Cloud Imperium Games has delayed Squadron 42, the single-player spin-off of Star Citizen, from its previously announced 2026 window to Q2 2027. Studio boss Chris Roberts explained the decision in a blog post, saying the game had been targeting a Q4 2026 release around IAE, but he did not want to launch it against the attention surrounding GTA 6.
According to Roberts, "there is no way I want to launch my spiritual successor to Wing Commander, a game that has had twelve years of blood, sweat and tears invested into it... launching into the attention buzz saw of GTA6." He noted that even though GTA 6 isn't launching on PC this November, most outlets and content creators would be focused on covering it, leaving little room for other games to get attention.
Roberts said Squadron 42 development began in 2014, the same period Cloud Imperium was opening studios, hiring staff, and releasing the Hangar module for Star Citizen. The game was originally slated for release as far back as 2014, and its release date has slipped multiple times since, with Cloud Imperium reaffirming a 2026 target as recently as late last year.
As part of the announcement, Cloud Imperium said it will let a small number of original backers and long-time Star Citizen content creators play Squadron 42 on October 9th and 10th. The studio said further announcements about release plans would follow during that period, with a specific release date to be shared shortly after.
The game features a notable cast, with sources citing Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill, Andy Serkis, Henry Cavill, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Strong, and Eric Wareheim among those involved.
The delay comes after Cloud Imperium's multiplayer game Star Citizen surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding in May. That milestone coincided with the launch of a new $5,000 spaceship, the Anvil Odin capital ship, which had been sold previously as a "limited vehicle concept pledge" without a firm release date, with owners loaned an Idris P in the meantime.