Star Citizen Director Wants Squadron 42 to Compete With GTA 6’s Launch Hype

Star Citizen

The director of Star Citizen has revealed his hopes for Squadron 42, saying he wants the single-player spin-off to be as big of an industry event as the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.

After more than 13 years in development, Star Citizen remains in early access alpha with no confirmed release date for its multiplayer component. Despite this, the ambitious space simulation has pulled in over $860 million in crowdfunding, making it one of the most expensive games ever developed.

Meanwhile, Squadron 42 — the standalone single-player campaign featuring an impressive cast including Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, and Gillian Anderson — has been given a 2026 release window. If that target holds, it will mark the first full public release within the Star Citizen universe.

Chris Roberts Sets Big Expectations

In a recent interview with French outlet La Presse, translated by Dexerto, Chris Roberts, CEO and co-founder of Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), addressed the looming comparison with Grand Theft Auto 6. Rather than shying away, Roberts seemed optimistic.

“We’re hoping it’ll be an event almost as important [as GTA 6],” he said. “Apart from GTA 6, [Squadron 42] is probably the most important AAA-budget game.”

It’s a bold statement, but considering the funding and time invested, Roberts clearly views Squadron 42 as a project that must live up to the highest expectations.

The Scale of the Challenge

Even with that staggering budget, Squadron 42 will be hard-pressed to compete with the juggernaut that is Grand Theft Auto 6. Analysts predict Rockstar’s next entry could cost around $2 billion and potentially become the most profitable entertainment launch of all time, eclipsing even the record-breaking sales of GTA 5.

Still, Squadron 42 has its own advantages. It builds on the large and loyal fan base of Star Citizen, which already attracts over a million returning players each month, with at least 25 million players having tried it at some point. Roberts hopes this dedicated community will help propel the single-player campaign to success.