StarCitizen:Development team

The development team working on Star Citizen and Squadron 42 consists of over a thousand people spread around the world.<ref name=":0" /> On top of StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games' in-house studios, many contractors and partners have contributed into the project.

In 2020-12, CIG itself had a total of 695 staff. 512 of whom were developers.<ref name="2019fin">Cloud Imperium Financials for 2020</ref> As of July 2023, 1100 CIG staff were working on Star Citizen, not counting third party partners.<ref name=":0" />

Studios

Cloud Imperium Games, LLC

File:CIG LA team photo - 2018-11.jpg

CIG Los Angeles Team Photo 2018

Located in sunny Los Angeles, California, CIG LA is Cloud Imperium's flagship studio. Home to StarCitizen:Chris Roberts and much of the company's leadership, CIG LA represents a cross-section of the company and includes the ship development pipeline, technical designers, high level engineering, community, marketing and more.<ref>Los Angeles Office on Cloud Imperium Games</ref>

Notable members

• StarCitizen:Mark Abent - Lead Gameplay Programmer
• StarCitizen:Elwin Bachiller - Associate Vehicle Art Director
• StarCitizen:Sandi Gardiner - Vice President of Marketing
• StarCitizen:Jared Huckaby - Creative Content Lead
• StarCitizen:Chris Roberts - Chairman & CEO
• StarCitizen:Forrest Stephan - Principal Technical Artist
• StarCitizen:Eric Kieron Davis - Chief People Officer
• StarCitizen:Kirk Tome - Lead Systems Designer
• StarCitizen:Steven Hosmer - Senior Systems Designer

Former notable members

• StarCitizen:Todd Papy - Star Citizen Live Director
• StarCitizen:Pete Mackay - Senior Designer
• StarCitizen:Ben Lesnick - Director of Community Engagement and Content Strategy
• StarCitizen:John Pritchett - Senior Physics Programmer
• StarCitizen:Josh Herman - Character Art Director
• StarCitizen:Justin Wentz - Concept Artist

Cloud Imperium Games Texas, LLC

File:CIG Austin TX team photo - 2018-11.jpg

CIG Austin Team Photo 2018

The team at Cloud Imperium Games Texas' Austin studio (Bee Cave, Texas) is responsible for making the Star Citizen persistent universe. The StarCitizen:DevOps team is also located in Austin, keeping servers running and building out the infrastructure needed for Star Citizen.<ref>Austin Office on Cloud Imperium Games</ref>

As of 2018-02-16, CIG Austin has a total of 71 staff working on Star Citizen.<ref name="ds1">Star Citizen and Squadron 42 Staff Grows to 475 Employees Working on the Game</ref>

Notable members

• StarCitizen:Tony Zurovec - Director of Persistent Universe
• StarCitizen:Chris Smith - Lead Vehicle Artist
• StarCitizen:Sean Tracy - Senior Director, Tools and Tech Content

Former notable members

• StarCitizen:Rob Reininger - Assistant Director of Systemic Gameplay and Services
• StarCitizen:Elijah McNeal - Concept Artist

Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.

File:CIG Wilmslow UK team photo - 2018-11.jpg

Foundry 42 Wilmslow Team Photo 2018

Formerly known as Foundry 42, Ltd. The heart of Manchester, England is also the heart of Star Citizen's StarCitizen:Squadron 42 single player game. This fully-equipped development team is responsible for creating a unique cinematic experience in the Star Citizen world.<ref>Manchester Office on Cloud Imperium Games, cloudimperiumgames.com, archived</ref>

As of 2018-02-16, F42 Manchester<ref>Hub Crawl Hero - Fireside Chat with Carl Jones - Cloud Imperium Games: "Why Manchester?", YouTube, 23 May 2023</ref> had a total of 234 staff working on Star Citizen.<ref name="ds1" /> In 2021 CIG announced the future opening of a new studio in Manchester Goods Yard, in the Enterprise City district.<ref>Cloud Imperium Games to Open New Videogame Development Studio in Manchester, UK, in 2022, cloudimperiumgames.com, Nov 9, 2021</ref> In early 2024, a relocation of staff to the Manchester studio took place, bringing the number of CIG staff there to 600.<ref></ref><ref>Some Star Citizen devs reportedly laid off as Cloud Imperium restructures, videogameschronicle.com, 28th Feb 2024</ref>

