Star Citizen has surpassed the milestone of $1 billion in funding, drawing contributions from over 6.5 million backers since its inception in 2012. Initially funded through a Kickstarter campaign that aimed for $500,000, the project quickly exceeded expectations, raising over $2.1 million in its first round and breaking crowdfunding records in 2014 with over $55 million.
Despite being in early access since 2017, the space combat simulator remains in an alpha state. Cloud Imperium Games CEO Chris Roberts emphasized that the project's success is attributed to the community's desire for an expansive gaming universe. He indicated that the development process will continue beyond the anticipated 1.0 release, with ongoing additions to the game world.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated single-player spin-off, Squadron 42, is reported to be in its final stages of development, although a specific release date has not yet been disclosed. Despite previous delays, the game is still expected to launch this year, as noted on its official website.