Star Citizen Passes $1 Billion in Funding, Still Stuck in Early Access

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Star Citizen, a PC space simulator, has now reached a remarkable $1 billion in funding from over 6.5 million backers, even though it’s still in development. The game has been in early access for over a decade, and a complete, official release isn’t planned until after the launch of Squadron 42, a separate single-player game.

Star Citizen has now raised over $1 billion through public funding, making it the most financially successful game still in development. Despite this success, the game has faced criticism for taking a very long time to develop and remaining in early access for years, leading some to call it a scam. However, the developers, Roberts Space Industries and Cloud Imperium Games, aim to release the full 1.0 version of Star Citizen after the 2026 launch of their single-player game, Squadron 42.

Chris Roberts, who founded Roberts Space Industries, recently discussed the long development process and planned launch of Star Citizen with Variety magazine.

As a creative person, I’ve been fortunate to have both the time and resources to fully realize my ideas, similar to how James Cameron approached his Avatar films. In game development, this has allowed me to develop the necessary technology and deliver a final product that truly reflects my original vision – something that doesn’t always happen. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and eager for others to experience what I’ve created.

Beyond its lengthy development, Star Citizen is also facing criticism for its pricing. Recently, they offered a virtual ship, the Anvil Odin, for a staggering $5,000. The unusual part? Players can’t actually use the ship in the game yet – it’s still planned for future release – but they can purchase it now if they choose.

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2026-05-27 10:16