Notable members

• StarCitizen:Erin Roberts - Studio Director & Global Head of Production
• StarCitizen:Zane Bien - Global UI Creative Director
• StarCitizen:Derek Senior - Programming Director
• StarCitizen:Nick Elms - Creative Director
• StarCitizen:Nathan Dearsley - Squadron 42 Art Director
• StarCitizen:Phil Meller - Lead Designer
• StarCitizen:Mike Snowdon - VFX Director
• StarCitizen:Alistair Brown - Senior Technical Director, Graphics and Procedural Technology
• StarCitizen:John Crewe - Vehicle Director
• StarCitizen:Zoe Collier - Senior Producer
• StarCitizen:Ben Parr - Lead Producer
• StarCitizen:Jens Lind - Engineering Director
• StarCitizen:Clive Johnson - Technical Director Network Programming
• StarCitizen:Robert Johnson - Live Engineering Director
• StarCitizen:Will Weissbaum - Assistant Narrative Director
• StarCitizen:Dave Haddock - Narrative Director
• StarCitizen:Steve Bender - Senior Animation Director

Former notable members

• StarCitizen:Paul Jones - Art Director
• StarCitizen:Joe Neville - Principal Vehicle Artist
• StarCitizen:Corentin Billemont - Systems Designer
• StarCitizen:Lee Banyard - Audio Director
• StarCitizen:Simon Vickers - Lead Level Designer
• StarCitizen:Steve Turberfield - Senior Technical Designer
• StarCitizen:Ricky Jutley - Lead Producer

Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.

File:CIG Frankfurt team photo - 2018-11.jpg

Foundry 42 Frankfurt Team Photo 2018

Formerly known as Foundry 42, Ltd. Frankfurt, Germany is home to Cloud Imperium's latest internal development studio. Staffed with top StarCitizen:CryEngine development experts, Foundry 42 Germany is responsible for developing the pioneering backend technologies.<ref>Frankfurt Office on Cloud Imperium Games</ref>

As of 2018-02-16, F42 Frankfurt had a total of 80 staff working on Star Citizen.<ref name="ds1" />

Notable members

• StarCitizen:Brian Chambers - Vice President of Development
• StarCitizen:Chris Campbell - Assistant Lighting Director
• StarCitizen:Francesco Roccucci - AI Director
• StarCitizen:Hannes Appell - Director of Cinematics
• StarCitizen:Christopher Bolte - Technical Director, Engine

Former notable members

• StarCitizen:Tobias Wanke - Lead Weapons Artist

Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.

Formerly known as Foundry 42, Ltd. An official satellite studio of Foundry 42 Manchester, the Derby office is a small team looking after all aspects of the facial pipeline. From taking delivery of the Face Rigs from 3Lateral, implementing them in-game, taking all the face animation from Cubic Motion and also creating all the Facial animation for the PU that Cubic aren't doing.<ref>Development comments on Foundry 42 Derby</ref>

As of 2018-02-16, F42 Derby has a total of 15 staff working on Star Citizen.<ref name="ds1" />

Cloud Imperium Montreal / Turbulent

StarCitizen:Turbulent has been working with CIG since November 2012.<ref>"We started this i think it was end of novenber 2012", StarCitizen:Benoît Beauséjour, Star Citizen Live: Gettin' Turbulent, Mar 10, 2023</ref><ref>Turbulent - Case Studies: Star Citizen</ref> They develop web platforms such as Spectrum, the StarCitizen:Starmap,<ref name=":3">David Ladyman,Template:Nbsp"The Starmap Team". Jump Point. Vol. 03 no. 12. pp.52–65.</ref> StarCitizen:Issue Council, the website,<ref name=":4">David Ladyman,Template:Nbsp"Website Revamp: Turbulent". Jump Point. Vol. 03 no. 06. pp.32–40.</ref> and the launcher, <ref name=":5">[Replay] Un développeur Star Citizen sur la chaîne ! #1 Interview in French with a Turbulent technical artist</ref> as well as the Concierge program, telemetry system, community Hub, StarCitizen:Galactapedia and StarCitizen:Roadmap, while being part of the CIG efforts on cloud services, StarCitizen:Persistent Entity Streaming, and Server Meshing. <ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0"></ref>

