Star Citizen Hits $1 Billion in Funding, Squadron 42 Release Update

May 25, 2026 - 02:56

Cloud Imperium Games has officially pushed "Star Citizen" past the $1 billion mark in total crowdfunding, making it the most expensive video game ever developed by a wide margin. The studio's CEO, Chris Roberts, confirmed the figure in a recent update, noting that the money comes entirely from backers who have purchased ships, packages, and other in-game items over the past decade.

Alongside the funding milestone, the team provided a fresh update on "Squadron 42," the long-awaited single-player campaign set in the same universe. Roberts stated that the standalone title is now in a "polish and bug-fixing phase," with the team aiming for a release sometime in 2026. This marks a significant shift from earlier promises of a 2024 or 2025 launch. The update also revealed that several major actors, including Gary Oldman and Mark Hamill, have completed their final voice recording sessions for the game.

Despite the massive funding total, the project remains deeply controversial. Critics point to the decade-long development cycle and the lack of a finished product as evidence of mismanagement. Supporters, however, argue that the persistent funding shows confidence in the vision. The new timeline for "Squadron 42" will test that patience once again, as backers wait to see if the single-player experience can finally justify the staggering cost.