Star Citizen is one of those games that makes you think, “WHEN WILL IT COME OUT?!” The game has been in development hell for almost 15 years now, and fans are getting impatient. It did start off with a successful crowdfunding campaign, and now it’s still in development. Is it a scam? Is it ever coming out? We’ll dive into the notable problems and controversies that this game has had.
Is the game playable now?
We rant about the question of whether it will ever come out. The game is actually out and playable, but it is considered to be in alpha phase. This means that the game is still in development, so it’s in early access. This means that things can still change once the final form of the game comes out. The other thing is that it is also filled with potential bugs and problems. The game can be bought for $45, and other optional purchases are over $60 and more.
What is the gameplay about?
Star Citizen emphasizes player freedom. Instead of following a strict storyline, players can choose their own path. You might become a trader hauling cargo between planets, a bounty hunter chasing criminals, a miner extracting valuable resources, or even a pirate. The game blends multiple gameplay systems together, allowing players to switch roles or specialize deeply in one profession.
Crowdfunding and bloated budget
One of the biggest controversies surrounding Star Citizen is its unprecedented crowdfunding model. Developed by Cloud Imperium Games, the project has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from players over many years. While this demonstrates strong community support, critics argue that the sheer amount of money raised raises expectations that have not yet been fully met.
Questions about how funds are allocated and whether spending aligns with progress have been a recurring topic of debate, even though the company publishes periodic financial reports. This game managed to accumulate over $700 million over the years. One would think why this game is still in such a state when other great games cost less than that and have turned out to be good.
A bit ambitious for a game?
Another point of criticism is the gap between marketing materials and the actual in-game experience. Trailers and demos often showcase highly polished features that may not yet be fully implemented or stable in the live version. This has led to accusations that the project overpromises or presents an overly optimistic picture of its progress. The developers maintain that these showcases represent long-term goals rather than immediate gameplay. Is this game biting off more than it can chew?
Drowning in lawsuits
A company called Crytek sued Star Citizen in December 2017, accusing the developers of breach of contract and copyright infringement related to the use of the CryEngine game engine. The claims included allegations that Cloud Imperium improperly used the engine, failed to follow licensing terms, and used it across multiple products when the agreement allegedly only covered one.
There are also numerous lawsuits from other firms. These are mostly related to people who backed the game but still haven’t gotten what they want. They just want their money back right now, so the game is in legal limbo, but nothing has prevented them from putting the game on ice, as it is still playable.
In Conclusion
For those who supported this game and wanted an out, you’ll just have to wait for that. At the very least, we can’t say the quality of the game, but people seem to play it. It’s not a buggy mess, but pay-to-win mechanics and other problems are present, so take care of what you will. Maybe just wait until this game comes out; there’s no reason to rush right in.