In 2019 CIG went through a mutual investment with Turbulent.<ref>Cloud Imperium & Turbulent Extend Their Long-Running Partnership Through Mutual Investment</ref> In 2020, Turbulent announced that the company will open a Montreal game studio focusing on building star systems for Star Citizen.<ref name="turbulentnewstudiopr">Turbulent creates new game development studio in montreal to make worlds for Star Citizen ​​​​​​</ref> Cloud Imperium Games acquired Turbulent on 2023-07-02<ref>Turbulent rejoint Cloud Imperium Games, Benoit et Marc, Medium.com, 2023-07-13</ref><ref name=":0" />. The CIG merger with Turbulent brought the headcount to 1110 at the time.<ref name=":0" />

in 2025 part of Turbulent became Cloud Imperium Montreal, focusing on the development of Star Citizen and Squadron 42.<ref>Deux entités, deux missions, une passion commune, linkedin post, 28 August 2025</ref>

• Turbulent Homepage

Current Partners

3Lateral

Template:Note 3Lateral works with Cloud Imperium Games on character faces in Star Citizen.<ref></ref>

• 3Lateral Homepage

Amazon

Template:Note Amazon works with Cloud Imperium Games on the development of Amazon Lumberyard since 2015, which is what StarCitizen:Star Engine based on. Amazon also provides game servers for Star Citizen on a cloud-based service called Amazon Web Services (AWS).<ref></ref>

• Amazon Lumberyard Homepage

Entangled

Entangled Studio created 3D models for Star Citizen.<ref>In-game character asset for Star Citizen, Entangled Studio, Artstation, 25 November 2025</ref>

• Entangled Studio Homepage

Faceware Technologies

Template:Note Faceware Technologies works with Cloud Imperium Games to develop the StarCitizen:Face Over Internet Protocol (FOIP) feature that was built with Faceware's LiveSDK. A facial motion sensor specifically for Star Citizen was also in the works. However, since late 2018 no mention of the product has been made by either CIG or Faceware.<ref>Faceware: "Our soon-to-be-released facial motion sensor enables #StarCitizen players’ facial expressions to be translated onto their avatars’ face", Twitter, 26 Aug 2017</ref><ref>Cloud Imperium Games and Faceware Bring Real-Time Character-to-Character Chat to Star Citizen, Archived at archive.org January 18 2019</ref><ref></ref>

• Faceware Technologies Homepage

Honest PR

Template:Note Honest PR is doing Public Relations work for Cloud Imperium Games since at least 2020.<ref>Press Contact, Cloud Imperium Games to Open New Videogame Development Studio in Manchester, UK, gamedeveloper.com, November 10, 2021</ref><ref>"Honest PR working with lovely folks like CI Games Chucklefish, Cloud Imperium, Newfangled Games, Paradox Tectonic and Phoenix Labs", @charreynoldson, Twitter, Feb 9, 2024</ref><ref>"The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo is the biggest Star Citizen event of the year!", @honestvideogame, Twitter, Nov 21, 2020</ref>

• Honest PR Homepage

Intel

Template:Note Intel works with Cloud Imperium Games to promote the Intel Optane series SSD for desktop users and workstations. They also sponsored hardware to CIG and also their conventions.<ref>Blazing-Fast Gaming with Intel's First Client Optane SSD</ref>

• Intel Homepage

One PR Studio

Template:Note One PR Studio is a Public Relations organization that has been working with CIG since at least 2022 to 2024.<ref>"Calling all citizens! The Esperia Prowler has landed in #StarCitizen!", @ONEPRStudio, Twitter, May 1, 2020</ref><ref>"Foundation Festival returns to #StarCitizen!", @ONEPRStudio, twitter, Jul 12, 2024</ref>

• One PR Studio Homepage

Perforce

Template:Note Cloud Imperium Games utilize Perforce Helix to support its DevOps.<ref>Case Study: Cloud Imperium Games on Perforce</ref>

• Perforce Homepage

Tobii

Introduce official head and eye tracking support for the Tobii Eye Trackers.<ref name="tobii"></ref>

• Tobbi Homepage

Twin

Template:Note Twin does character modelling for Star Citizen.<ref>Character Modeller for Star Citizen while working at Twin. NDA, Sian Warren, Artstation, February 6 2026</ref><ref>TWIN is thrilled to be contributing to Cloud Imperium Games 'Star Citizen', linkedin post, twin, December 2025</ref>

• Twin Homepage

Versa Studios

Template:Note Versa Studios does motion capture and has built the bespoke technical infrastucture to meet Cloud Imperium Games requirements.<ref>VERSA launches Motion Capture Studio in Manchester, televisual.com, 21.09.23</ref>

