Leveraging the existing modules, players could finally explore the system, walking across four different planets and nine different moons. However, in December 2015, the biggest and most significant module finally – the Persistent Universe. Now, refunds would only be granted if the project was abandoned, which hasn’t happened (contrary to popular belief). It wasn’t long before some players started asking for refunds and while they would receive the same, Cloud Imperium would change its terms of service to prevent any further demands of the same. However, due to development woes, it would eventually release in 2016 and offered only two modes – Last Stand and Elimination – along with two maps at release.Įven throughout its initial years, Star Citizen saw its share of delays for numerous features (including Squadron 42, which we’ll come back to). Then there’s Star Marine, a first person shooter module that promised multiplayer modes and Zero-G.

It offered ship combat and racing, though most had to play against the AI. Subsequent episodes would be coming later.įrom 2013 onwards, Cloud Imperium began releasing parts of the game that later came to be known as “Modules.” Hangar Module was first but it was Arena Commander in June 2014 that attracted the most attention. It’s also apparently going to have 70 missions for over 20 hours of gameplay…and this is only Episode 1. With space combat and first person shooter elements, not to mention a star-studded cast that included Mark Hammill, Gary Oldman and Gillian Anderson, the scale of Squadron 42 was set very high. The latter was developed by Foundry 42 under the supervision of Erin Roberts (Chris’s brother, who previously worked on Starlancer). Alongside the Persistent Universe, which was the massively multiple online component, it would also release a cinematic single-player title called Squadron 42. After its Kickstarter campaign concluded, Cloud Imperium committed to releasing Star Citizen in 2014. To answer that, we’d have to go back to the beginning. But the question remains – what exactly is the deal with Star Citizen? Why is it so controversial and what’s currently going on with it?

There is a decently sized portion of the community that’s satisfied with what the game has provided, even if there’s a ways to go yet. The total number of “Star Citizens” is over 3.6 million but controversies have cropped up again and again. Nearly 10 years later, crowd-funding for the game – which is now done through the sale of in-game ships – has exceeded over $444 million. Star Citizen began production in 2011 and subsequently launched a Kickstarter campaign in October 2012, initially amassing over $2 million. With Chris Roberts of Wing Commander and Freelancer fame at the helm, it truly seemed like the space sim of many a genre fan’s dreams. It began with the promise of being a space sim unlike any other – a massively multiplayer online game where players could explore the universe, indulge in trading and piracy, and much more. It’s a paradox, a conundrum…almost like Star Citizen.īut all jokes aside, Cloud Imperium Games’ space sim is a fascinating study. Star Citizen’s development time has become somewhat of a multi-faceted source of humor over the years. Due to the long development cycle, these have had the benefit of not being fully aware of the game’s current situation – because so much has changed – and yet, still extremely fitting for the same.

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