Star Citizen has been in some form of development for the past 15 years, and it’s still far from completion. However, developer Cloud Imperium Games is getting ready to release the game’s single-player cinematic spin-off Squadron 42 sometime next year. 

Starring the likes of Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson and even Gary Oldman, the single-player game certainly looks impressive in recent gameplay footage, but CIG boss Chris Roberts hopes the game will generate as much hype as the single most-hyped game in existence: GTA 6. 

Speaking to French publication La Presse, Roberts explained that the sheer amount of money funnelled into the Star Citizen side-piece probably makes it the most expensive AAA project outside of Rockstar’s upcoming juggernaut, and he hopes the gaming landscape is excited for it. 

“We’re hoping it’ll be almost as big an event [as GTA 6],” Roberts told the outlet in a translated quote. “Other than GTA 6, it’s probably the biggest-budget AAA game.”

While Squadron 42 certainly looks like a beast of a game, the game is allegedly PC-only at the time of writing. Additionally, the game isn’t exactly casual-friendly like Grand Theft Auto. With spaceship flying, space combat and more, there’s a lot on offer, but it likely doesn’t scream popular like GTA does. 

Additionally, when Squadron 42 does eventually release next year, it’s also not the full experience players have been waiting for. The single-player segment of Star Citizen is planned to launch episodically with the first episode offering twenty hours of gameplay across 70+ missions, and the latter two episodes releasing at some point in the future. 

I think it’s obvious: Star Citizen: Squadron 42 won’t be as big as Grand Theft Auto 6. That much is set in stone. However, for a game that’s been in development for as long as this, I really hope the game managed to stick the landing, and I’m definitely excited to finally try the game out.