• Versa Studios Homepage

Gamerizon

Template:Note Gamerizon developed the interactive 3D part of the front-end javascript client for the Starmap.<ref>Gamerizon worked with Turbulent and Cloud Imperium to produce the Web Starmap for Star Citizen. Our contribution was the development of the interactive 3D part of the front-end javascript client.</ref>

As of July 2022 they are helping build Quantum.<ref>Star Citizen Live: All About 3.17.2</ref>

• Gamerizon Homepage

ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs is a company that has built an AI voice platform and has partnered with Cloud Imperium Games.<ref>"ElevenLabs is a growth-stage startup that has built the most realistic AI voice platform [...] and partnered with [...] gaming studios (Paradox, Cloud Imperium Games, Don’t Nod).", elevenlabs.io, January 2025</ref>

• ElevenLabs Homepage

Other Partners

• StarCitizen:David Ladyman - Editor at StarCitizen:Incan Monkey God Studios (responsible for publications such as Jump Point)
• StarCitizen:Geoff Zanelli - Composer for Squadron 42
• StarCitizen:Jan Urschel - Freelance Concept Artist at Hendrix Design
• StarCitizen:Pedro Macedo Camacho - Lead Composer for Star Citizen

Past Partners

Advanced Micro Devices

Template:Note AMD partnered with CIG to promote their Radeon™ R9 or R7 Series graphics cards with StarCitizen:Mustang Omega, as a part of the AMD Never Settle Space Edition promotion.<ref>AMD Never Settle Space Edition promotion, Archived 2014-09-06</ref>

• Advanced Micro Devices Homepage

Airship Images

Template:Note Airship Images is specialized in character arts and worked on characters, hairstyles and R&D tasks for CIG in the years 2016/2017.<ref>[1]</ref>

• Airship Images Homepage

Atomahawk Design

Template:Note Atomahawk design did [[StarCitizen::Category:Concept art images|concept art]] for Foundry42.<ref>Star Citizen Portfolio</ref>

• Atomhawk Design Homepage

Behaviour Interactive

Template:Note Behaviour Interactive (BHVR) is responsible for art production for Star Citizen since 2012-12-12.<ref>BHVR Portfolio - Star Citizen. Archived 2018-01-24</ref><ref>Behaviour Interactive teams with Cloud Imperium to help create new space sim game with legendary designer Chris Roberts. Archived 2015-05-19</ref> It was Behaviour Interactive that referred Turbulent to CIG to help work out website issues.<ref name=":2">Star Citizen Live: Meet the Devs - Publishing and Corporate Technology, Star Citizen, YouTube, 9 February 2024</ref>

• Behaviour Interactive Homepage

CGBot

Template:Note CGBot was responsible for the early [[StarCitizen::Category:Concept art images|concept arts]] and assets production for Star Citizen and Squadron 42.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1">SGJ Podcast #04: Chris. Freaking. Roberts., Space Game Junkie, 03/12/2013</ref><ref>CGBot Portfolio - Star Citizen</ref> It is run by an Art Director who used to work with Chris Roberts at StarCitizen:Origin Systems and StarCitizen:Digital Anvil.<ref name=":1" />

• CGBot Homepage

Clear Angle Studios

Template:Note Clear Angle Studio did head scanning for the DNA pool.<ref>StarCitizen:CitizenCon 2953: Character Advancement, Star Citizen, YouTube, 25 oct. 2023</ref>

• Clear Angle Studios Homepage.

Confetti SpecialFX

Template:Note Confetti SpecialFX are a thinktank for advanced graphics technology that worked on a capital ship damage system and nebula effects for Star Citizen between the end of 2013 and end of 2014.<ref>Confetti SpecialFX Star Citizen work</ref>

• Confetti SpecialFX Homepage

Crytek

Template:Note StarCitizen:Crytek was the game engine developer of StarCitizen:CryEngine, the base game engine for StarCitizen:Star Engine before the switch to StarCitizen:Amazon Lumberyard in 2016.Template:RSIForumDiscussionIn 2017-12, Crytek filed a lawsuit against CIG on breach of the game license agreement (GLA). The case was dismissed with prejudice in March 2020.<ref>Crytek CIG lawsuit documents</ref>

• Crytek Homepage

Elite3D

Template:Note Elite3D was a studio which worked on Star Citizen commercials, in-game characters, and helped with the first versions of the Argo MPUV and Bengal Class Carrier.<ref>Star Citizen heavy outlaw, Elite3D.com, archived, June 3 2023</ref>

