Cloud Imperium Games Opens Squadron 42 Steam Wishlist for 2027

Cloud Imperium Games has opened a Steam wishlist for Squadron 42, targeting a Q2 2027 release window while simultaneously moving the single-player sci-fi game out of its previously announced 2026 launch timeframe, Variety reported. The single-player adventure is set in the year 2945 and follows a rookie in the United Empire of Earth Navy fighting outlaws and hostile aliens aboard a massive capital ship.

Wishlist Opens as Launch Moves to Q2 2027

Roberts explained that the studio originally planned to ship in Q4 2026 around IAE. However, the studio opted to move the release to avoid launching into the same attention cycle as Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6.

According to GamesIndustry.biz, Roberts stated that Squadron 42 needs the opportunity to have the focus of the wider gaming world. While GTA 6 is not launching on PC this November, Roberts argued that games media and content creators will be heavily focused on Rockstar’s release, leaving limited room for coverage of other titles. Eurogamer, IGN, Rock Paper Shotgun, MMOHuts, and TechSpot all corroborated the new Q2 2027 window from Roberts’ letter.

Star Citizen Universe Connection and Celebrity Cast

The single-player campaign takes place within the universe of Star Citizen, Cloud Imperium Games’ multiplayer online experience that has been gestating for nearly 15 years. The independent studio was co-founded in 2012 by Chris Roberts and his wife, Sandi Roberts. Cloud Imperium has been developing Star Citizen simultaneously with Squadron 42, repurposing much of the technology and game systems across both projects, as Chris Roberts told Variety in May.

Squadron 42 is powered by StarEngine, a proprietary technology developed in-house at Cloud Imperium Games. The game features a star-studded cast that includes Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, Ben Mendelsohn, Henry Cavill, Andy Serkis, John Rhys-Davies, Jonathan Bailey, Mark Strong, Alix Wilton Reagan, Damson Idris, Liam Cunningham, and Jane Perry. Roberts described the project in his letter as his spiritual successor to Wing Commander, noting that the studio has invested twelve years of blood, sweat, and tears into development.

October Hands-On Checkpoint and Release Timeline

The Q2 2027 target points to an April through June launch window if the studio holds to the standard calendar quarter. To mark the progress, Cloud Imperium will allow a small number of original backers and long-time Star Citizen content creators to play Squadron 42 on October 9 and 10. Further release-plan announcements and a specific release date will be provided shortly afterwards during that period.