Chris Roberts hopesSquadron 42will be “almost as big” asGTA VInext year

The long-awaited single-player expansion of Star Citizen, Squadron 42, is finally set to be released in 2026, marking a staggering 11 years since its initial target launch in 2015. Cloud Imperium Games CEO Chris Roberts is optimistic about the title's reception, drawing parallels to the monumental anticipation surrounding the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, also scheduled for release in 2026. In a recent interview with France's La Presse, Roberts expressed his hope that Squadron 42 will not only capture the attention of gamers but will also rival the excitement generated by GTA VI. He mentioned, "We're hoping it'll be almost as big an event," emphasizing the scale of both releases. With GTA VI projected to launch in May, Roberts revealed that the timing of Squadron 42's release is strategic, aimed at preventing it from being overshadowed. Roberts' assertion that Squadron 42 could become one of the year's largest budget AAA games is ambitious, especially given its tumultuous journey towards achieving a so-called 'feature complete' status in 2023. This optimism is somewhat backed by the impressive crowdfunding figure of approximately $859 million raised for Star Citizen, which aligns closely with GTA VI's rumored development budget of nearly $1 billion. However, comparing Squadron 42's launch to that of GTA VI sets a high bar. While Roberts Space Industries proudly notes a monthly player base of one million for Star Citizen's alpha and 25 million who have engaged with it at some point, the sales figures for Grand Theft Auto V are staggering, with 215 million copies sold. Moreover, the GTA Online mode continues to attract between 20 to 30 million returning players each month, illustrating a level of anticipation that is difficult to match. The differing scales of excitement and expectation for these two titles are starkly evident.