View source for StarCitizen:Star Citizen

{{InfoboxNeue
|title = Star Citizen
|image = Sclogo.png
|label1 = Developer
|content1 = [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Ltd]]
|label2 = Publisher
|content2 = [[StarCitizen:Roberts Space Industries (publisher)|Roberts Space Industries]]
|label3 = Genre
|content3 = Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) with [[StarCitizen:First Person Universe]]
|label4 = Platforms
|content4 = Microsoft Windows
|label5 = Engine
|content5 = [[StarCitizen:Star Engine]] (Heavily modified [[StarCitizen:Amazon Lumberyard]])
|label6 = Release date
|content6 = {{ubl|TBD|Available now in Alpha}}
|label7 = |content7 = |label8 = |content8 = |label9 = |content9 = |label10 = |content10 = |label11 = |content11 = |label12 = |content12 = }}

'''''Star Citizen''''' is a crowdfunded [[StarCitizen:MMO]] first person space simulator game for Windows, developed by [[StarCitizen:Chris Roberts|Chris Roberts']] company [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.|Cloud Imperium Games]], to be published by [[StarCitizen:Roberts Space Industries (publisher)|Roberts Space Industries]]. 

It was announced {{Years or months ago|2012|10}} on October 10th 2012, is currently playable in alpha and there is no official [[StarCitizen:release date]] as of 2025.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite RSI|url=press|text=Star Citizen: Press Kit}}</ref>

The development includes a standalone single-player campaign titled ''[[StarCitizen:Squadron 42]]''.<ref name=":3" />

== Story ==
{{About||a brief list of events in lore|Historical Timeline|a list of pages related to lore|:Category:Lore}}
''Star Citizen'' is a science fiction game, with players taking the role of humans in the milky way 930 years into the future, with the [[StarCitizen:United Empire of Earth]] ruling over dozens of systems, worlds and moons in the 30th century, and [[StarCitizen::Category:Alien Races|aliens]] controling their own systems and worlds. While billions of Humans live within the Empire, only a small percentage have earned the right to call themselves [[StarCitizen:Citizen]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/star-citizen/universe|text=Universe|accessdate=}}</ref> 

==Gameplay==
The game will be a sandbox featuring 100 [[StarCitizen:planetary system]]s to explore in their entirety, and a large variety of [[StarCitizen:careers]]. Besides space itself, players can also play aboard [[StarCitizen:space station]]s and on the surface of [[StarCitizen:planet]]s. A large number of diverse space and ground [[StarCitizen::Category:Vehicles|vehicles]] are or will be available to pilot, ranging from personal ships to large industrial ships or carriers, via tanks or an [[StarCitizen:Titan exosuit|exosuit]]. Many vehicles require to be multicrewed by players acting as a team to be operated optimally, with the planned possibility to hire NPCs. Players can freely move around their vehicles and enter or exit them at will including in space, and spaceships can be boarded. Specific components can be destroyed and affect the functioning of the vehicle. Similarly, localized damage applies to players themselves, and prosthetics are planned to replace destroyed body parts. 

Immersion is an important element, affecting aspects of the game such as avoiding displaying health points or damage percentages in the UI. It favors a [[StarCitizen:First Person Universe|first person universe]] approach, where players pilot and interact with spaceships rather than playing as the spaceships. 

==[[StarCitizen:Wing Commander: Privateer|Development]]==
{{About||the development timeline|Development timeline|more information about the development team|Development team|a list of pages related to development|Category:Development}}

Star Citizen is created by [[StarCitizen:Chris Roberts]], who is known for creating the ''[[StarCitizen:Wing Commander (series)|Wing Commander]]'' games as well as for games such a''s'' ''[[StarCitizen:Starlancer (video game)|Starlancer]]'' and ''[[StarCitizen:Freelancer (video game)|Freelancer]]'', and who described ''Star Citizen'' as ''Wing Commander'' and ''[[StarCitizen:Wing Commander: Privateer|Privateer]]'' blended together.<ref name=":2" />  

Pre-production started towards the end of 2011, with development starting in late 2012.<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/how-indie-film-financing-could-shape-the-future-of-games How indie film financing could shape the future of games], [[StarCitizen:Ortwin Freyermuth]], gamesindustry.biz, June 23, 2014</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20160914002052/https://www.simplygon.com/news/cloud-imperium-games-chooses-simplygon When I was first prototyping Star Citizen back in 2011 I did a lot of research on various LOD processes]", Cloud Imperium games chooses Simplygon, simplygon.com, 28th April 2014, archived</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20160705061544/https://www.themittani.com/features/exclusive-interview-star-citizens-chris-roberts Basically I’ve been working with a small team over the course of the past year to get the early prototyping and production done. The team has varied in scale from just me, essentially, to about 10 people. That’s just the actual work though.]", Exclusive Interview: Star Citizen's Chris Roberts, themittani.com,  2012-10-19, archived</ref>

