Star Citizen: Difference between revisions

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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}

| engine = [[Amazon Lumberyard|StarEngine]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/cloud-imperium-shows-an-impressive-starengine-tech-demo/|title=Cloud Imperium shows an impressive StarEngine Tech Demo|website=DSOGaming|date=October 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tweaktown.com/news/93949/star-citizens-new-starengine-tech-demo-is-one-of-the-most-impressive-weve-ever-seen/index.html|title=Star Citizen's new StarEngine tech demo is one of the most impressive we've ever seen|website=TweakTown|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>

| platform = [[Windows]]

| genre = {{cslist|[[Massively multiplayer online game|MMO]]|[[Space trading and combat]]|[[first-person shooter]]|[[Immersive sim]]}}

| director = [[Chris Roberts (video game developer)|Chris Roberts]]

| producer =

==''Squadron 42''==

''Squadron 42'' is a story-based [[Single-player video game|single-player]] game set in the ''Star Citizen'' [[fictional universe]] described by the developers as a "spiritual successor to ''[[Wing Commander (franchise)|Wing Commander]]''".<ref name="TechSpot_2013-11-25">{{cite web|url=http://www.techspot.com/news/54801-star-citizen-crowdfunding-surpasses-30-million-squadron-42-to-receive-upgrade.html|title=Star Citizen crowdfunding surpasses $30 million, Squadron 42 to receive upgrade|last=Boswell|first=Russ|date=November 25, 2013|editor1-last=Franco|editor1-first=Julio|editor2-last=Vilches|editor2-first=Jose|website=[[TechSpot]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128040710/http://www.techspot.com/news/54801-star-citizen-crowdfunding-surpasses-30-million-squadron-42-to-receive-upgrade.html|archive-date=November 28, 2013|access-date=November 9, 2014|editor3-last=Knight|editor3-first=Shawn|display-editors=1}}</ref><ref name="RPS_2013-11-08">{{cite news|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/08/chris-roberts-details-squadron-42-takes-on-doubters/|title=Chris Roberts Details Squadron 42, Takes On Doubters|last=Grayson|first=Nathan|date=November 11, 2013|website=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109011105/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/08/chris-roberts-details-squadron-42-takes-on-doubters/|archive-date=November 9, 2013|access-date=November 9, 2014}}</ref> It is being developed by the Foundry 42 studio under the supervision of Chris Roberts' brother Erin, who had already worked with him on the ''Wing Commander'' series and led the production and development of games like ''[[Wing Commander (franchise)#Privateer 2: The Darkening|Privateer 2: The Darkening]]'' and ''[[Starlancer]]''.<ref name="Develop_2014-06-173">{{cite interview|last=Roberts|first=Erin|interviewer=Craig Chapple ([[Develop (UK magazine)|Develop]])|title=Meet Foundry 42's Star Citizens|url=http://www.develop-online.net/interview/meet-foundry-42-s-star-citizens/0194206|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705031309/http://www.develop-online.net/interview/meet-foundry-42-s-star-citizens/0194206|archive-date=July 5, 2014|date=June 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Game-Debate_2014-10-11">{{cite web|url=http://www.game-debate.com/news/?news=14668|title=Interview: Star Citizen Studio Director Erin Roberts On Its Crowdfunding Success|last=Sutton|first=Jon|date=October 11, 2014|editor1-last=Thomas|editor1-first=Stuart|editor2-last=Soutter|editor2-first=Neil|website=Game-Debate|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109171447/http://www.game-debate.com/news/?news=14668|archive-date=November 9, 2014|access-date=November 9, 2014|display-editors=1}}</ref><ref name="Edge_#274">{{cite magazine|last1=Clapham|first1=Matthew|date=2014|editor1-last=Mott|editor1-first=Tony|editor2-last=Brown|editor2-first=Nathan|editor3-last=Wynne|editor3-first=Mark|editor4-last=Hind|editor4-first=Andrew|title=Space Craft|location=Bath|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=274|pages=58–65|issn=1350-1593|oclc=77560936|display-editors=1|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]}}</ref> It was originally announced for release in 2014 during the Kickstarter campaign, but was delayed multiple times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2015/8/31/9211969/what-the-hell-is-going-on-with-star-citizen|title=What the hell is going on with Star Citizen?|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=2015-08-31|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Horti|first=Samuel|date=2020-01-30|title=Squadron 42: Everything we know about Star Citizen's singleplayer campaign|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/star-citizen-squadron-42-release-date-trailer/|access-date=2020-07-31|magazine=PC Gamer|language=en-US}}</ref> In mid-2019 CIG stated that a beta release was planned before the end of Q2 2020, then an estimated Q3 2020 on a now abandoned roadmap.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-08-31-star-citizens-squadron-42-beta-delayed-three-months-to-q3-2020|title=Star Citizen's Squadron 42 beta delayed three months to Q3 2020|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=2019-08-31|website=Eurogamer|language=en|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Citizen Roadmap - RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/roadmap/board/2-squadron-42|access-date=2020-07-22|website=RSI Roadmap|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=As Star Citizen turns eight years old, the single-player campaign still sounds a long way off|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-10-10-as-star-citizen-turns-eight-years-old-the-single-player-campaign-still-sounds-a-long-way-off#:~:text=Squadron%2042%20was%20originally%20announced,on%20a%20now%20abandoned%20roadmap.

