The video discusses the evolution of Star Citizen from its initial concept stage, where it was developed by a small team in their spare time, to its current state with a significantly expanded workforce of around 268 people, including both full-time staff and contractors. The speaker emphasizes the project’s large scale, the community’s support, and the team’s experience in creating a space simulation game, which collectively contribute to their commitment to delivering a game that meets backers’ expectations.
The video begins with a reflection on the early stages of the development of Star Citizen. The creator recalls that when the original pitch was made, there were no employees or studios involved, just a proof of concept demo created in CryEngine with the help of a few individuals working in their spare time. At that point, Star Citizen was merely an idea rather than a playable game. The initial years were characterized more by discussions and planning than by actual development.
As the video progresses, the speaker discusses the growth of the team working on Star Citizen. Initially, there were around 50 staff members and about 40 contractors contributing to the project. This number has steadily increased, and they anticipate surpassing 100 employees soon. The speaker emphasizes that the project is substantial, requiring a large workforce to handle the various components involved in creating the game.
The video highlights the impressive scale of the development team, noting that as of now, there are approximately 212 people working on Star Citizen across internal and external studios. This number is significant, as it surpasses the teams typically seen in most AAA console titles, making it one of the largest teams dedicated to a space simulation game. The speaker points out that the project has garnered enough support to provide jobs for a considerable number of individuals.
As the team continues to grow, the speaker reports that the current count is around 268 people, with half being full-time staff and the other half being contractors. This growth reflects the ongoing commitment to delivering the game that backers have invested in and are eager to play. The speaker expresses gratitude for the community’s support, which has enabled such expansion.
Finally, the speaker reassures viewers that the company possesses a wealth of experience, as many team members have previously worked on similar projects. This experience helps mitigate the risks associated with starting anew, suggesting that they are not beginning from scratch but rather building on a foundation of knowledge and expertise to create a game that meets the expectations of its supporters.
