The onset of 2025 brought a well-known announcement, where Chris Roberts, CEO of Cloud Imperium, stated that they are closer than ever to realizing the long-anticipated dream of launching Star Citizen, the elusive version 1.0.

Roberts didn’t provide any timeline — after all, Star Citizen and its single-player component, Squadron 42, have achieved a staggering milestone of raising over $802 million since their crowdfunding campaign began in 2012.

Originally initiated purely as a crowdfunded endeavor, the project shifted to include microtransactions such as paid alpha access, merchandise, and costly in-game spaceships. Nevertheless, all purchases are still viewed as pledges towards making Star Citizen a reality.

This journey has attracted both fervent supporters and skeptical critics, with many supporters betting on Roberts’ vision, while others mock the large spending by some backers.

Star Citizen has consistently generated over $100 million annually since 2022, and there’s no indication of this trend diminishing. This funding momentum reaffirms that backers remain committed.

Also, the release of version 4.0 of the alpha in December 2024 introduced significant features, such as server meshing, enhancing player mobility across various regions.

While CIG continually updates the game, the alpha phase remains noticeably incomplete; projections for the final product include a comprehensive campaign, player-driven economy, crafting systems, and much more.

As of March 2024, Roberts made a bold statement regarding server meshing as the final technological barrier, leading towards what they consider Star Citizen’s commercial release. However, as of now, the game still operates within the alpha stage. In a reflective tone, Roberts insisted that what was described as gameplay is neither a fantasy nor a commitment projected over the next 10-20 years.