Cloud Imperium Games has released a new wishlist trailer for Squadron 42, its long-awaited single-player space adventure set in the Star Citizen universe. The announcement brings renewed attention to a project that has been in development for more than a decade.
🚀A Project More Than a Decade in the Making
Squadron 42 was introduced alongside Star Citizen in 2012, when developer Cloud Imperium Games began crowdfunding its ambitious space simulation project. The single-player campaign was originally envisioned as a more traditional space combat adventure, drawing on the legacy of Chris Roberts' Wing Commander series. Development of the game began in earnest in 2014, and its original release plans eventually slipped. In 2015, the studio promoted a 2016 launch window under the slogan "Answer the Call," but the game was delayed again, and Cloud Imperium subsequently stopped providing firm release dates for several years. One of the main reasons behind the extended development has been the project's growing scope. The studio expanded its ambitions for the campaign, aiming for a cinematic experience with detailed environments, elaborate space battles and performances from a high-profile cast.
📅 From Feature Complete to a 2027 Release
The studio announced a planned 2026 release. That window has since changed. In August 2026, Chris Roberts confirmed that the game would instead launch in the second quarter of 2027. He explained that the studio wanted to avoid competing for attention with Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to dominate gaming coverage and creator content around its planned November 2026 launch.
❓What Is Squadron 42
Unlike Star Citizen, which focuses on a persistent multiplayer universe, Squadron 42 is a standalone, story-driven adventure. Players enlist as a rookie in the United Empire of Earth Navy and take part in a military campaign across space, combining piloting and combat with on-foot gameplay and interactions with their crew.
The game is being developed for PC, with wishlists now available on Steam