'Star Citizen' hits $1 billion as Squadron 42 enters final development stages

'Star Citizen' surpasses $1 billion in funding as Cloud Imperium shares new Squadron 42 development update

Cloud Imperium Games has announced that Star Citizen has officially surpassed $1 billion in lifetime funding, marking a major milestone for the long-running space simulation project that first launched its crowdfunding campaign in 2012.

The ambitious multiplayer title, created by Wing Commander developer Chris Roberts and co-founded with Sandi Roberts, has spent more than a decade in development while building one of the gaming industry’s largest crowdfunding communities.

According to Cloud Imperium Games, the funding has been reinvested directly into development for both Star Citizen and its cinematic single-player companion game, Squadron 42.

Speaking to Variety, Chris Roberts described the project as a large-scale vision that traditional publishers may not have supported due to its lengthy timeline and technical ambition. The game continues to operate in an evolving alpha phase, with regular updates, livestreams, and community events helping maintain player engagement.

Cloud Imperium Games now employs more than 1,000 staff members across studios in Manchester, Austin, Frankfurt, and Montreal, making it one of the world’s largest independent game developers.

The company also shared a new update on Squadron 42, confirming the title is now in its “closing stages” of development. The narrative-driven game features a high-profile cast including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Henry Cavill, and Gillian Anderson.

While no official release date has been announced, the studio says marketing efforts for Squadron 42 are expected to expand as launch preparations continue.