Squadron 42 is not out yet, so buying it today is a preorder, not a game you can play tonight. What you would be paying for is well defined: a single-player campaign officially confirmed at over forty hours, content complete per CIG's May 2026 Letter from the Chairman, and targeting a 2026 release. If you want a finished game with reviews, nothing is lost by waiting for launch. If you want to play something in this universe today, that game is Star Citizen — not Squadron 42.
What You Get
- —40+ hour campaign — confirmed by Chris Roberts in the May 2026 Letter from the Chairman. All chapters fully playable internally. Source →
- —Star-studded motion-capture cast — Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Henry Cavill, Andy Serkis, and John Rhys-Davies. Source →
- —Seamless transitions — moving from on-foot to spacecraft to planetary surfaces without loading screens, confirmed in the Chairman's Letter. Source →
- —Offline-capable single-player — no internet connection required to play the campaign. Source →
- —164 minutes of original orchestral score — recorded at Abbey Road Studios with a 96-piece orchestra, 40-piece choir, and bagpipes. Source →
Where Development Actually Stands
Squadron 42 reached feature complete in October 2023 — all planned gameplay features implemented, announced at CitizenCon 2953 alongside the 26-minute “I Held the Line” showcase. A year later, at CitizenCon 2954, CIG committed to a 2026 launch window during the first live gameplay demonstration. The most recent milestone came in the May 2026 Letter from the Chairman: the game is content complete, every chapter is playable from beginning to end in regular internal playthroughs, and the remaining work is polish, optimization, and bug fixing. That is a meaningfully late stage of development — but it is not a release date, and CIG has not announced one.
Source: RSI Comm-Link — Letter From The Chairman (May 2026) →
The Honest Case for Waiting
This site exists because Squadron 42 has a long history of moving targets. A 2016 release window was promoted at CitizenCon 2015 and missed; in October 2020 Chris Roberts declined to give any new date — “it will be done when it is done” — and that stance held until the feature-complete announcement of 2023. None of that history says the 2026 window will slip. It does say that a cautious buyer loses nothing by waiting: the game will be reviewable at launch, and no official statement gives preorder buyers anything you cannot get by purchasing on release day. If you buy now, you are buying because you want to back the project — which is a fine reason, as long as it is the reason you think you are buying for.
Source: RSI Comm-Link — Letter From The Chairman (October 2020) →
Who It's For
Squadron 42 is aimed at players who want a cinematic single-player space game with a strong story and AAA production values — think of it as a spiritual successor to Wing Commander. It does not require any familiarity with Star Citizen or its multiplayer universe to enjoy. If your interest is an open-ended online sandbox rather than a scripted campaign, Star Citizen is the half of the project built for you — see our full comparison of the two games.
How to Buy
Squadron 42 is sold exclusively through the Roberts Space Industries store. Check the RSI store for current pricing and package options — prices are set by CIG and may change. Squadron 42 is not available on Steam or consoles as of mid-2026 — no such release has been announced.
Source: RSI Store — Squadron 42 →Want to Play Now?
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Join Star Citizen While You WaitFrequently Asked Questions
Can you play Squadron 42 right now?
No. Squadron 42 has not been released in any form. CIG is targeting a 2026 release window, announced at CitizenCon 2954. Buying it today means paying now and playing later.
How long is the Squadron 42 campaign?
Over forty hours, per Chris Roberts in the May 2026 Letter from the Chairman. At CitizenCon 2954 the length was stated as 30 to 40 hours; the May 2026 letter settled on "over forty hours."
Do I need Star Citizen to play Squadron 42?
No. Squadron 42 is a standalone single-player game. It does not require Star Citizen, an internet connection, or any knowledge of the multiplayer game.
Will Squadron 42 be on Steam or consoles?
No such release has been announced. As of mid-2026, Squadron 42 is sold exclusively through the Roberts Space Industries store for PC.
When does Squadron 42 release?
The only official commitment is a 2026 release window. No specific day, month, or quarter has been announced. The game is content complete, with polish, optimization, and bug fixing remaining.