Initially intended to release in 2014, following the massive success of the crowdfunding, several [[StarCitizen:Stretch Goals|stretch goals]] were added, and in September 2013 a poll was held including whether the fundraising should be stopped when reaching 23 millions, mission achieved, or if it should be kept up through development and continue to offer stretch goal rewards in addition to extra features and development milestones. The vote ended with 87% for the latter.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13266-letter-from-the-chairman-19-million|text=Letter from the Chairman: $19 Million!|accessdate=2013-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13284-Letter-From-The-Chairman-20-Million|text=Letter from the Chairman: $20 Million!|accessdate=2013-09-26}}</ref> In December 2014, the fundraising reached 65 millions, reaching the last stretch goal.<ref name=":4" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305121402/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/03/star-citizen-crowd-funding-record-65m-game Star Citizen sets crowdfunding record as players spend $65m on spaceships], The Guardian,  3 December 2014, archived</ref> Over the development, several modules and [[StarCitizen:Patch notes|patches]] got delayed, and Chris Roberts eventually stopped announcing any release dates.

The team constantly share updates, behind the scenes videos and developer commentary, and makes early builds of the game available, so that the backers can test and provide feedback while the game is in open development.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/@RobertsSpaceInd Star Citizen], YouTube</ref>

''Star Citizen''  development is currently taking place across five studio, CIG Austin and CIG Los Angeles in the USA, CIG Manchester in the UK, CIG Frankfurt in Germany, and Turbulent in Canada.<ref>[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/join-us Join Us], cloudimperiumgames.com</ref>
===Funding===
{{Main|Crowdfunding campaign}}

The development of ''Star Citizen'' is funded by a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign. It is the largest crowd funded project and game in the world, earning a [[StarCitizen:Guinness world records|Guinness World Records]] in 2015, with more than $900 million raised by November 2025.<ref name=":4">{{Cite RSI|url=funding-goals|text=Star Citizen: The Stretch Goal}}</ref> 

The game costs 45.00 USD to buy and comes as a starter package with a ship.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/store/pledge/browse/game-packages/45?search=&sort=price&direction=asc|text=Pledge Store|accessdate=2024-01-02}}</ref> Despite being an [[StarCitizen:MMO]] there is no subscription model to keep playing the game over time.<ref>"[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cig/star-citizen No Subscriptions]", Star Citizen Kickstarter</ref> Anything bought beyond the starter package which includes the digital download itself is unnecessary and considered as a donation to support the game development, with a ship gifted as a thank you. This originates from the early game crowdfunding with crowdfunding tiers.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sth_Rfygkbc&feature=youtu.be Sandi Roberts Interview Part One...How Star Citizen Came To Be], Inforunners, YouTube, 25 Apr 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYFCfRK4e6Y Star Citizen: An Interview With Chris Roberts] , Forbes, 18 May 2013</ref>

Non-development related content such as behind-the-scenes [[StarCitizen::Category:Video series|shows]] or digital publications are funded by optional [[StarCitizen:subscription]]s revenue from subscribers, who receive complimentary rewards such as access to [[StarCitizen:Jump Point (magazine)|Jump Point]] magazine and [[StarCitizen:Subscriber flair|flair]] items every month.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=faq/subscriptions|text=Star Citizen: Subscriptions FAQ}}</ref>

=== Alpha modules===
In 2013, Cloud Imperium Games began releasing parts of the game, known as modules, for players to try gameplay features before release. 

====Persistent Universe====
{{Main|Persistent Universe}}

The Persistent Universe is the core MMO component of ''Star Citizen'' in which players can create their avatars, freely navigate around the released parts of the universe, and play the sandbox as they wish including for example trading, mining, fighting, criminal activities or missions.<ref name=":5" />

It is the spiritual successor to ''[[StarCitizen:wikipedia:Freelancer (video game)|Freelancer]]'' and ''[[StarCitizen:Wing Commander: Privateer|Privateer]]''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/live/m9FmVWiUoFo?feature=shared&t=1544 Happy Hour Museum: Wing Commander Privateer], Star Citizen, YouTube, 31 march 2017</ref>

====Arena Commander====
{{Main|Arena Commander}}

Arena Commander is a competitive in-fiction arena-based space combat simulator currently available, in which players can fly ships in several game modes, be it against other players or AI opponents.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/module/arena-commander|text=Arena Commander|accessdate=}}</ref>

====Star Marine====
{{Main|Star Marine}}

Star Marine is a competitive in-fiction arena-based ground combat simulator, in which players can fight each other with [[StarCitizen::Category:Personal weapons|personal weapons]] on several maps in several game modes, such as elimination, last stand or capture and hold.