 

 

==Development==

 

=== Kickstarter and early releases ===

 

As development continued, Chris Roberts announced in August 2013 that they would be releasing the "Hangar Module", a way for players to explore an enclosed space and some of the ships that have been completed. The module was released six days later, on August 29, and was considered the "first deliverable" of the project.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Kevin|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/star-citizen-hangar-module,24065.html|title=Chris Roberts' Star Citizen Hangar Module Goes Live|date=August 29, 2013|work=Tom's Hardware|access-date=August 26, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13214-Letter-From-The-Chairman-The-Hangar-Module|title=Letter from the Chairman: The Hangar Module - Roberts Space Industries {{!}} Follow the development of Star Citizen and Squadron 42|last=Roberts|first=Chris|date=August 23, 2013|website=Roberts Space Industries|language=en|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref> This would mark the beginning of ''Star Citizen''<nowiki/>'s modular development process, where smaller pieces of the game would be released leading up to the release of the Persistent Universe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/08/star-citizen-and-the-triumphant-record-smashing-return-of-chris-roberts/|title=Star Citizen and the triumphant, record-smashing return of Chris Roberts|last=Hutchinson|first=Lee|date=2014-08-03|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref> During this early period, it was announced that the games would utilize the [[Artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]] system Kythera, developed by Moon Collider.<ref name="Massively_2014-03-122">{{cite web|url=http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/this-is-the-advanced-ai-tech-powering-star-citizen/|title=This is the advanced AI tech that's powering Star Citizen|last=Reahard|first=Jef|date=March 12, 2014|website=[[Joystiq|Massively]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510143528/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/12/this-is-the-advanced-ai-tech-powering-star-citizen/|archive-date=May 10, 2014|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref>

 

 

==== Arena Commander ====

During the 2012 crowdfunding campaign, Chris Roberts suggested that the game might be released in 2014. At the time, Roberts said that "Really, it's all about constant iteration from launch. The whole idea is to be constantly updating. It isn't like the old days where you had to have everything and the kitchen sink in at launch because you weren't going to come back to it for awhile. We're already one year in – another two years puts us at 3 total which is ideal. Any more and things would begin to get stale."<ref name=":16" />

 

 

''Squadron 42'', the now-standalone single player component of the game, was initially scheduled for the project's initial 2014 release, but suffered from delays as well. After it missed the 2014 release window, a release window in 2016 was suggested before the project was "delayed indefinitely".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark Hamill's Star Citizen Character Introduced in Squadron 42 Teaser|url=https://screenrant.com/mark-hamill-star-citizen-squadron-42/|last=Subillaga|first=Jon|date=2015-11-20|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Citizen single-player delayed indefinitely - ExtremeTech|url=https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/237434-star-citizen-single-player-delayed-indefinitely|last=Hruska|first=Joel|date=October 11, 2016|website=ExtremeTech|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref> In 2018, Cloud Imperium Games announced a plan to enter the beta stage of ''Squadron 42''{{'}}s development before the end of the first quarter of 2020, but that date was later pushed back to the end of the second quarter of 2020.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Star Citizen's singleplayer beta release date has been pushed back|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/star-citizens-singleplayer-beta-release-date-has-been-pushed-back/|last=Tarason|first=Dominic|date=2019-08-31|magazine=PC Gamer|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref><ref name=":19" /> The beta was later pushed back again, to the third quarter of 2020, which passed with no news until on 10 October Chris Roberts stated that "We still have a ways to go before we are in beta".<ref>{{Cite web|title=As Star Citizen turns eight years old, the single-player campaign still sounds a long way off|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-10-10-as-star-citizen-turns-eight-years-old-the-single-player-campaign-still-sounds-a-long-way-off|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=2020-10-10|website=Eurogamer|language=en-US|access-date=2020-10-13}}</ref>

