Star Citizen Crosses $800 Million Without a Launch in Sight

Twelve years. That’s how long it’s been since Star Citizen first promised a revolutionary space sim experience on Kickstarter. Fast forward to today, and the game has now pulled in over $800 million. Yes, that’s eight hundred million dollars. And yet, there’s still no version 1.0 in sight.

This latest financial milestone, quietly confirmed through Cloud Imperium Games’ (CIG) own funding tracker, comes less than a year after the company celebrated crossing the $700 million mark. That’s $100 million in fresh funding in just 11 months—on a game still technically in alpha.

A Decade of Hype and Delays

Back in 2012, Star Citizen looked like the next big thing. A bold, crowdfunded dream from Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts. Players were promised a living, breathing universe. Ships, careers, battles. Endless exploration.

But expectations kept ballooning. Features piled on. Deadlines slipped. And that 2014 release window? Ancient history.

Today, Star Citizen is still in alpha. Still being built. Still sold. And still raking in millions every month from fans purchasing ships, gear, and access.It’s… a lot.

The Funding That Never Slows Down

Here’s what’s wild. Despite no launch, despite years of delays and controversy, people keep spending. Ship packs can cost thousands of dollars. Some fans have shelled out the price of a car. Or two.

The funding comes from multiple sources:

• Alpha access sales

• Ship and equipment microtransactions

• Pledges for future content

To date, CIG has never taken traditional investor capital. This has allowed them total creative control—at the cost of public accountability.

One fan commented on Reddit: “It’s the most expensive game that doesn’t exist. And yet, I’m still excited.”

The numbers back that up.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Let’s take a look at just how fast the money’s rolling in. Below is a table showing Star Citizen’s funding growth over time, based on official data:

And it’s still growing.

The Elusive Finish Line

So where’s the game? Well… that depends on your definition.

There is something playable. The alpha is open. Players can fly ships, trade, shoot, explore. But bugs, performance issues, and constant resets keep it far from feeling complete.

Chris Roberts, founder and CEO of CIG, did offer a rare glimmer of hope last year. In a community update, he wrote the team was “driving towards the finish line.” But he stopped short of giving a date.

One sentence. That’s all fans got.

Squadron 42: A Ray of Light or More Vapor?

Then there’s Squadron 42, Star Citizen’s cinematic, single-player sibling. Think space opera meets Hollywood blockbuster.

It stars Mark Hamill. Gary Oldman. Gillian Anderson. Even Andy Serkis. The cast is stacked. The visuals are stunning. And according to CIG, it was “feature complete” in 2023.

That said, we’ve heard that before.

The new target for Squadron 42? 2026. Maybe. If it doesn’t slip again. Which, to be fair, wouldn’t be surprising. This project, after all, has been “close” for years.

Some players still hold out hope. Others have given up entirely.

Fan Reactions Range from Devoted to Disillusioned

Reactions are mixed—wildly so.

One camp remains fiercely loyal. They view Star Citizen as an evolving platform, not a typical release. They appreciate the openness, the patch notes, the sense of ownership.

But others? Not so much.

Frustration runs high over missed dates and broken promises. There are forums full of complaints. Refund requests. YouTube takedowns. The community has seen it all.

And yet—despite all of it—the money flows in.

Is This Still a Game, or Something Else?

At this point, Star Citizen has become more than a game. It’s a phenomenon. A strange, ongoing, sci-fi experiment. A crowdfunding juggernaut. A cautionary tale. Maybe all three.

Can something be the most expensive game ever made… and still not be a game? That’s a fair question.

The answer, perhaps, lies in perspective. For some, Star Citizen is already delivering value. A beautiful sandbox. A place to roleplay. A community to belong to.

For others, it’s a warning. A dream that got too big to finish.