While Cloud Imperium Games was quite insistent that it would release the single-player spinoff for Star Citizen, Squadron 42, in 2026, studio CEO Chris Roberts has now announced that it has been pushed back to 2027. In a blog post, Roberts said that this decision was made due to the upcoming November 19th release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
According to Roberts, this basically comes down to the fact that Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely end up taking up almost everyone’s attention as soon as it launches. Since Squadron 42 has been in development since 2014, he wanted to make sure that the single-player spinoff gets as much attention as it deserves, which could only be achieved by not releasing at the same time as GTA 6.
“At CitizenCon 2024, we announced we would ship in 2026. Our plan was to release in Q4 around IAE. But much like the rest of the industry 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 (we started Squadron 42 development in 2014 as 2013 was opening studios, hiring people and getting the Hangar module out for Star Citizen) launching into the attention buzz saw of GTA 6. While GTA 6 isn’t launching on PC this November, pretty much all outlets and most content creators will be all over it, not leaving a lot of room for other coverage.”
While Roberts hasn’t yet provided a solid release date, he said that Cloud Imperium Games was aiming to release Squadron 42 in Q2 2027. More details about the release window are slated to be revealed “shortly” after the studio’s own plans are solidified. In the meantime, the studio is planning to provide the original backers and long-time content creators for Star Citizen a chance to play Squadron 42 on October 9th and 10th.
Back in June, Roberts had said that Squadron 42 was “imminently closer to launch”, and had spoken about how the title will be a blockbuster “event” movie starring the player. Storytelling is a key aspect of the single-player title, and the game will be able to seamlessly weave between plot moments and gameplay.
“My pitch is, basically, you’re the star of this huge blockbuster event movie, and it seamlessly goes between the storytelling and the cinematic moments to you being in control and [in] first person. It feels pretty epic. I’m actually very excited for when people—because we’re right at the end now, we’re in the closing stages and it’s coming together really well.”
His wife, Sandi Roberts, had also spoken about marketing for Squadron 42, noting that “the heat is being turned up”. Whether these marketing plans have since been changed owing to the massive response garnered by the Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look remains to be seen, however. Some of the details revealed by Sandi that are unlikely to have changed revolve around how Squadron 42 will target a larger audience with its marketing than Star Citizen.
