Star Citizen

Depending on how long you’ve been following the world of MMORPGs, you probably remember the announcement of Star Citizen. Launched in 2012 by Cloud Imperium Games, the title was one of the most ambitious projects in the gaming industry to date.

With promises of infinite space exploration and revolutionary gameplay, it raised over $600 million through crowdfunding campaigns. Yet, even after 12 years since its official announcement, the game still hasn’t seen the light of day. So what does all this mean in practice? And when will the game actually be released? That’s what we’re going to explore next.

The Story of Star Citizen from the Beginning

It all started in 2012, when Chris Roberts, the creator of the Wing Commander series, shared his idea with the world. As the founder of Cloud Imperium, he announced the project of a revolutionary game in terms of exploration and gameplay.

His vision was that Star Citizen would be an open-world MMORPG with space exploration like no other. To achieve this, the title would offer several unique features. Among the main highlights are:

• A complete space flight simulation experience. The idea is for the game to offer various ship piloting mechanics, with detailed physics and intense combat.
• Truly diverse customization options — including exclusive features for ships and characters via microtransactions.
• Full interplanetary exploration. The promise is that players will be able to visit a variety of planets with vast, dynamic cities.
• A player-driven economy, offering professions and activities like mining, transportation, trading, and even smuggling.

On top of that, the game is meant to be split into two core components:

• The Persistent Universe, where the game’s narrative unfolds.
• And Squadron 42, a massive single-player campaign featuring a complex story and a star-studded cast including Mark Hamill and Gary Oldman.

Delays and Controversies Surrounding the Game

Naturally, all of these features make the project one of the most ambitious in gaming history. And it’s precisely this ambition that has led Star Citizen to face some significant issues — starting with its major delays.

The initial plan was to have a playable version of the game by 2014. But even today, a decade later, it’s still in alpha testing. This has frustrated many backers, including those who financially supported the project.

Chris Roberts has explained the delay as a result of the project’s growing ambition. Since the game raised far more money than anticipated, its scope expanded significantly. But of course, that explanation doesn’t fully satisfy those who have been waiting all these years.

Additionally, the project has been in development for so long that Cloud Imperium has sought to adapt its graphics for next-gen consoles — which has also impacted the timeline.

Pros and Cons of Star Citizen

Even without an official release, the game already has a number of pros and cons identified by the community. Starting with the positives:

• A promise of an unprecedented level of exploration and expansion for games of this genre.
• Extreme graphical fidelity, emphasizing realism, real-world physics simulation, and dynamic FPS combat.
• Constant updates from the developers — both during the current development phase and planned for after launch.

But not everything is rosy. Some downsides pointed out by the community include:

• A robust microtransaction system that many players feel could significantly harm the gameplay experience.
• Frequent performance issues and bugs reported by those closely following the project.
• The lack of a clear and reliable release timeline. Star Citizen has missed several projected launch windows over the years.

When weighing the pros and cons, there is still the promise of a groundbreaking game on the horizon. But the question remains: when will that become a reality?

Future Outlook for the Game

As of 2024, Chris Roberts and his team are still working hard on the game. The latest major update this year was called Cargo Empire, bringing upgrades to customization and cargo transport mechanics.

The company also recently announced an in-game event called Blockade Runner, where players must team up to steal massive cargo loads and escape enemy convoys. Alongside that, new portals will allow for fast travel between galaxies, improving navigation efficiency.

However, all of this adds to the delay. Currently, Star Citizen is in Alpha 4.0, with no Beta version in sight. Even the most optimistic fans don’t expect a Beta release until 2026.

Still, those who believe in the project and continue to follow it remain excited. In fact, even without an official launch, the title boasts an incredibly active community. Many players continue providing feedback and contributing to each phase of development.

Star Citizen: Final Thoughts

Between its pros and cons, promises and delays, Star Citizen continues to divide opinions. Some people have lost hope of ever playing it, or fear the launch might end up being a disaster. Others remain hopeful and expect it to be simply incredible.

Either way, no one following Star Citizen is indifferent to it. Whether waiting with optimism or skepticism, curiosity about the final product remains high.

But it leaves one question in the air: will the long wait be worth it? Well, we’ll have to wait at least a few more years to answer that. Until then, opinions will continue to vary.