Star Citizen: Will It Ship Like GTA 6 Next Year?

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For over a decade, Star Citizen creator Chris Roberts did not set any specific release dates for his ambitious sci-fi online multiplayer space simulation game. However, in an interview with LaPresse, Roberts suggested that the game is likely to launch between 2027 and 2028.

Considering early access for the persistent universe module began on December 23, 2017, Star Citizen could potentially end its early access phase around its ten-year mark. This would be a significant milestone; currently, no other game has remained in early access for as long as 7 Days to Die by The Fun Pimps, which launched in early access in 2013 and reached version 1.0 in 2024.

Star Citizen is currently in Alpha 4.3.0 and will be preceded by the single-player campaign Squadron 42. Cloud Imperium Games announced at last year’s CitizenCon that Squadron 42 would release in 2026, with Chris Roberts hoping it could generate excitement comparable to Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI. He described Squadron 42 as “Top Gun meets Star Wars.”

Squadron 42 features an impressive ensemble cast of Hollywood stars, including Gary Oldman, Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, and many others. The total development cost of Star Citizen is now over $858 million.

In a unique start to his ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration on September 30, U.S. District Court Judge William Young included a scanned handwritten note sent to his office. The note read: “Trump has pardons and tanks – what do you have?” At the top of Young’s opinion in AAUP v. Rubio, which ruled that Trump’s effort to deport foreign-born student protesters was unconstitutional.

October 8, 2025

The question remains: will Star Citizen and Squadron 42 meet fans’ expectations after all these years? Vote in the poll below and share your opinion in the comments!