Comparison
Squadron 42 versus Star Citizen
Checked 2026-10-17
Same universe, two products. One is a campaign that is not out. The other is a live alpha you can already pledge for.
The official store and support sources establish two different products and a separate entitlement check for Squadron 42. Shared fiction and historical plans for cross-game consequences do not make a Star Citizen package a campaign bundle.
Side by side, only where a page exists
| Squadron 42 | Star Citizen | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Single-player campaign | Multiplayer persistent universe |
| Release | Q2 2027 window | Live alpha, still in development |
| Buy it now? | No | First Flight Pack is listed |
| Engine / setting | Star Engine, same fiction | Same |
| Account | Steam build also needs RSI | RSI account |
What buying one does not do
A Star Citizen package does not, by itself, prove you own Squadron 42. The support article tells you to look at Games Library for a pledge that includes the campaign. I wrote the steps on the backers page.
Star Citizen 1.0 remains a separate development milestone. No Star Citizen 1.0 launch date is established by the Squadron 42 store listing.
Questions I keep getting
Do I need Star Citizen to play Squadron 42?
They are separate products. The Steam page still requires an RSI account. Owning the universe is not the same as owning the campaign.
Which one is open world?
Star Citizen is the persistent universe. Squadron 42 is the scripted campaign.
Sources I used
- Steam app 4045720 — Checked 2026-10-17. Coming soon, release date Q2 2027, price_overview null, Windows only.
- RSI pledge store, game packages — Checked 2026-10-17. No Squadron 42 package listed.
- Star Citizen Wiki: Squadron 42 — Secondary. Used for ship and character names, marked when not on Steam.
- RSI support: Where can I download Squadron 42? — Not downloadable yet. Pledges that include the game download after release.