Star Citizen Archives

AppWizard

May 26, 2026

A Game That Hasn’t Even Launched Has Raised $1 Billion

On May 24, 2026, 'Star Citizen' surpassed ₩1.4 trillion (approximately billion) in cumulative crowdfunding, achieved entirely through fan support without publisher involvement. The game, developed by Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) since its Kickstarter launch in 2012, is still not officially released. It has raised ₩210 billion in 2025 alone, marking an all-time high for annual fundraising. 'Star Citizen' is recognized as the most expensive game ever made, with its crowdfunding amount being 3.8 times the production cost of 'GTA V' (₩370 billion). The game's revenue model includes the sale of in-game spacecraft, with prices ranging from tens of thousands to millions of won. Despite being in development for 14 years, the game continues to engage a growing community, with hundreds of thousands of players participating in its ongoing alpha state. The timeline for completion remains uncertain, with the single-player campaign 'Squadron 42' tentatively set for 2026 and the main multiplayer project suggested to be completed around 2028. Opinions on 'Star Citizen' are divided, with some viewing it as a scam due to its lengthy development and unfulfilled promises, while others see it as a cultural movement and a significant community-driven project.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Star Citizen reaches $1 billion in lifetime funding, 14 years after the project was first announced — game still in early access with no release window, including ‘Squadron 42’ campaign

Star Citizen was launched as a crowdfunding campaign on October 10, 2012, and has since surpassed billion in total funding, though a definitive release date is not yet available. The game is currently in an alpha state, with ongoing updates and numerous bugs. Over 1,000 employees are involved in its development, which has spanned three console generations. Chris Roberts has suggested a potential release window of 2027-2028, depending on the launch of Squadron 42, which is targeting a release in 2026. The game has transitioned from CryEngine to a proprietary engine, StarEngine, and features like Persistent Entity Streaming and Server Meshing have been introduced. Star Citizen is the most expensive crowdfunded game ever, and it has been covered by Tom's Hardware since late 2012.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Star Citizen blasts through $1 billion in player funding, as its developer lists a new $5,000 spaceship for sale that is ‘not yet ready to play’

Star Citizen has surpassed billion in player funding, accelerated by a free play period during the annual DefenseCon event. This surge in funding has positioned it among games with budgets over billion, alongside titles like Monopoly Go and rumored games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Grand Theft Auto 6. Cloud Imperium Games is offering exclusive invites for the Anvil Odin battlecruiser, which is not yet playable but is available as a limited vehicle concept pledge for ,000. Buyers must apply to join the Odin Founders Club to purchase the ship and will receive a loaner vehicle until it is ready. The single-player component, Squadron 42, is tentatively set for a 2026 release, while Star Citizen itself may have an endpoint around 2028.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

Star Citizen’s latest alpha update brings a ‘full reset’ to its universe, as Cloud Imperium Games promises to crack down on player exploits and duplication issues

Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games, has faced challenges including a problematic in-game economy due to the duplication of valuable items by players. The studio announced a partial server wipe with patch 4.8 to reset players' bank balances and resources, but excluded ships obtained through trading with Wikelo, leading to player discontent. In response, a full reset of the game's universe will occur, wiping all player progress except for blueprints and items bought with real money. The upcoming patch aims to implement safeguards against exploits, though details are unclear. Alpha 4.8 will introduce a new endgame mission called "Tactical Strike Group," enhancements to player flight suits, improvements to refueling missions, and new infantry weapons. The completion of Star Citizen is projected to extend to 2028, while the single-player component, Squadron 42, is expected to release this year, though its timely launch remains uncertain.

AppWizard

May 13, 2026

Star Citizen commits to a “comprehensive wipe” as CIG fights back aginst duping exploits

Star Citizen alpha 4.8 is launching today, featuring a comprehensive wipe that resets all earned aUEC, in-game purchased vehicles, items, resources, reputation progression, and rewards from NPC Wikelo, while allowing players to retain their blueprints and items in the 'My Hangar' section. This decision follows community concerns about duplication tricks and exploits affecting the game. The update introduces Tactical Strike Groups for cooperative gameplay and ship hangar services for repairs, refueling, and rearming. A free fly event will occur from May 14 to May 27 to celebrate the launch.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

The Star Citizen free fly is back, giving you a chance to try the colossal space game as it nears a billion dollars in funding

A new Star Citizen free fly event has launched, allowing players to explore the game without any initial investment for just over a week. The highly anticipated single-player spinoff, Squadron 42, is now playable from start to finish, with hopes for a potential release by 2026. Crowdfunding for Star Citizen has surpassed 2 million, nearing a billion-dollar milestone. During the free fly event, participants can choose from various ships, including the RSI Salvation, Anvil Arrow, Drake Golem, Argo Mole, and Drake Cutlass Black. The recruit-a-friend campaign rewards both new players and existing ones who refer friends. The event runs until Monday, February 23, and players can join by visiting the official Roberts Space Industries website. Squadron 42 promises a 40-hour story-driven campaign featuring a star-studded cast.

