Overview
- Chris Roberts announced the change on August 27, 2026, shifting Squadron 42’s target from late 2026 to the April–June 2027 window.
- Roberts said a major reason for the move was to avoid launching during the heavy media attention around GTA 6, which would limit coverage for Squadron 42.
- Cloud Imperium reports roughly 611 developers across its studios and says the staffing split was about 50/50 between Star Citizen and Squadron 42 but is now roughly 55% in Squadron 42’s favor to focus on bug fixes and polish.
- The studio will allow limited pre‑release access in October 2026 for select long‑time backers and content creators, a step meant to gather feedback before the wider launch.
- Squadron 42’s delay continues a long record of postponements for the single‑player companion to the billion‑dollar crowdfunded Star Citizen project, and CIG says most developers will return to the live Star Citizen build after Squadron 42 ships, which could speed work toward a 1.0 goal while keeping community scrutiny high.