Star Citizen has officially become one of the most ambitious and controversial games in history. Since the launch of its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in 2012, over 12 years have passed, yet the final version of the game is still nowhere in sight. Nevertheless, players continue to invest: as of now, the project has raised over $800 million, making it the most expensive crowdfunded video game ever.

How It All Began

The game’s creator, Chris Roberts — best known for the Wing Commander series — announced Star Citizen as a massive open-world space simulator featuring a free economy, combat, planetary exploration, and both solo and cooperative gameplay.

The initial fundraising campaign launched on Kickstarter in October 2012, where the project raised nearly $2.1 million. Later, developers opened direct funding through the official Cloud Imperium Games website — and the donations began to snowball. Over the years, the game introduced ships costing tens of thousands of dollars, and in-game bundles priced higher than actual cars.

Where Things Stand Now

Currently, Star Citizen exists in alpha form (the latest major version, 4.1, was released in March 2025). Players can already explore several star systems, participate in combat, trade, complete missions, and interact with others. The 4.1 update introduced new fauna, revamped NPCs, and new missions — showing that development is ongoing.

However, even after more than a decade, Star Citizen remains in "perpetual development": plagued by bugs, instability, missing core systems, and no clear release timeline.

What the Developers Say

The Cloud Imperium Games team continues to publish regular development updates, share tech demos, and outline their future plans. According to them, the game is evolving toward a “realistic, living universe” with a focus on detail and player freedom. The alpha is just the foundation.

Recently, the studio officially announced that the single-player spinoff Squadron 42, which has been in development since 2014, is expected to release in 2026. The campaign features major stars like Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, and Henry Cavill. This is the first concrete release window given in years.

What the Community Thinks

The player base has long been split into two camps. On one side are loyal fans who participate in alpha tests, eagerly discuss every update, and see the game as a second home. For them, Star Citizen isn’t just a game — it’s a long-term dream worth investing in.

On the other side are critics and disillusioned backers. Reddit, forums, and social media are filled with complaints: the game is labeled a “perpetual alpha,” a “money-raising simulator,” and “the most expensive bubble in gaming.” Some argue that after all this time, there’s still no clear roadmap or delivery of the full experience.

Star Citizen is a unique phenomenon. Over 12 years, the project has raised an enormous amount of funding, built a devoted fanbase, and become a symbol of both faith in independent development and unfulfilled expectations. Whether Cloud Imperium can bring the project to a final release and justify the trust of players — only time will tell. For now, the release is promised... someday.