Star Citizen appeared in early access in 2017, and version 1.0 is expected only in 2027–2028. But earlier, in 2026, a separate campaign, Squadron 42, will appear — a linear cinematic adventure in the same universe.
«It's Top Gun meets Star Wars,» Roberts described the game in an interview with LaPresse. He noted that the release of Squadron 42 would be an event comparable to GTA 6, which will be released on May 26, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. At the same time, the developers understand that releasing the project too close to the release date of GTA 6 is not worth it.
According to Roberts, «besides GTA 6, it's probably the AAA game with the biggest budget.» Squadron 42 features a star-studded cast: Mark Hamill, Henry Cavill, Gillian Anderson, Gary Oldman, and others.
The campaign will combine ground missions with aerial and space combat. All new mechanics that will be implemented in Squadron 42 will then be transferred to Star Citizen, improving the release of version 1.0.