Star Citizen Could Finally Arrive in 2027-2028, Squadron 42 in 2026

After years of silence on firm timelines, Chris Roberts has finally given a window for the long-awaited Star Citizen launch. In a recent interview with Canadian outlet LaPresse, the game’s creator suggested a release between 2027 and 2028, marking more than a decade since the project entered early access in 2017.

If this holds, it could surpass the infamous early-access record previously set by 7 Days to Die, which lingered for over a decade before hitting version 1.0.

Before players step into the sprawling online universe, however, Cloud Imperium Games plans to deliver Squadron 42 in 2026. Roberts hopes the single-player campaign will rival the hype of Grand Theft Auto VI’s launch, boldly describing it as “Top Gun meets Star Wars.” That ambition isn’t cheap: the game features a Hollywood-grade cast including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Andy Serkis, Henry Cavill, Ben Mendelsohn, and many more.

With development costs already soaring past $858 million in crowdfunding and ship sales, fans remain split. Some are cautiously excited for Squadron 42, while others remain deeply skeptical, pointing to nearly a decade of delays, broken promises, and technical hurdles that have left even powerful PCs struggling to run the alpha smoothly.

For Roberts, the dream is still alive: a cinematic single-player experience followed by the most ambitious persistent space sim ever attempted. For critics, it’s just more fuel for the “Scam Citizen” fire. The next few years will decide which side is right.