<s>
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
is	O
an	O
in-development	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
space	O
trading	O
and	O
combat	O
simulation	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
being	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
extended	O
retry	O
of	O
unrealized	O
plans	O
for	O
Freelancer	B-Language
,	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
is	O
being	O
led	O
by	O
director	O
Chris	O
Roberts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
has	O
become	O
highly	O
criticized	O
during	O
its	O
long	O
production	O
process	O
,	O
both	O
for	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
there	O
is	O
still	O
no	O
clear	O
release	O
date	O
and	O
for	O
the	O
challenges	O
backers	O
who	O
have	O
abandoned	O
the	O
project	O
have	O
faced	O
in	O
receiving	O
a	O
refund	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
began	O
releasing	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
modules	O
"	O
,	O
to	O
provide	O
players	O
with	O
the	O
opportunity	O
to	O
experience	O
gameplay	O
features	O
prior	O
to	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
more	O
than	O
a	O
decade	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
no	O
projected	O
date	O
for	O
the	O
commercial	O
release	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
is	O
currently	O
given	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
initial	O
Kickstarter	O
ended	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
continued	O
to	O
raise	O
funds	O
through	O
the	O
sale	O
of	O
ships	O
and	O
other	O
in-game	O
content	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
now	O
noted	O
for	O
being	O
the	O
highest-funded	O
crowdfunded	O
video	O
game	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
highest-funded	O
crowdfunding	O
projects	O
overall	O
,	O
having	O
raised	O
over	O
US$500	O
million	O
as	O
of	O
September	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Squadron	O
42	O
,	O
a	O
single-player	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
universe	O
,	O
was	O
initially	O
announced	O
in	O
the	O
Kickstarter	O
as	O
an	O
included	O
campaign	O
in	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
,	O
but	O
is	O
now	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
standalone	O
product	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
combines	O
features	O
from	O
space	O
simulator	O
,	O
first	O
person	O
shooter	O
,	O
and	O
massively	B-Application
multiplayer	I-Application
online	I-Application
genres	O
across	O
its	O
four	O
playable	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
Alpha	O
patch	O
3.13.1a	O
(	O
May	O
19th	O
2021	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Hangar	O
Module	O
is	O
currently	O
disabled	O
due	O
to	O
ongoing	O
issues	O
with	O
no	O
time	O
frame	O
for	O
when	O
it	O
will	O
return	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Capture	O
the	O
Core	O
is	O
a	O
game	O
type	O
inspired	O
by	O
classic	O
capture	B-Application
the	I-Application
flag	I-Application
rules	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
team	O
must	O
capture	O
the	O
opposing	O
team	O
's	O
core	O
and	O
deposit	O
it	O
on	O
their	O
side	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
G-force	B-Application
effects	O
on	O
the	O
pilot	O
were	O
introduced	O
in	O
Arena	O
Commander	O
,	O
which	O
could	O
cause	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
to	O
black	O
out	O
if	O
they	O
moved	O
in	O
a	O
way	O
that	O
applied	O
substantial	O
g-forces	B-Application
on	O
the	O
ship	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
a	O
multi-crew	O
component	O
of	O
Arena	O
Commander	O
was	O
announced	O
at	O
a	O
2015	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
conference	O
,	O
it	O
has	O
yet	O
to	O
be	O
implemented	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
will	O
use	O
an	O
in-game	B-Application
currency	I-Application
called	O
UEC	O
,	O
the	O
current	O
early-access	O
version	O
uses	O
a	O
temporary	O
currency	O
called	O
aUEC	O
,	O
which	O
will	O
be	O
reset	O
from	O
time	O
to	O
time	O
and	O
at	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Squadron	O
42	O
is	O
a	O
story-based	O
single-player	O
game	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
fictional	O
universe	O
described	O
by	O
the	O
developers	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Wing	O
Commander	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
being	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Foundry	B-Application
42	I-Application
studio	O
under	O
the	O
supervision	O
of	O
Chris	O
Roberts	O
 '	O
brother	O
Erin	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
already	O
worked	O
with	O
him	O
on	O
the	O
Wing	O
Commander	O
series	O
and	O
led	O
the	O
production	O
and	O
