The first game to raise $1 billion is yet to see full release, but the more shocking thing is what funded it

Star Citizen is absolutely ready to make gaming history. This massive space simulation is on track to become the first video game ever to surpass $1 billion in funding while still stuck in development, as found on the game’s publicly available funding tracker.

As of December 2025, the long-running project has already gathered roughly $928.2 million through player pledges, paid access, and in-game purchases. It’s truly within striking distance of that incredible milestone, placing it in a category all its own. While other major games and franchises have generated billions in lifetime revenue after release, none have reached the $1 billion mark purely through pre-release funding and live alpha sales.

The most shocking part of this whole saga, though, is the unique way Cloud Imperium Games is pulling in the cash. The entire funding model revolves around selling virtual spacecraft, and I mean selling them. While you can grab a starter package for a reasonable $45, the real money comes from the high-end ships and bundles that can cost thousands of dollars.

These are not ‘micro’ transactions anymore

These purchases are sold directly by the developer, and they aren’t tied to randomized systems or player-driven resale markets, which is how most live-service games operate. When you look at the prices on the Pledge Store, you realize why the funding total is so high. Whoa, seriously? Players can drop $3,000 on a Javelin or $1,650 on the Kraken, even though those are just concepts that aren’t even flyable yet. If you want something you can actually use right now, you’re still looking at $975 for the Polaris or $800 for the Persuis.

The fact that people are spending this much money is even crazier when you consider the timeline. Star Citizen has been in an alpha or early access state for more than a decade now, allowing players to test new content as the team continues development. Cloud Imperium Games has even indicated that a full release is still several years away, with internal projections pointing toward a launch sometime in 2027 or 2028.

You’d think that kind of delay would slow things down, but that’s just not the case. Funding has actually accelerated, not slowed down. This unique approach helped drive a record-breaking year in 2025, when the project raised more than $152 million in funding alone. That sustained influx of player spending has solidified Star Citizen’s place as the most expensive video game ever developed, in an industry with behemoths like Grand Theft Auto 6.

That distinction of hitting $1 billion purely through pre-release sales is what positions Star Citizen to claim a unique industry first once it crosses the threshold. Analysts and community trackers expect the game to cross that mark sometime in mid-2026 if these current spending trends keep up. Until that happens, Star Citizen’s alpha will continue to expand, and its funding total will just keep climbing toward an unprecedented milestone. It’s certainly a unique way to develop a game, and clearly, it’s working!