AppWizard

December 25, 2025

Star Citizen is on course to reach $1 billion in player funding in 2026, and we still might not get to play its singleplayer campaign next year

Star Citizen is projected to surpass billion in revenue in 2026, having raised ,647,996 recently, up from [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Star Citizen's Funding Surge and Development Journey In 2026, the gaming industry is poised to witness an extraordinary milestone, not tied to the much-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, but rather to the remarkable financial trajectory of Star Citizen. This ambitious space simulation game, known for its controversial funding model, is on the verge of surpassing the billion mark in revenue next year. As of now, Star Citizen has amassed an impressive total of 5,647,996, a significant leap from the 0 million reported just eight months ago. This surge in funding has been fueled by the recent introduction of version 4.5, which adds an engineering role for players. This new feature allows participants to manage power distribution, repair and replace ship components, and even extinguish fires that may ignite during combat or other scenarios. The community's enthusiasm for Star Citizen raises a pressing question: will the game ever reach completion? This inquiry can be dissected into two parts. The much-anticipated single-player campaign, Squadron 42, is slated for release next year. However, its absence from this year's CitizenCon has cast a shadow over this timeline. Content director Jake Huckaby acknowledged the uncertainty, stating, "We drew a line in the sand when we said 2025. I don't know if we're going to make it, but I just know that we're going to do every single thing possible to make it." This commitment, however, does little to alleviate concerns among the player base. As for the broader Star Citizen experience, Chris Roberts has projected that the game will achieve version 1.0 by either 2027 or 2028. This release window is so expansive that one could easily envision Star Citizen's most extravagant spaceship soaring through it. Despite the prolonged development period, which has sparked minor discontent among some community members, players continue to invest in the project. Their unwavering support suggests a belief that the game will eventually materialize, or perhaps a hope that Chris Roberts will one day embark on his own journey among the stars in a private spacecraft." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million eight months ago. This funding increase is attributed to the release of version 4.5, which introduces a new engineering role for players. The single-player campaign, Squadron 42, is expected to release next year, although its absence from this year's CitizenCon has raised concerns about the timeline. Content director Jake Huckaby expressed uncertainty about meeting the 2025 deadline. Chris Roberts anticipates that Star Citizen will reach version 1.0 by 2027 or 2028. Despite the lengthy development, community support remains strong.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

Star Citizen’s stunning single-player spinoff is “over 40 hours” long and now “fully playable from beginning to end”

Star Citizen has surpassed a budget of 5 million, according to Cloud Imperium Games' crowdfunding tracker. Squadron 42, a single-player spinoff, is now playable from start to finish with a runtime exceeding 40 hours. The game features first-person shooter combat, exploration, and space battles, and includes a cast of renowned actors such as Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill, and Henry Cavill. Extended gameplay footage was unveiled at CitizenCon, and the release date is set for 2026. Chris Roberts, the studio's head, confirmed that all chapters are fully playable and emphasized the game's quality and innovative technology for seamless transitions between exploration and space travel. The beta phase may arrive unexpectedly in the coming year, and there are plans for ongoing innovations in Star Citizen, with potential funding reaching the billion mark.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

The biggest-budget, most notorious space game around is holding a huge free trial, with over 200 ships you can try

Star Citizen has surpassed 0 million in crowdfunding and sales. The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) 2955 is currently taking place in Orison, showcasing a collection of spacecraft and vehicles, allowing players to test nearly 200 ships for free. The event runs from November 20 to December 3. Star Citizen alpha 4.4 has been released, introducing the new star system Nyx, along with new missions, weapons, and a revamped injury system. The expo will feature a rotating list of ships from various manufacturers, with the community-voted Ship Showdown finalists available for testing on November 29. CIG has improved accessibility through enhanced tutorials and guides. The event includes recruit-a-friend bonuses, offering rewards for both referrers and newcomers.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

New Star Citizen update finally removes one of the most frustrating ways for a mission to go wrong

Star Citizen version 4.4 has introduced significant changes to the injury mechanics, moving away from random injury occurrences to defined "binary thresholds," which require approximately 1.5 times more damage for injuries to occur, resulting in a lower frequency of injuries. The maximum health reduction for initial tier-three injuries has been decreased, while various negative effects remain based on the injured body part: leg injuries cause slower movement, arm injuries lead to unstable weapon aim, chest injuries result in stamina penalties and wheezing, and head injuries impair vision and hearing. Other features in the patch include a requirement for rank-one reputation with Intersec for the Vanduul-Tech smugglers mission, activation of the IAE Expo Hall in Orison for testing, new weaponry such as the 'Triple Threat' and 'Boomtube,' and the introduction of the Nyx system with the asteroid Delamar and the mining facility of Levski. The patch is currently accessible for testing via the Public Test Universe (PTU).