development	O
of	O
games	O
like	O
Privateer	O
2	O
:	O
The	O
Darkening	O
and	O
Starlancer	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
's	O
actions	O
will	O
allow	O
them	O
to	O
optionally	O
achieve	O
citizenship	O
in	O
the	O
UEE	O
and	O
affect	O
their	O
status	O
in	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
persistent	O
universe	O
,	O
but	O
neither	O
of	O
the	O
two	O
games	O
has	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
access	O
the	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
is	O
under	O
development	O
by	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
a	O
studio	O
founded	O
by	O
Chris	O
Roberts	O
,	O
Sandi	O
Roberts	O
,	O
and	O
Ortwin	O
Freyermuth	O
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Starlancer	B-Application
in	O
1999	O
by	O
Roberts	O
 '	O
studio	O
Digital	O
Anvil	O
,	O
lengthy	O
delays	O
in	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
extensive	O
plans	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
Freelancer	B-Language
led	O
to	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
acquisition	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
and	O
Roberts	O
 '	O
exit	O
from	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Roberts	O
has	O
since	O
claimed	O
that	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
is	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
both	O
Wing	O
Commander	O
and	O
Freelancer	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pre-production	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
began	O
in	O
2010	O
with	O
production	O
starting	O
in	O
2011	O
using	O
CryEngine	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
goal	O
of	O
the	O
prototype	O
was	O
to	O
gain	O
outside	O
investment	O
,	O
but	O
following	O
the	O
success	O
for	O
the	O
Double	B-Application
Fine	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
Kickstarter	O
campaign	O
,	O
Roberts	O
decided	O
to	O
crowdfund	O
the	O
game	O
instead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
hiring	O
Ortwin	O
Freyermuth	O
,	O
Ben	O
Lesnick	O
,	O
and	O
David	O
Swofford	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
was	O
formed	O
with	O
the	O
intention	O
of	O
building	O
the	O
initial	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
at	O
GDC	O
on	O
October	O
10	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
during	O
which	O
the	O
website	O
they	O
had	O
built	O
for	O
the	O
campaign	O
crashed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
its	O
initial	O
debut	O
on	O
Kickstarter	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
was	O
marketed	O
as	O
"	O
everything	O
that	O
made	O
Wing	O
Commander	O
and	O
Privateer	O
/	O
Freelancer	B-Language
special.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
promised	O
features	O
included	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
support	O
,	O
flight	B-Device
stick	I-Device
support	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
focus	O
on	O
high-end	O
PC	O
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
initial	O
release	O
would	O
be	O
targeted	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
Roberts	O
stated	O
that	O
Linux	O
support	O
was	O
a	O
goal	O
for	O
the	O
project	O
after	O
its	O
official	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
would	O
mark	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
's	O
modular	O
development	O
process	O
,	O
where	O
smaller	O
pieces	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
leading	O
up	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Persistent	O
Universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
this	O
early	O
period	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
games	O
would	O
utilize	O
the	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
system	O
Kythera	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Moon	O
Collider	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
produced	O
in	O
a	O
distributed	B-Application
development	I-Application
process	O
by	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
Foundry	B-Application
42	I-Application
with	O
studios	O
in	O
Austin	O
,	O
Frankfurt	O
,	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
,	O
Wilmslow	O
and	O
Derby	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	O
Marine	O
was	O
considered	O
the	O
"	O
FPS	O
module	O
"	O
for	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
August	O
2015	O
,	O
the	O
contract	O
was	O
terminated	O
and	O
development	O
of	O
Star	O
Marine	O
returned	O
to	O
an	O
in-house	O
team	O
at	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
previous	O
modules	O
were	O
primarily	O
focused	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
aspect	O
of	O
gameplay	O
,	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
