Squadron 42 delayed to 2027, with Star Citizen dev blaming GTA 6
Cloud Imperium Games has announced a delay for Squadron 42, the single-player campaign spinoff of Star Citizen, pushing its release from 2026 to Q2 2027. The studio had reaffirmed its 2026 target as recently as CitizenCon 2024, with plans to launch in Q4 2026.
Studio head Chris Roberts justified the delay by citing competition from Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Roberts stated the studio was unwilling to risk a game with “twelve years of blood, sweat and tears invested into it” by launching against such a major industry release, arguing it would be “drowned out” by GTA 6’s commercial dominance.
The delay is somewhat ironic given that GTA 6 is not scheduled to release on PC, while Squadron 42 is primarily a PC title. Nevertheless, Roberts’ reasoning reflects broader industry caution about release timing against blockbuster competition.
The announcement adds another chapter to Squadron 42’s lengthy development history. Repeated delays and missed timelines have contributed to skepticism about Cloud Imperium’s project management and communication. Some gaming community members have questioned the studio’s credibility and the viability of the broader Star Citizen project, citing a pattern of unfulfilled promises.