 

In November 2021, Cloud Imperium announced it would be opening a new office in Manchester to open in May 2022. Upon opening, it would become the company's UK headquarters and 400 people from the Wilmslow office would relocate to Manchester.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dealessandri |first=Marie |date=2021-11-10 |title=Cloud Imperium to open Manchester studio |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cloud-imperium-to-open-manchester-studio |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref> At the end of January 2024, live game director Todd Papy, along with several other lead staff members, left the company as part of a restructuring connected to the company's office relocation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neal |first=Chris |date=2024-02-15 |title=Star Citizen's live game director vacates position after nine years at CIG {{!}} Massively Overpowered |url=https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/15/star-citizens-live-game-director-vacates-position-after-nine-years-at-cig/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neal |first=Chris |date=2024-02-26 |title=Star Citizen followers uncover additional layoffs at CIG that reference relocation and restructuring {{!}} Massively Overpowered |url=https://massivelyop.com/2024/02/26/star-citizen-followers-uncover-additional-layoffs-at-cig-that-reference-relocation-and-restructuring/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Justin |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Report: Star Citizen dev CIG laid off staff following studio relocation |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-star-citizen-dev-cig-laid-off-staff-following-studio-relocation |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Sophie |date=2024-02-28 |title=Cloud Imperium hit with layoffs |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cloud-imperium-reportedly-hit-with-layoffs |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

 

===Funding===

 

==== Crowdfunding ====

 

At initial pledge campaign end, the total pledge amount was above all goals initially set by Cloud Imperium Games and reached {{US$|6.2 million}}.<ref name="CNBCCrowdfunding" /> In mid-2013, with {{US$|15 million}} raised in less than a year, ''Star Citizen'' became the "most-funded crowdfunding project anywhere".<ref name="Jacobs Sparks">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LccRAwAAQBAJ|title=Britannica book of the year: 2014|date=2014|publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|isbn=9781625131225|editor1-last=Jacobs Sparks|editor1-first=Karen|location=Chicago|page=213|oclc=892531428|access-date=November 10, 2014|editor2-last=Shepherd|editor2-first=Melinda C.|editor3-last=Bauer|editor3-first=Patricia|editor4-last=Duignang|editor4-first=Brian|editor5-last=Gregersen|editor5-first=Erik|display-editors=1|via=Google Books}}</ref> In 2014, [[Guinness World Records]] listed the sum of {{US$|39,680,576}} pledged on ''Star Citizen''{{'s}} website as the "largest single amount ever raised via crowdsourcing".<ref name="GuinessWorldRecord">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_f8z3/page/141|title=Guinness World Records 2015|publisher=[[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records Limited]]|isbn=978-1-90-884363-0|editor1-last=Glanday|editor1-first=Craig|location=London|publication-date=2014|page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_f8z3/page/141 141]|chapter=Crowdsourcing|date=September 9, 2014|oclc=869770714|access-date=October 16, 2014|editor2-last=Fall|editor2-first=Stephen|editor3-last=Mackey|editor3-first=Roxanne|editor4-last=Bebbington|editor4-first=Theresa|editor5-last=Lorimer|editor5-first=Marie|display-editors=1|chapter-url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/2015/preview/files/assets/basic-html/page16.html}}</ref> During the 2014 [[Gamescom]] event on August 15, Chris Roberts announced the crowdfunding campaign had surpassed {{US$|50 million}}.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/08/18/star-citizens-crowdfunding-total-shoots-past-50-million/|title=Star Citizen's crowdfunding total shoots past $50 million|last=Savage|first=Phil|date=August 18, 2014|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=September 23, 2014}}</ref> On May 19, 2017, crowdfunding surpassed $150 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eurogamer.pl/articles/2017-05-21-kosmiczny-symulator-star-citizen-zgromadzil-ponad-150-mln-dolarow|title=Kosmiczny symulator Star Citizen zgromadził ponad 150 mln dolarów|last=Bicki|first=Piotr|newspaper=Eurogamer.pl |date=May 21, 2017|access-date=May 22, 2017}}</ref> In addition to crowdfunding, funding for the game's development has continued through a variety of in-game transactions and subscriptions.<ref name="CNBCCrowdfunding" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-11-29-star-citizen-is-selling-virtual-plots-of-land-for-up-to-96|title=Star Citizen is selling virtual plots of land ...|date=November 29, 2017|website=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Younger|first=Phil|url=https://www.pcinvasion.com/star-citizen-now-selling-land-land-claim-licenses|title=Star Citizen now selling land with Land Claim Licenses for real cash|date=November 28, 2017|website=PC Invasion}}</ref>

