Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games, has raised over $834 million in crowdfunding over 11 years, with an additional $63.23 million from private investments. The game has seen significant staff expansion, exceeding 1,100 employees, and remains focused on delivering a world-class gaming experience while pushing towards its commercial launch.
Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), has raised over $834 million in crowdfunding over its 11 years of development. In 2023 alone, the game raised $134 million, bringing the total funding to date to approximately $834 million. This figure does not include subscriptions and other sources of income such as partnerships and sponsorships. Private investments from Clive and Keith Calder added an additional $63.23 million to the funding.
CIG’s financial statements for 2022 show that the company experienced a 30% increase in total income compared to the previous year. The growth in income was consistent throughout the year, unlike in previous years. The US market saw higher income growth compared to the rest of the world, possibly due to the instability caused by the Russian-Ukraine conflict and slower economic rebound in Europe. Costs, including capital expenditure, increased by 29%, with salaries and related costs for game development and support being the highest spend category.
CIG’s financial health appears relatively healthy, with a net position of $64.7 million in the bank at the end of 2022. It is expected that this amount would increase slightly to around $67 million by the end of 2023. The company has been focusing its spending on ongoing development and publishing of the game, as well as investing in new offices and facilities to support its growing workforce. Staff expansion has been significant, with the number of employees exceeding 1,100.
In terms of the game’s progress, Squadron 42, a highly ambitious AAA game, has reached a level of feature completeness, bringing it closer to its final release. CIG has also acquired Turbulent, which has become an essential part of their operations, with over 200 employees augmenting the internal teams. Despite the significant costs incurred in 2023, CIG remains focused on delivering a world-class gaming experience and pushing the games forward to commercial launch.
Overall, CIG’s funding and financial performance have been impressive, with the game expected to surpass the $1 billion crowdfunding mark before its release. The company has been investing heavily in development, staff expansion, and infrastructure to support its ambitious goals. The financial statements provide insights into how the company is managing its funds and progressing towards its vision of creating a gaming experience of epic scale and quality.