Star Citizen's Squadron 42 Delayed Again to Avoid 'GTA 6 Buzz Saw'

Cloud Imperium Games has announced another delay for Squadron 42, the long-awaited and celebrity-packed episodic singleplayer component of Star Citizen. Originally slated to arrive all the way back in 2015, the project has now been pushed back from its previously announced 2026 release window to the second quarter of 2027.

According to game director Chris Roberts, the decision stems from a desire to sidestep the massive media attention surrounding Rockstar Games' upcoming blockbuster. Writing in a post on the RSI website, Roberts explained that the team originally planned to ship in Q4 around IAE following an announcement at CitizenCon 2024. However, he noted that launching into what he described as the "attention buzz saw of GTA 6" would leave little room for other coverage.

"Much like the rest of the industry there is no way I want to launch my spiritual successor to Wing Commander, a game that has had twelve years of blood, sweat and tears invested into it... launching into the attention buzz saw of GTA 6," Roberts stated. Although GTA 6 is not launching on PC initially, Roberts pointed out that media outlets and content creators will heavily saturate the space, reducing the visibility for competitors.

After reviewing potential launch windows at the start of 2027, the team concluded that Q2 provides a more favorable period for Squadron 42 to secure the broader gaming world's focus. While Roberts acknowledged that many supporters will be disappointed by the wait, he emphasized that the extra time serves the project best as it prepares for launch.