StarCitizen:Release date
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Template:Main The release date for Star Citizen and Squadron 42 has been announced and changed several times.
Star Citizen
Template:Main Star Citizen was first revealed at GDC on October 10th 2012, which is also the start of the StarCitizen:crowdfunding campaign and the game production.
2014, Initial release date
The original golden ticket mentioned that the development would take 24 months, putting the release at October 2014.
Community votes
In September 2013, a first Community poll on what to do after the crowfdfunding goal was reached was held, with 21510 people participating and with 87% votes to keep the crowdfunding up through development and continue to offer stretch goal rewards in addition to extra features and development milestones.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
In June 2014 a second Community vote on whether to continue to offer stretch goals was held, with 55% of 35243 participating people voting yes.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
Those community votes meant increased scope, and therefore increased delay. There exists criticism over the low percentage of voters compared to the amount of backers.
After the implementation of more stretch goals (the last stretch goal was achieved 2014-11-10) the release was subsequently postponed.
2016, second release date
At BAFTA LA in January 2015 Chris Roberts talked about a fall 2016 commercial launch.<ref name=":0" />
Squadron 42
Template:Main Squadron 42 was announced on October 10th 2012 together with Star Citizen at StarCitizen:GDC Online 2012.
2014, first release date
2015, second release date
At at BAFTA LA in January 2015 Chris Roberts talked about a fall 2015 release.<ref name=":0">Star Citizen Chris Roberts at BAFTA LA Januari 2015, Youtube, Arne Pols, 21 January 2015</ref>
2016, third release date
After StarCitizen:CitizenCon 2015, a new homepage "Answer the Call" showed the date 2016, including an 'Opening Cinematic' speech of Admiral Bishop.<ref>Squadron 42: Bishop Senate Speech (2015-10-10), acc. 2022-10-22</ref>
At StarCitizen:CitizenCon 2016 Roberts confirmed it would be delayed.<ref>YouTube - Citizen Con 2016 Presentation - Timecode 1h7m</ref><ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
After the 2016 delay, CIG has avoided giving any fixed release dates. In a Letter from the Chairman, Roberts reiterated that 'it is too early to discuss release or finish dates on Squadron 42.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
2023, Feature complete
Squadron 42 was announced as feature complete at StarCitizen:CitizenCon on October 22, 2023.<ref>Template:Cite RSI</ref>
2026, fourth release date
During StarCitizen:CitizenCon 2024, the release date was announced to be 2026.<ref name=":1">CitizenCon 2954: Day One [Full Broadcast], Star Citizen, YouTube, 2024-10-19</ref> The [[StarCitizen::Category:Financials|CIG financials]] for the year ended 2024 name Squadron 42 as the "nearest term priority, with a targeted release in 2026, followed by the 1.0 multiplayer version of Star Citizen thereafter."<ref>Cloud Imperium Games Limited, Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, UK companies house, 20 Aug 2025</ref>
Memes
The delays, and more importantly the actual amount of time involved, have given birth to a number of [[StarCitizen::Category:Memes|memes]] among players.