Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) made a major announcement at CitizenCon 2954 for the release of Squadron 42. Scheduled for a 2026 window, the announcement was accompanied by a live playthrough of the studio’s highly anticipated single-player space adventure.
The hour-long live demonstration offered fans an extensive preview of Squadron 42’s opening moments. It showcases its visuals, storytelling, star-studded cast and large-scale space combat. The demo was the first full public display of Squadron 42’s gameplay to date, dispelling the vaporware allegations.
Check out the gameplay demo below:
Taking place in the same universe as Star Citizen, this separate story puts players into the heat of combat, featuring first-person battles and space dogfights.
Apart from its gameplay, the game boasts a stellar cast of characters. Big names such as Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman and Henry Cavill put on their mo-caps and acted to ensure Squadron 42’s cinematic intent. Additional cast members also include Eleanor Tomlinson, John Rhys-Davies, Sophie Wu and Jonathan Bailey.
Squadron 42 is already “feature complete” according to the developers, but it is currently in its polishing phase. Despite the delay, players were ecstatic to finally see progress in this much-awaited game. On the other hand, other players are not too happy with it, especially with CIG’s track record for lengthy development cycles. This is evident with Star Citizen, which is still in development today.
YouTube comments were also a mix between excited and concerned. One complaint was that the cutscenes were too long, potentially ruining the pace. However, most of the fans were already excited to see the full extent of CIG’s latest science fiction project.
The studio remains dedicated to delivering AAA titles with groundbreaking technology and immersive gameplay. But if it takes a long while to release, it will definitely rile up a few of its loyal supporters.