeper into development hell as its ambitions expanded with every new feature added. The most concrete indication of the game’s completion came early last year, when Cloud Imperium Games CEO Chris Roberts stated that “after many hard years of work towards a goal many thought was impossible”, the team was finally “on the cusp of” getting the game to its proverbial finish line, although the team has been radio silent on the state of the game since then.
Star Citizen’s multiplayer persistent universe portion might be nowhere close to being released, but at least its single-player story-driven component, known as Squadron 42 , has a much clearer end in sight. Cloud Imperium Games announced in October last year that the spin-off is on track for release sometime in 2026 , which is set to feature a star-studded cast, including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, and Andy Serkis. Still, given the studio’s iffy track record, it remains to be seen if this release window holds true.
Kevin Low Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. cloud imperium Squadron 42 star citizen At this point, what's waiting a few years more? Scummy move, Cloud Imperium.
Available only for players who have already spent US$10,000 on in-game items..
