Chris Roberts, renowned for his work on the Wing Commander series and the ambitious Star Citizen, has penned his latest ‘Letter From the Chairman’ to update the community on the progress of Squadron 42. This eagerly anticipated single-player campaign has been through several delays, initially targeting a beta release in 2020, before being postponed indefinitely. In October 2023, Cloud Imperium Games announced that the game was feature-complete and set to enter the polishing phase, eyeing a 2026 release. Yet, the timeline remains uncertain, as a recent statement suggested possible further delays.
Squadron 42’s Journey to Completion
Despite previous delays and uncertainty surrounding Squadron 42’s release date, Roberts now assures fans that the game is on track, with hopes of reaching the Beta milestone soon and launching next year. The experience promises over forty hours of gameplay, and Roberts is proud of the content’s quality, highlighting the excellence in writing, performance capture, and design.
Star-Studded Cast and Advanced Technology
Squadron 42 is set to offer a cinematic experience, featuring Hollywood stars like Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis, and Gillian Anderson. These talents were brought to life using advanced 4D technology, thanks to Cloud Imperium Games’ collaboration with Clear Angle Studios. The narrative places players as rookie pilots in the 42nd Squadron, part of the UEE Navy, tasked with combating pirate threats and alien Vanduul.
What’s Next for Star Citizen?
In addition to Squadron 42, Star Citizen continues to evolve, with 2025 seeing over 64 million hours of gameplay. Future developments include the Dynamic Server Meshing technology to support thousands of players and next-gen planetary tech that enhances graphical fidelity. An AI population management system will also refine NPC interactions, while improvements are planned for inventory, insurance, and persistence systems. Chris Roberts is confident that Squadron 42 is on the right track towards its Beta milestone, aiming for a launch next year.