's	O
Alpha	O
2.0	O
version	O
,	O
initially	O
known	O
as	O
Crusader	O
,	O
was	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
found	O
in	O
earlier	O
modules	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
initial	O
release	O
was	O
on	O
December	O
11	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
a	O
year	O
after	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
project	O
was	O
originally	O
planned	O
for	O
completion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
retitled	O
as	O
"	O
Universe	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
module	O
became	O
the	O
primary	O
focus	O
of	O
development	O
on	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
,	O
with	O
future	O
updates	O
focused	O
on	O
implementing	O
content	O
to	O
this	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
's	O
Alpha	O
3.0	O
,	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
major	O
milestone	O
,	O
was	O
announced	O
for	O
a	O
December	O
2016	O
release	O
at	O
Gamescom	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
months	O
later	O
,	O
in	O
October	O
2016	O
at	O
the	O
annual	O
CitizenCon	O
event	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
claimed	O
that	O
Alpha	O
3.0	O
would	O
be	O
split	O
into	O
four	O
smaller	O
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
December	O
arrived	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
made	O
a	O
surprise	O
announcement	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
migrating	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
to	O
the	O
Amazon	B-Application
Lumberyard	I-Application
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
development	O
continued	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
began	O
releasing	O
more	O
features	O
in	O
incremental	O
versions	O
that	O
built	O
on	O
Alpha	O
3.0	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Feature	O
additions	O
continued	O
through	O
2019	O
as	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
adopted	O
a	O
quarterly	O
schedule	O
for	O
providing	O
updates	O
to	O
the	O
module	O
,	O
though	O
concerns	O
over	O
its	O
lengthy	O
development	O
continued	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
's	O
Alpha	O
3.8	O
update	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
discussed	O
their	O
implementation	O
of	O
a	O
technology	O
known	O
as	O
Object	O
Container	O
Streaming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Alpha	O
3.0	O
'	O
s	O
release	O
,	O
no	O
official	O
release	O
dates	O
have	O
been	O
set	O
for	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
,	O
though	O
its	O
alpha	O
component	O
continues	O
to	O
receive	O
updates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2018	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
announced	O
a	O
plan	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
beta	O
stage	O
of	O
Squadron	O
42s	O
development	O
before	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
quarter	O
of	O
2020	O
,	O
but	O
that	O
date	O
was	O
later	O
pushed	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
second	O
quarter	O
of	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
project	O
continued	O
to	O
delay	O
key	O
features	O
and	O
miss	O
projected	O
deadlines	O
,	O
the	O
media	O
began	O
to	O
suggest	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
may	O
become	O
vaporware	B-Application
and	O
might	O
never	O
be	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
these	O
delays	O
were	O
blamed	O
on	O
micromanagement	O
of	O
the	O
project	O
by	O
key	O
members	O
of	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
and	O
criticisms	O
of	O
feature	O
creep	O
plagued	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Comparisons	O
were	O
made	O
between	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
and	O
Elite	B-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Dangerous	I-Protocol
,	O
another	O
crowdfunded	O
space	O
flight	O
simulation	O
game	O
announced	O
at	O
about	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
began	O
crowdfunding	O
in	O
2012	O
,	O
on	O
their	O
own	O
website	O
and	O
Kickstarter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
initial	O
pledge	O
campaign	O
end	O
,	O
the	O
total	O
pledge	O
amount	O
was	O
above	O
all	O
goals	O
initially	O
set	O
by	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
reached	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
mid-2013	O
,	O
with	O
raised	O
in	O
less	O
than	O
a	O
year	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
became	O
the	O
"	O
most-funded	O
crowdfunding	O
project	O
anywhere	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
Guinness	O
World	O
Records	O
listed	O
the	O
sum	O
of	O
pledged	O
on	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