It has been available since January 2017 [[StarCitizen:Star Citizen Alpha 2.6.0|Alpha 2.6.0]].<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link//15653-star-citizen-alpha-260|text=Star Citizen Alpha 2.6.0|accessdate=2017-01-03}}</ref>

====Hangar Module ====
{{Main|Hangar Module}}

The Hangar Module enables players to explore or modify their released vehicles and to interact with the ship's systems. The hangar also features decorations and flair that can be placed and arranged within the hangar.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/hangar-module|text=Hangar Module|accessdate=}}</ref> 

==== Private Server====
{{Main|Private Server}}

''Star Citizen'' will let the players run their own private servers, including modding and playing offline, which will be implemented after the game has been released and running for some time.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaoGxOxzAwc&t=6650s StarCast 108 - Disco Lando, Cap Richard, Bzerker, Cliffy & Domo], geekdomo, YouTube, 10 janv. 2016</ref><ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/14339-10-For-The-Chairman-Episode-47|text=10 FOR THE CHAIRMAN - EPISODE 47, Question 10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/14964-10-For-The-Chairman|text=10 FOR THE CHAIRMAN - EPISODE 67, Question 7}}</ref>

==Squadron 42==
{{Main|Squadron 42}}

''Squadron 42'' is a separate, standalone cinematic singleplayer campaign featuring space combat, FPS, and a branching plotline, taking place in the Star Citizen universe, and in which the player incarnates a member of the armed forces.<ref name=":3">{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/squadron42|text=Squadron 42|accessdate=}}</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/IRE2BBQR4tc?feature=shared&t=1021 Wingman's Hangar ep011 March 8, 201] 3, Star Citizen, YouTube</ref>

It is notable among others for [[StarCitizen:Squadron 42#Cast|its cast]] which includes among others [[StarCitizen:Ernst Bishop|Gary Oldman]], [[StarCitizen:Steve Colton|Mark Hamill]], [[StarCitizen:Rachel MacLaren|Gillian Anderson]], [[StarCitizen:Thomas Wade|Mark Strong]], [[StarCitizen:Noah White|Liam Cunningham]], [[StarCitizen:Thul'Óqquray|Andy Serkis]], [[StarCitizen:Randall Graves|John Rhys-Davies]], [[StarCitizen:Cal Mason|Jack Huston,]] [[StarCitizen:Rebecca Trejo|Eleanor Tomlinson]], [[StarCitizen:Sato Karne|Harry Treadaway]], [[StarCitizen:Cara Webster|Sophie Wu]], [[StarCitizen:Marcus Corell|Damson Idris]], Eric Wareheim, [[StarCitizen:Sophia Kelly|Rhona Mitra]], [[StarCitizen:Ryan Enright|Henry Cavill]], and [[StarCitizen:Julian Wexler|Ben Mendelsohn]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5194726/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm Squadron 42 Full Cast & Crew], imdb</ref>

It is the spiritual successor to [[StarCitizen:Wing Commander (series)|''Wing Commander'']].<ref name=":2" />

''Squadron 42'' was announced as feature complete at [[StarCitizen:CitizenCon]] on October 22, 2023 and having entered the polishing phase, and at CitizenCon 2024 the release date was announced for 2026.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3eHBhHsrm4 <nowiki>CitizenCon 2954: Day One [Full Broadcast]</nowiki>], Star Citizen, YouTube, 2024-10-19</ref><ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/19453-Squadron-42-I-Held-The-Line|text=Squadron 42 i Held The Line|accessdate=2023-10-22}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Star Citizen Soundtrack}}

The ''Star Citizen'' Soundtrack by [[StarCitizen:Pedro Camacho]] is also available separately on the RSI Website<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Add-Ons/Full-Star-Citizen-Soundtrack-Digital|text=Add-Ons - Full Star Citizen Soundtrack (Digital)|accessdate=}}</ref> and was available as a kickstarter reward for some tiers.<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cig/star-citizen?lang=fr Star Citizen], Kickstarter</ref> It has yet to be released. However numerous tracks are already available in game or have been released for various videos such as ships commercials.<ref>[https://soundcloud.com/pedrocamacho Pedro Macedo Camacho], soundcloud</ref>

It's separate from the Squadron 42 Soundtrack by [[StarCitizen:Geoff Zanelli]].<ref>[https://geoffzanelli.com/projects/star-citizen-2/ Star Citizen], geoffzanelli.com</ref>

