How Much Money Has Star Citizen Gotten?
Star Citizen, the ambitious space exploration and combat simulator from Cloud Imperium Games, has become synonymous with crowdfunding success, and with good reason. The game has garnered an unprecedented amount of financial support, primarily through its community of dedicated backers. As of recently, Star Citizen has officially surpassed $600 million in funding through its official website, cementing its status as not just a gaming project, but a phenomenon in the video game industry. This astonishing figure dwarfs the budgets of many AAA titles and highlights the unique power of its crowd-funding approach. It is important to note that this figure is consistently climbing as the game continues in its development.
The Phenomenal Growth of Star Citizen’s Funding
The journey to this monumental sum has been a long one. The project originally began its funding period in late October 2012. Initially, the concept of a massively multiplayer space sim garnered considerable attention, and backers were keen to support the vision of Chris Roberts, the game’s creator. Over the years, through various pledge packages, ship sales, and community-driven events, the game’s funding has steadily grown.
The game’s revenue growth wasn’t always smooth and linear. As the development took more time, questions arose about the game’s progress, and whether or not it would ever truly deliver on its promises. Despite any controversies, Star Citizen’s faithful community of backers has remained steadfast in its financial support. In 2018, the game had raised over $200 million, which illustrates its meteoric climb towards its current record.
This funding model, where the community effectively invests in the game’s development, has allowed Cloud Imperium Games to create a game with unparalleled scope and ambition. However, it also brings the question of the value provided to consumers who have invested large sums of money. The consistent influx of funding has enabled the developers to continuously expand the project’s scale, although not without the concern over the length of time the game has been in development.
Star Citizen: More Than a Game
It’s clear that Star Citizen is much more than just a game; it’s a project of immense scale that has captivated the imagination of countless gamers. The incredible amount of funding is not just a number, but represents the community’s commitment to a shared vision of immersive, persistent universe. Whether Star Citizen will meet the expectations associated with its considerable budget is yet to be seen but the passion and financial backing from the player base remains a major force.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Star Citizen, its funding, and its development, designed to give you a comprehensive view of this ambitious project:
How does Star Citizen’s funding model work?
Star Citizen relies primarily on crowdfunding through its official website. Players purchase game packages, which include a copy of the game, a starter ship, and other in-game items. Additionally, backers can purchase individual ships and other cosmetic items to help finance the game’s development. This system, while generating substantial revenue, also raises questions about the value offered to the consumers.
Is Star Citizen the most expensive game ever made?
While not all production costs of games are public, Star Citizen is undoubtedly one of, if not the most expensive game ever developed. While games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 also have enormous budgets, Star Citizen’s funding surpasses them as it has reached the $600 million mark. The continuous input of cash through various pledge packages and events, has pushed the game far beyond the scope of traditional development models.
What happens if I spend $1000 in Star Citizen?
Players who spend $1,000 or more on their account become Concierges or Chairman’s Club Members. These backers receive dedicated support, in-game rewards, exclusive offers, and other perks. These rewards are designed to recognize the significant financial support these players have provided to the game’s development.
Can I play Star Citizen without paying?
No. You need to buy a Game Package to play Star Citizen, which includes a digital copy of the game, a ship, and some other assets. These packages can be found on the official website. The price of the package varies, but it is necessary to gain access to the game world.
Will Star Citizen ever be released?
Star Citizen has been in development for over a decade. While there is no official release date for the fully completed version, Cloud Imperium Games is regularly releasing patches and new content that further develops the game and adds more features for its players. The release of the single-player focused title Squadron 42, is expected in the future.
How big will Star Citizen be when it’s finished?
Star Citizen is planned to feature over 90 star systems with around 300 planets. This vast scale will be further expanded by numerous moons and asteroid fields. The enormous scale of the game is unprecedented in the gaming industry and a testament to the vision the developers have for the project.
Can I make money in Star Citizen?
Yes. One of the most effective ways to make money in Star Citizen is through cargo hauling. Mining is also another lucrative and popular way for players to generate income within the game. These methods often require time and preparation but can offer the most profitable rewards.
Is Star Citizen available on consoles like PS5?
Currently, Star Citizen is not available on the PS5 or any other consoles. The game is exclusively available on PC platforms, due to the performance demands required to run the game at an acceptable quality.
What is the most expensive item in Star Citizen?
While not a single item, buying everything in Star Citizen could cost you around $80,000 through the official store or on the secondary grey market. This includes all available ships and items within the game, some of which may be sold for very high prices in both the official and the secondary market.
How many people play Star Citizen?
Star Citizen is estimated to have around 20.77 million players. This number includes total accounts created, not concurrent players. While this number may fluctuate, it shows that Star Citizen has a large community who are interested in the project.
What causes the 30k error in Star Citizen?
The “Code 30000” error is a general timeout message which appears when a player loses their connection to the game server. This can be due to server crashes, connectivity issues, or server-side problems. This error is common in online multiplayer games, but appears more commonly in Star Citizen because the game is still in development.
Can you permanently buy ships in Star Citizen?
Yes. Ships purchased with real cash are called Pledges and are permanently linked to your Star Citizen account. You can also purchase ships in-game, with the in-game currency (aUEC). These Pledges contribute directly to the funding of both Star Citizen and Squadron 42.
What is the economy of Star Citizen like?
The economy is designed to simulate millions of entities that demand, produce, and transport resources throughout the galaxy. It is broken into three parts: Nodes (locations of production, storage, and demand), entities (the ships and players that interact with the economy) and the systems that bind these together. This design is intended to make the economy more organic and unpredictable, giving players dynamic opportunities.
Will Star Citizen have a monthly fee?
There is no mandatory monthly subscription fee for Star Citizen, but there are optional subscriptions which give players benefits. These subscriptions, known as Plans and Passes, offer players extra rewards and in-game items which can enhance the player’s experience.
Can you play as an alien in Star Citizen?
Currently, players can only play as humans. The Vanduul, a ruthless alien race, will be the main enemy in Squadron 42. However, Cloud Imperium Games may introduce other playable species in the future. This addition could bring exciting new dynamics to the gameplay for future updates to the game.