The science fiction epic Star Citizen is known for its relaxed approach to release dates. They have been postponed repeatedly in the past. Now there are new prospects for when “Squadron 42”, the single-player campaign, could be released. A launch could be possible within the next 2 years. Fans are reacting skeptically to this.
This is the situation with Star Citizen:
- The SF MMORPG “Star Citizen” is an indie project that was supposed to be funded through crowdfunding. However, the crowdfunding has been so successful that it exceeds all dimensions of a normal game. Through sales of virtual ships and donations, it has now raised almost 430 million US dollars. We recently reported on MeinMMO that a ship package is supposed to cost over €35,000.
- Star Citizen is playable in an alpha version that is being regularly developed. There hasn’t been a release date for the game for some time, as milestones have kept getting pushed back. The stance since 2020 has been: “It’s done when it’s done.”
- One milestone in sight is the release of “Squadron 42 – Episode 1”, the single-player module of Star Citizen. We can probably expect that by 2024, as has recently been revealed.
“By 2027 we will operate a very large MMORPG”
This is the announcement now: In the print edition of a British gaming magazine, a six-page report about Star Citizen has been published. One of the bosses of the game, COO Carl Jones, is asked when Star Citizen will be released (via mcv).
The logic of the question is: CIG has purchased a large building in Manchester and stated that they want to increase the workforce there to 1,000 employees within 5 years. Therefore, one could expect that Star Citizen will be released around 2027, right?
Carl Jones says:
I think by then we will be operating a very large MMORPG. We will have many more publishing resources, many more game masters, and more support for the players. This may require us to open new locations. At the moment, we do not have a significant presence in the Asia-Pacific region, and that will likely be something we need to focus on in the long term, because our game is exploding there, so we need to be able to provide our service there as well.
Carl Jones, COO CIG
Jones envisions that by 2027, they will be developing the sequel and further sequels for Squadron 42, the single-player campaign of Star Citizen.
What about Squadron 42? The interviewer then digs deeper. He wants to know how things look for Squadron 42, which had a release date set for 2014 at one point. A lot seems to depend on when the “Star Citizen mastermind” Chris Roberts moves from Los Angeles, USA, to the UK. He asks if they could find out a release date.
Jones says:
I think we need to see how long it takes for him [Chris Roberts] to come over. But yes, it could still take another year or two. He is spending more time here now with the Squadron 42 team and our other developers, but it will be this year when he moves here for longer periods. Hopefully, this means we will make progress with Squadron 42 faster and finish it sooner. We want to complete the game, but it’s only finished when it’s ready.
COO Carl Jones
“It’s only 2 years since 2014”
How are the fans responding? The numbers that are now on the table are:
- 2023/2024 as a timeframe for “Release Episode 1 – Squadron 42”
- 2027 for “then we will operate a large MMORPG”, which is still not a release date for Star Citizen, but relatively close
In the forum, a user says: “It sounds like they want to have Episode One out in 2 years or less.” Those are very good news.
Fans of Star Citizen are reacting to this announcement more with sarcasm.
- “Yeah, yeah, it’s still 2 years”
- Another one says: “It’s been 2 years since 2014 already”
- The “Still 2 years” at Star Citizen is like telling kids: “It will just take another 5 minutes!” In reality, it’s “We still have 2 years, guys. And another 2 years, and another 2 years.”
A meme has also emerged stating that Squadron 42 has always been “just 2 years away”.
This is what’s behind it: The time spans and dimensions that Star Citizen operates in are enormous.
It’s interesting to note the contrast that on one hand, there are these gigantic dimensions, and on the other hand, so much seems to depend on when Chris Roberts is in Manchester and when he is not. A lot appears to hinge on his presence and decisions. The fact that such a large project revolves so centrally around the decision of a single person could pose problems.
It is also noteworthy that Jones openly talks about Star Citizen as an “MMORPG” and that they are apparently planning realistically with 2027.
We have addressed the situation of crowdfunding MMORPGs on MeinMMO:
Why new MMOs funded through crowdfunding like Star Citizen frustrate us
