Squadron 42 Slips to Q2 2027 as Cloud Imperium Avoids GTA 6 Window

Squadron 42, the single-player Star Citizen spin-off from Cloud Imperium Games, has been delayed to Q2 2027. CEO and co-founder Chris Roberts said the studio doesn’t want to launch the game into the same attention cycle as Grand Theft Auto 6.

In a letter to players, Roberts said Squadron 42 “needs the opportunity to have the focus of the wider gaming world,” noting that even without a PC release for GTA 6 this November, press and creators are likely to be focused heavily on Rockstar’s game.

The delay pushes back a project that has been in development for years alongside Star Citizen. Roberts described Squadron 42 as his “spiritual successor to Wing Commander” and said work on it began in 2014, after Cloud Imperium spent 2013 opening studios, hiring staff, and building the Hangar module for Star Citizen.

Not everyone will be waiting until 2027 to try it. Roberts said a small number of original backers and long-time Star Citizen content creators will get access to Squadron 42 this October, with more release-related announcements planned shortly after.

Squadron 42 is Cloud Imperium’s story-driven campaign, separate from Star Citizen’s online universe, and it features a notable cast including Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Mark Hamill, Andy Serkis, and Henry Cavill.

The delay lands in the middle of a long-running and closely watched development cycle. Star Citizen has been in development since 2012 and has raised over $1 billion through crowdfunding and early access sales, while the full game still does not have a formal release date.