Meet Star Citizen: The $750 Million Game That Still Isn’t Out After 12 Years

With a reported budget of $265 million, Grand Theft Auto V ranks among the most expensive video games ever made, trailing just behind Hollywood blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame ($356 million). Titles like Horizon Forbidden West ($212 million in development alone) and The Last of Us Part 2 ($220 million) also pushed the boundaries of video game budgets. Yet none of them come close to the staggering cost of Star Citizen, the most expensive game in history.

In development for 12 years, Star Citizen has raised over $750 million through crowdfunding but remains without a release date.

Origins. In 2011, Chris Roberts, creator of the Wing Commander series, co-founded Cloud Imperium Games with video game executive Ortwin Freyermuth. Their vision: A massive multiplayer online space simulator funded directly by players. Originally conceived as a single game, the project was split in 2016 into Star Citizen, the multiplayer MMO, and Squadron 42, a single-player campaign.

The concept was ambitious—and controversial.

The early hype. In September 2012, Cloud Imperium Games unveiled a teaser trailer. A month later, the game was officially announced at the Game Developers Conference. Shortly after, the company launched a crowdfunding campaign, initially seeking $2 million. The overwhelming interest crashed its website, developed by the team, leading to a parallel campaign on Kickstarter.

The project met its funding goal quickly, and the momentum hasn’t stopped since. To date, the game has raised over $750 million, making it the biggest crowdfunded project ever.

What is Star Citizen about? This game promises an expansive space MMORPG where players can choose their path—running errands, engaging in space battles, and exploring the universe. Players can travel between planets, interact with other users, and participate in dynamic events across the game’s “verse.”

The game features a reputation system where player choices influence faction relationships. However, its most talked-about feature is its wide array of ships.

The ships. Star Citizen boasts an impressive roster of 250 ships, 190 of which are already available in the alpha version. Each ship has unique capabilities, catering to different roles such as combat, cargo transport, medical support, racing, and more. You can buy the ships with the in-game currency and real money.

Starter packs, which include a basic ship, cost at least $20. Premium ships like the combat-ready Polaris are priced at $975, while a luxury cruiser costs $950. These high-priced items contribute significantly to the game’s record-breaking crowdfunding total. You can find all the ships on the game website.

You’ll want to make sure your ship is insured (yes, with in-game currency), because if xXJhonGamerXx destroys it during a space battle, you’ll lose it permanently—at least for ships purchased with in-game funds. However, if you spent real money on a $950 luxury cruiser, rest assured you won’t lose it outright. The worst-case scenario is covering repair costs with in-game currency, which you’ll need to earn. Ship insurance is expected to be fully implemented when the game officially launches.

The controversy. Cloud Imperium Games announced Star Citizen in 2012 with plans to release it in 2014. As 2025 approaches, the game is still nowhere near completion. After more than a decade of development, it remains in alpha version, sparking numerous controversies. While it continues to promise a groundbreaking release, delays have become the norm.

The game’s steep entry costs—driven by crowdfunding tiers—have also drawn criticism, with some accusing it of prioritizing monetization over progress. Despite its ambitions, Star Citizen is as polarizing as it is promising, with ardent supporters countered by skeptics who doubt it will ever see the light of day.

The elusive release date. The game doesn’t have a release date—at least, not anymore. Originally slated for 2014, Star Citizen is now in a perpetual alpha phase. The single-player campaign, Squadron 42, carries a “tentative” release date of 2026, but even that remains uncertain. As funding has grown to staggering levels, so have the game’s ambitions. New features and expanded goals continuously push development further into the future, creating what some describe as an endless feedback loop of delays.

Adding to the frustration are reports of inefficiencies within the development process. For example, decisions about seemingly trivial details—such as the placement of furniture that players may never interact with—can take days. Meanwhile, the game’s proprietary Star Engine, a heavily modified version of CryEngine, has introduced technical challenges, compounding the delays and fueling doubts about the project’s viability.

Images | Roberts Space Industries

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