==Hardware requirements==
''Star Citizen'' is being developed for PC with planned [[StarCitizen:Linux]] support.<ref>[https://youtu.be/53Iy5Dv-5dw?t=1327 PAX East 2014 Panel - "The (Incredible) Future of PC Gaming"], [[StarCitizen:Chris Roberts]] at Pax East 2014, PC Gamer on YouTube, 12 Apr 2014</ref><ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/14874-10-For-The-Chairman|text=10 FOR THE CHAIRMAN EPISODE 62, Question 10|trx=https://relay.sc/transcript/10-for-the-chairman-ep62}}</ref> The developers have stated that bringing ''Star Citizen'' to the consoles is not planned.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=comm-link/transmission/15368-10-For-The-Developers|text=10 FOR THE DEVELOPERS EPISODE 13, Question 13|trx=https://relay.sc/transcript/10-for-the-developers-episode-13}}</ref> Telemetry is available to get a rough estimate of the performance of most system configurations so players can get an idea of what to expect.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://support.robertsspaceindustries.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042417374-Star-Citizen-Minimum-System-Requirements|text=Star Citizen Telemetry Dashboard|accessdate=2024-01-02}}</ref>

{{Note|'''Note:''' these requirements may change in the future. As the game is currently in Alpha, it is not optimized and some backers complain about very large drops in frames per second (FPS) even on high-end machines.'''Last updated:''' {{Start date and age|2024|04|13}} (release version: [[StarCitizen:Star Citizen Alpha 3.22.0]])<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://support.robertsspaceindustries.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042417374-Star-Citizen-Minimum-System-Requirements|text=Support: Minimum Requirements|accessdate=2024-01-02}}</ref> }}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Minimum
|Operating System
|64-bit Windows 10 (Latest Service Pack)
|-
| rowspan="3" |Processor
|Quad core
|-
|Intel: i7 or later
|-
|AMD: Bulldozer or later
|-
|Graphics Card
|DirectX 11 with 4 GB VRAM
|-
|RAM
|16 GB 
|-
|Storage Space
|100+ GB SSD
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Recommended
| Operating System

| 64-bit Windows 10/11 (latest service pack)

|-
| rowspan="3" |Processor
| Quad/Eight Core
|-
|Intel: i7 or later
|-
|AMD: Bulldozer or later
|-
|Graphics Card
|DirectX 12 with 8+ GB VRAM
|-
|RAM
|32+ GB DDR4
|-
|Storage Space
|100+ GB SSD
|}

==Trailer==
{{#ev:YouTube|m-Rz5PTMuaw}}

==Trivia==

*''Star Citizen'' was originally called ''Space Trader''.<ref name=":1">[https://youtu.be/Sth_Rfygkbc Sandi Roberts Interview Part One...How Star Citizen Came To Be], Inforunners, YouTube, 25 Apr 2022</ref><ref name=":0">[https://youtu.be/UCsA903qR4Y Star Citizen Addicts Anonymous - Interview with Sandi Gardiner pt  1], Nichole D'Angelo, YouTube, 2 Mar 2015
</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/BbhgoSrDbsk SCAA Interviews 001 Ben Lesnick], Nichole D'Angelo, Nichole D'Angelo</ref> The final name was chosen the night before the kickstarter, other names not working out for various reasons such as being existing company names or because of porn or the way it sounded etc. ''Star Citizen'' wasn't originally a favorite but it grew over time and felt right after the fact.<ref name=":0" />
*''Star Citizen'' was the original idea, the idea for ''Squadron 42'' came afterwards.<ref name=":1" /> 
*Chris Roberts said that if he still owned the rights to [[StarCitizen:Wing Commander (series)|''Wing Commander'']] this would definitely be ''Wing Commander: Star Citizen'' or something like that. ''Star Citizen'' really is the spiritual successor to all of his work with ''Wing Commander, [[StarCitizen:Freelancer (video game)|Freelancer]] and [[StarCitizen:Wing Commander: Privateer|Privateer]]''. It is essentially ''Wing Commander'' and ''Privateer'' blended together.<ref name=":2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160705061544/https://www.themittani.com/features/exclusive-interview-star-citizens-chris-roberts Exclusive Interview: Star Citizen's Chris Roberts], themittani.com, 2012-10-19, archived</ref>
*It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Space Citizen.
*The laurels in the logo are for the [[StarCitizen:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Roman empire]] stuff that was bigger early on.<ref>"[https://discord.com/channels/290176047323021315/290176047323021315/1338561668870963240 The laurels are for the Roman empire stuff that was bigger early on.]", @banditloaf, Discord, 2/10/2025 </ref>

==References==
<references />

{{Short description|MMO first person space simulator game}}
[[Category:Development]]
[[Category:Video games by Chris Roberts]]
[[StarCitizen:category:Video games]]