Star Citizen Soars Past $800 Million in Crowdfunding, Chris Roberts Shares Vision for 2026

Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has announced that Star Citizen and Squadron 42 have collectively surpassed $800 million in crowdfunding, a historic milestone for the ambitious space sim MMO and its single-player counterpart. In a recent Letter from the Chairman posted on December 22, 2025, CIG founder Chris Roberts reflected on the project’s journey and outlined bold plans for the year ahead.

Since its 2012 Kickstarter debut, Star Citizen has grown from a modest pitch to the most crowdfunded project ever, fueled by a global community of backers from 171 countries. Roberts highlighted the open development model, noting that 2025 saw Star Citizen reach unprecedented heights with Alpha 4.0 and 4.5 updates. These introduced full persistence, new star systems like Pyro, and engineering gameplay, transforming the game into a dynamic universe where player actions shape the economy and environment.

Alpha 4.0’s Pyro system brought lawless planets, wrecks, and faction-driven missions, while 4.5 added crafting, salvaging, and ship maintenance, alongside a 50-player server cap and seamless transitions between locations. The year also marked the release of the Origin 400i and Drake Cutter, with the Invictus Launch Week and Intergalactic Aerospace Expo showcasing new ships like the RSI Orion and Crusader C1 Spirit.

For Squadron 42, 2025 delivered a polished vertical slice at CitizenCon, showcasing the first mission with breathtaking visuals and gameplay, including FPS combat, ship controls, and EVA mechanics. Roberts confirmed that Squadron 42 is now content-complete, with 2026 focused on bug fixes, polish, and a potential release window to be announced at CitizenCon 2026 in Manchester, UK.

Looking to 2026, CIG plans to expand Star Citizen’s universe with new systems, biomes, and social hubs like the Overdrive Initiative. Alpha 5.0 will introduce server meshing, enabling thousands of players to interact in a single universe, alongside new missions, smuggling mechanics, and updates to racing and arena modes. Roberts also teased a major community event, Luminalia, running through mid-January 2026, offering in-game rewards and festive activities.

Despite its achievements, Star Citizen faces scrutiny over its extended development timeline. Roberts addressed this, emphasizing that the game’s scope—driven by community funding—requires time to deliver a “living universe” unmatched by traditional titles. Community engagement remains strong, with 1.2 million unique players logging 56 million hours in 2025, peaking at 67,000 concurrent users during CitizenCon.

“This isn’t just a game; it’s a universe we’re building together,” Roberts wrote. “Your belief and patience are pushing us to redefine what’s possible.”

For more details, check out the full Letter from the Chairman on the Roberts Space Industries website. What’s your favorite Star Citizen moment from 2025? Share your thoughts below!