Do you remember the hype around Star Citizen? If you don’t, that’s understandable. Although the game occasionally makes headlines, after more than 12 years of anticipation, even its most devoted fans are starting to grow restless. While it is indeed playable and offers a compelling experience, it still misses many highly awaited features. This is exactly why it’s significant that Cloud Imperium has announced that Squadron 42 is nearing completion after years of work.
Squadron 42 serves as the single-player offshoot of Star Citizen. This weekend marks the annual CitizenCon event – a gathering dedicated to the Star Citizen community – and it wraps up later today. Attendees were treated to an extensive gameplay trailer exceeding an hour in length (though a considerable portion consists of cutscenes) and received an updated release date: 2026.
After viewing the trailer, I must say it looks incredibly impressive. The graphics are polished, and the lighting captures the essence of a stage set within a blazing starship.
Chris Roberts, CEO of Cloud Imperium, noted that Squadron 42 has been feature-complete since last year, but the development team is focusing on perfecting the game before its launch (source: PCGamesN). The 2026 release timeline provides ample opportunity for the team to craft something extraordinary, but it’s wise to maintain a healthy skepticism; Cloud Imperium has a history of missing deadlines.
Players can expect around 40 hours of gameplay in Squadron 42, along with an astonishingly talented cast featuring Henry Cavill, Mark Hamill, Sophie Wu, Andy Serkis, Gillian Anderson, and more. If they’re a significant name in any sci-fi project, chances are they’re involved.
The gameplay is set to encompass both space and terrestrial combat, with relationship dynamics playing a pivotal role. The combat system appears to combine elements reminiscent of both Star Wars: Squadrons and Elite: Dangerous. Additionally, the on-foot segments indicate a survival aspect, incorporating HUD features to monitor the player’s hydration, oxygen levels, and heart rate.
Although I haven’t previously followed Star Citizen closely, the release of this gameplay trailer has certainly piqued my interest.