# Star Citizen is the Future of PC Gaming, and it \[was\] Free to Play this week (Edit: No Longer Free) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528 "2015-10-13T06:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 50
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/981 "2023-08-26T07:30:44Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > He has. The studio has at least 500 employees. Do we know that for a fact? Has anyone ever seen these 500 employees? I’ve noticed that the [company web site](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/) seems to lack an “About Us” section, with the bios of the various team leaders. Have they ever posted pictures from the insides of their offices? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/982 "2023-08-26T13:00:37Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > But yes, in the case of Roberts, I can believe that he’s sincere in wanting to actually make a game and not fleece people. I can’t. It’s one thing to want to keep on adding features. But you have to have some sort of priorities. When you’re prioritizing accurate modeling of player avatar tear ducts over the ability to actually buy things in the in-game shops, that’s pretty strong evidence that you’re actively trying to avoid ever finishing the game. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/983 "2023-08-26T19:15:34Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > > > The studio has at least 500 employees. > > Do we know that for a fact? Has anyone ever seen these 500 employees? FWIW, [LinkedIn has 803 profiles claiming to be employed by Cloud Imperium](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-imperium-games) and [Roberts Space Industries](https://www.linkedin.com/company/roberts-space-industries-llc) doesn’t really exist outside _Star Citizen_. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/984 "2023-08-26T20:15:46Z")
You can also just read their financial statements. 2021 seems to be the last full year for which they have data: > **[Cloud Imperium Financials for 2021](https://cloudimperiumgames.com/blog/corporate/cloud-imperium-financials-for-2021)** > > CIG's Chief Financial Officer Presents Our Accounting for the 2021 Financial Year 748 employees, 545 of them in development, and $100.4M in costs. > [@Alessan](#): > > Have they ever posted pictures from the insides of their offices? Yes. [![](https://www.creatorhandbook.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1*3Y3iFJKoVDREJeGwK300Tw.png) ](https://www.creatorhandbook.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1*3Y3iFJKoVDREJeGwK300Tw.png) Though that pic is from 2018. The idea that this is some conspiracy where CIG is actually a fake shell company that just funnels money to Roberts is a new one to me. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/985 "2023-08-26T21:30:27Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > The idea that this is some conspiracy where CIG is actually a fake shell company that just funnels money to Roberts is a new one to me. Really? I’ve been pushing it in this thread for about three years now. Seems like the evidence is against me, though. Bummer. It would be awesome if it were true. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/986 "2023-08-26T21:40:32Z")
Also, my baseless theory isn’t so much that Robert’s stealing the money, but rather that money launderers are using the crowdfunding mechanism to funnel money back to _themselves_. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/987 "2023-08-26T22:14:16Z")
I think part of the problem is that most of us cannot imagine Roberts being completely clueless for this long. Maybe in the beginning he let feature creep overtake him but, surely by this point, he must realize it’s well past time to deliver a finished product. Yet, here we are and it seems there never will be one despite having $600 million to get it done. That lends to the sense that something criminal is happening or, at the least, very sketchy (or just staggering incompetence but with 600+ staff that is a tough sell). Still taking money with no intention of ever producing a finished product. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/988 "2023-08-26T22:25:34Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > What else does Roberts expect to add to the game? Roberts wants an interplanetary civilization simulator. That’s what he’s been dreaming of since at least the 90s. What’s left to implement? _Everything_. I have no doubt that Roberts still feels hemmed in by the budget he has. Take your favorite sci-fi series, whether Star Trek or Star Wars or the Culture or The Expanse or whatever. Now imagine that you were dropped in that universe and can do everything that an inhabitant could ever be expected to do, whether piloting a warship or running a coffee shop. That’s what Roberts wants. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/989 "2023-08-26T22:29:34Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Now imagine that you were dropped in that universe and can do everything that an inhabitant could ever be expected to do, whether piloting a warship or running a coffee shop. I’ve always dreamed of taking a shit in an alleyway under a different set of moons. Someday…sigh…someday… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/990 "2023-08-26T22:31:25Z")
Buy the $2500 Defecation Pack and you can live your dream. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/991 "2023-08-26T22:33:02Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I’ve always dreamed of taking a shit in an alleyway under a different set of moons. Someday…sigh…someday… ARK: Survival Evolved has you covered. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/992 "2023-08-26T23:20:34Z")
Meanwhile, No Man’s Sky just dropped yet another large update and Starfield is out in two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/993 "2023-08-27T00:37:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > …Starfield is out in two weeks. Next Thursday (Aug 31 in the US) if you bought the premium edition. [![](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/starfield-launch-times-map-1.jpg?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp) ](https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/starfield-launch-times-map-1.jpg?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/994 "2023-08-27T16:14:27Z")
So was this a huge scam? I just saw that it passed $600 million in funding, but was never released? Wow. > **[Star Citizen Has Passed 600 Million in Funding](https://blog.playerauctions.com/star-citizen/star-citizen-has-passed-600-million-in-backer-funding/)** > > Star Citizen has passed 600 million in funding, increasing its lead as the most expensive video game in history. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/995 "2023-08-27T16:51:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > So was this a huge scam? What do you mean “was”? It’s still in development. But it wasn’t a “huge scam” in the sense that they were just faking it to get money. It’s not [The Phantom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_Entertainment). They’ve actually made stuff, and people can play, though it’s a buggy mess that is only a tiny fraction of what it’s supposed to be (since it’s still only in Alpha state). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/996 "2023-08-27T16:54:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > So was this a huge scam? I posted this EONS AGOOOOO > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > So long as the game remains in development, all of the money they’ve received are pledges. Nobody has bought anything. Per the terms of their EULA, they’re not responsible for their own promises until they’ve released a finished product. > > They have a successful business model that has brought in more money over a longer period of time than many, many games. They’re paying salaries, keeping the lights running, holding conventions, etc. The Star Citizen Kickstarter closed in November of 2012, so that means the game has been making money for \*\*seven years. \*\* > > So… why finish? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/997 "2023-08-27T16:55:31Z")
Check out [post 969](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/969) and on to see some discussion on that article: ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/998 "2023-08-27T19:06:37Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Check out [post 969](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/969) and on to see some discussion on that article Thanks, sorry for popping in without reviewing the thread. Yeah, looks like a real money collection scheme. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/999 "2023-08-28T03:23:30Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I think it’s inevitable that it’ll cross $1B at this point. But when? I predict 2028. If the current trend of 100 mil every 11 months continues: April 2027. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/1000 "2023-08-28T13:23:27Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Next Thursday (Aug 31 in the US) if you bought the premium edition. Sure, and it’s only an extra thirty bucks for a whole week of playing early. I’ll happily wait to play in on game pass [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=51)