Cloud Imperium Games Shifts Focus, Closes Los Angeles Office as Development Nears Completion

The studio Cloud Imperium Games, the creator of Squadron 42 and Star Citizen, has announced the closure of its Los Angeles office. The company clarified this decision by stating that the development of the story campaign for Squadron 42 and the final version of Star Citizen is in its final stages, and «developers need to be where they are needed.»

As reported by 80.lv, the company is relocating key developers to its studios in Manchester, Montreal, Austin, and Frankfurt as part of a reorganization aimed at improving efficiency. These relocations ultimately resulted in the closure of the Los Angeles office.

It has been noted that the office closure will not affect the release of Star Citizen. According to a letter from the chairman of Cloud Imperium Games in 2024, the Los Angeles branch primarily handled marketing, finance, and human resources, rather than actual game development, and served a supportive role.

Earlier in 2024, Cloud Imperium Games had already reduced staff at the Los Angeles office. Later, there were speculations about financial difficulties faced by Cloud Imperium Games. However, as 80.lv points out, this is unlikely: during the crowdfunding campaign for Star Citizen, an impressive $795.5 million was raised.

This achievement not only makes Star Citizen the most expensive indie game but also one of the costliest video games ever, placing it alongside titles like Call of Duty and Genshin Impact.