Star Citizen has raised $1 billion, remains in early access after nine years

Source: Engadget

Funding Milestones

Amid suggestions that Rockstar Games may be spending around $1.5 billion on Grand Theft Auto VI—potentially making it the most expensive video game ever made—Star Citizen has confirmed reaching the ten‑figure funding mark. The game has now raised over $1 billion from more than 6.5 million backers【https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/funding-goals】.

Star Citizen first emerged in 2012 with a Kickstarter campaign that targeted $500,000. Cloud Imperium Games far exceeded that goal, collecting over $2.1 million, while a separate campaign later pulled in $4.1 million【https://www.engadget.com/2012-11-19-chris-roberts-star-citizen-crowdfunding-concludes-at-over-6m.html】. In 2014 the project set a crowdfunding world record by topping $55 million【https://www.engadget.com/2014-10-01-star-citizen-earns-guinness-world-record-for-crowdfunding-effort.html】.

By the time Star Citizen entered early access in 2017, the studio had already raised more than $170 million.

Early Access and Current State

Nearly nine years after its early‑access launch, the space‑combat simulation remains in an alpha state. Game director and Cloud Imperium CEO Chris Roberts explained to Variety that such a development model “would not be possible under a traditional big‑game publisher” because it requires patience and a community eager for the “biggest, best world possible.” He added:

“I fully believe that we’ve still got a long time, even after we’ve got what we call 1.0 out, and we’re not considering an alpha anymore, that we’ll be adding and building on the universe and the world, and it will be a place for people to adventure together and meet up together and have fun together.”【https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/star-citizen-1-billion-funding-squadron-42-release-update-1236757420/】

Squadron 42 Update

The single‑player spin‑off Squadron 42 is described as being “in the closing stages,” though no firm release date has been announced. The game’s website still lists it as scheduled for release this year, despite several delays【https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/star-citizen-spinoff-squadron-42-has-been-delayed-again-until-2026-180946358.html】.

Roberts expressed excitement about the upcoming launch:

“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 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.”