 

==== Private funding ====

 

Due to [[United Kingdom]] financial disclosure laws, Cloud Imperium Games released financials for parts of the company. The documents revealed that in 5 years of development, from 2012 to 2017, the company had spent US$193 million and reserved $14 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/star-citizen-budget-accounting-1203093928/|title='Star Citizen' Dev Spent Over $4 Million a Month in 2017|last=Futter|first=Michael|date=2018-12-20|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/12/20/star-citizen-interview-why-chris-roberts-raised-another-46-million-to-finish-sci-fi-universe/|title=Star Citizen interview — Why Chris Roberts raised another $46 million to finish sci-fi universe|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=2018-12-20|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref> CIG financials for UK in 2020 revealed that it had paid about £1 million in dividends to shareholders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/17/star-citizen-financial-report-outlines-over-1m-in-paid-dividends-to-investors-as-of-last-year/|title=Star Citizen financial report outlines over £1M in paid dividends to investors as of last year|last=Neal|first=Chris|date=2021-10-17|website=Massively OP|language=en|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref>

Ongoing online disputes exist over the scope of the project, the project's funding, as well as the project's ability to eventually deliver on promises. Some writers have been the subject of e-mail attacks for their coverage of the project.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tassi|first=Paul|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/12/14/with-100m-in-crowdfunding-star-citizen-may-not-be-a-scam-but-it-feels-like-a-cult/#6253e8be130d|title=With $100M In Crowdfunding, 'Star Citizen' May Not Be A Scam, But It Feels Like A Cult|date=December 14, 2015|work=Forbes}}</ref> At least one popular YouTube personality was allegedly sent death threats by a fan of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knnIrvr4HE|title=Let's talk about the Star Citizen fan that threatened my family|last=SidAlpha|date=June 6, 2018|via=Youtube}}</ref> Various articles{{who|date=March 2020}} regarding the controversy surrounding the project also focus on both sides of the argument.{{clarify|date=March 2020}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Barder|first=Ollie|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2015/10/02/the-excess-of-star-citizen-is-the-price-gaming-pays-for-upholding-the-great-man-myth/#5c33037e180f|title=The Excess Of 'Star Citizen' Is The Price Gaming Pays For Upholding The Great Man Myth|date=October 2, 2015|work=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kain|first=Eric|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/10/07/everybody-needs-to-calm-down-about-star-citizen/#52931e6b48ab|title=Everybody Needs To Calm Down About 'Star Citizen'|date=October 7, 2015|work=Forbes}}</ref>

 

 

Virtual land claims, a feature that had not yet been implemented in the game, were announced for sale in 2017, which attracted criticism from both the press and the public. Concerns regarding the mechanic's lack of availability and potential pay-to-win advantages were raised. In response, Cloud Imperium Games wrote, "People that own claim licenses now, during the anniversary sale to support development, and people that earn the money in-game to buy one will be on equal footing assuming they have enough UEC, especially as there will be millions of locations for people to explore and claim within the Universe over the lifetime of the game."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-11-29-star-citizen-is-selling-virtual-plots-of-land-for-up-to-96|title=Star Citizen is selling virtual plots of land for up to £96 a pop|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=2017-11-29|website=Eurogamer|language=en|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref>

* [[List of most expensive video games to develop]]

* [[List of highest-funded crowdfunding projects]]

* [[List of vaporware]]

{{-}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website}}

 

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