• Elite3D Homepage

Firesprite

Template:Note StarCitizen:Firesprite is contracted to Cloud Imperium Games in 2017-01-11.<ref>Get to know Firesprite, a new CIG contractor. on Reddit</ref> On 2021-03-18, CIG and Firesprite publicly announced the collaboration on the PvP combined-arms multiplayer mode, “StarCitizen:Theaters of War”, which began in early 2019.<ref>UK-based Developer’s Key Role in Development of Star Citizen Combined Arms Multiplayer Mode Confirmed Ahead of Community Playtest</ref> In April 2021 CIG stated that development of Theaters of War was transfered to an internal team.<ref>Zyloh Spectrum</ref> Firesprite later reported that the company was acquired by PlayStaion Studios.<ref>Sony Interactive Entertainment to acquire Firesprite Games</ref>

• Firesprite Homepage

IllFonic

Template:Note IllFonic was responsible for the initial StarCitizen:FPS module and the FPS components of the game.<ref>IllFonic Portfolio - Star Citizen</ref>

• IIIFonic Homepage

Massive Black

Template:Note Massive Black did concept art and ship design for Star Citizen, including the design of the StarCitizen:300i by StarCitizen:Kemp Remillard in 2013.<ref>Star Citizen among other portfolio work</ref>

• Massive Black Homepage

Mercuna

Template:Note Mercuna is a developer of AI navigation middleware tasked with dogfighting AI and 3D pathfinding in a dynamic environment for Star Citizen.<ref>The origins of Mercuna, mercuna.com, 21 February 2017</ref>

• Mercuna Homepage

metricminds

Template:Note metricminds is a animation studio specialising in cutscenes, they aided CIG with the Freelancer commercial.<ref>David Ladyman,Template:Nbsp"Making the Freelancer Commercial". Jump Point. Vol. 02 no. 06. pp.53–70.Template:NbspRetrieved 2024-09-.</ref>

• metricminds Homepage

Moon Collider

Template:Note Moon Collider was responsible for the Kythera AI development prior to the development of StarCitizen:Subsumption. CIG started working with Moon Collider in Spring 2013.<ref>Moon Collider Case Studies - Star Citizen</ref>

• Moon Collider Homepage

Rmory

Template:Note Rmory was responsible for early weapon concept arts for Star Citizen and Squadron 42.<ref>Rmory Portfolio - Star Citizen</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"></ref>

• Rmory Homepage

Side

Template:Note Side was tasked with casting over 40 actors for Performance Capture shoots, its audio team was on-location to record all dialogue in sync to Mocap during the shoots, and provided characters and props for Star Citizen.<ref>Side & Star Citizen Squadron 42, side.com, February 2016, archived</ref><ref>Star Citizen, side.inc</ref>

• Side Homepage

Streamline Studios

Template:Note Streamline Studios worked on Squadron 42 art assets, such as the Vanduul ship models in 2014 and 2015, a number of their assets were leaked to the public in 2015 as part of the "Lando Leak".<ref>Star Citizen, Streamline Studios, Artsation</ref><ref>Streamline Studios post about the Vanduul Void Bomber</ref>

• Streamline Studios Homepage

The Imaginarium

Template:Note StarCitizen:The Imaginarium was responsible for the motion capture mainly for Squadron 42, but also for the Persistent Universe.<ref></ref>

• The Imaginarium Homepage

Warhorse Studios

Template:Note Warhorse Studios, makers of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, proceeded to a sharing of Cryengine technologies and knowledge in 2014. On its end, CIG was particularly interested in the layering of cloth.<ref>Welcome Star Citizens!, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Kickstarter, 18 février 2014</ref> As of 2016 CIG the collaboration had ended and CIG was working on its own solution, which has become StarCloth.<ref>Reverse the Verse: January 29th, 2016, Star Citizen, YouTube</ref>

• Warhorse Studios Homepage

Wyrmbyte

Template:Note Wyrmbyte was responsible for early network engineering for the StarCitizen:Persistent Universe in 2014.<ref></ref>

• Wyrmbyte Homepage

Virtuos

Template:Note Virtuos was responsible for the early ship and prop assets in 2014.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

• Virtuos Homepage

voidALPHA

Template:Note voidALPHA was responsible for environment art till the end of 2015.<ref>voidALPHA's tweet on departure of SC</ref>

• voidALPHA Homepage

See also

• [[StarCitizen::Category:Developers]]

References

<references />

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