website	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
largest	O
single	O
amount	O
ever	O
raised	O
via	O
crowdsourcing	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2017	O
,	O
when	O
asked	O
about	O
the	O
financial	O
situation	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
,	O
Chris	O
Roberts	O
said	O
:	O
"	O
I	O
’m	O
not	O
worried	O
,	O
because	O
even	O
if	O
no	O
money	O
came	O
in	O
,	O
we	O
would	O
have	O
sufficient	O
funds	O
to	O
complete	O
Squadron	O
42	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
contributing	O
to	O
the	O
project	O
's	O
funding	O
,	O
backers	O
receive	O
virtual	O
rewards	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
tiered	O
pledge	O
packages	O
,	O
which	O
include	O
a	O
spaceship	O
and	O
credits	O
to	O
buy	O
additional	O
equipment	O
and	O
to	O
cover	O
initial	O
costs	O
in	O
the	O
virtual	B-Application
economy	I-Application
,	O
like	O
fuel	O
and	O
rental	O
fees	O
,	O
but	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
developers	O
,	O
players	O
will	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
earn	O
all	O
backer	O
rewards	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
itself	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
certain	O
cosmetic	O
items	O
and	O
Lifetime	O
Insurance	O
(	O
LTI	O
)	O
,	O
without	O
having	O
to	O
spend	O
additional	O
money	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
current	O
number	O
of	O
backers	O
is	O
unknown	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
equal	O
the	O
advertised	O
counter	O
'	O
Star	B-Application
Citizens	I-Application
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Billionaire	O
Clive	O
Calder	O
purchased	O
a	O
10	O
percent	O
stake	O
in	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
for	O
US$46	O
million	O
in	O
December	O
2018	O
,	O
placing	O
the	O
company	O
at	O
a	O
$460	O
million	O
valuation	O
,	O
regarding	O
which	O
TechCrunch	O
commented	O
"	O
One	O
may	O
very	O
well	O
question	O
the	O
sanity	O
of	O
such	O
a	O
valuation	O
for	O
a	O
company	O
that	O
has	O
not	O
yet	O
shipped	O
an	O
actual	O
product.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
law	O
surrounding	O
the	O
purchase	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
released	O
financials	O
for	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
Eurogamer	O
reported	O
that	O
a	O
grey	O
market	O
had	O
arisen	O
from	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
's	O
funding	O
practices	O
,	O
specifically	O
the	O
sale	O
of	O
limited-run	O
ships	O
and	O
the	O
inability	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
sell	O
ships	O
among	O
themselves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
made	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
project	O
's	O
"	O
gifting	O
system	O
"	O
,	O
announcing	O
,	O
"	O
In	O
order	O
to	O
eliminate	O
the	O
middleman	O
scam	O
,	O
packages	O
will	O
be	O
giftable	O
only	O
once	O
before	O
they	O
are	O
locked	O
to	O
an	O
account.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
report	O
,	O
"	O
Chris	O
Roberts	O
expresses	O
no	O
desire	O
to	O
clamp	O
down	O
on	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
grey	O
market	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
Polygon	O
opinion	O
article	O
,	O
Charlie	O
Hall	O
compared	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
to	O
No	B-Application
Man	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
and	O
Elite	B-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Dangerous	I-Protocol
,	O
writing	O
that	O
"	O
Last	O
time	O
I	O
checked	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
writ	O
large	O
was	O
a	O
hope	O
wrapped	O
inside	O
a	O
dream	O
buried	O
inside	O
a	O
few	O
layers	O
of	O
controversy	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
stating	O
that	O
each	O
game	O
has	O
something	O
different	O
to	O
offer	O
within	O
the	O
space	O
sim	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Gamer	O
writer	O
Luke	O
Winkie	O
also	O
compared	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
to	O
No	B-Application
Man	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
,	O
describing	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
as	O
"	O
the	O
other	O
super	O
ambitious	O
,	O
controversial	O
space	O
sim	O
on	O
the	O
horizon	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
indicating	O
that	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
genre	O
,	O
disappointed	O
in	O
No	B-Application
Man	I-Application
's	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
were	O
turning	O
to	O
the	O
as-yet-unfinished	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
,	O
while	O
sometimes	O
expressing	O
concerns	O
should	O
the	O
latter	O
fail	O
to	O
deliver	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Roberts	O
wrote	O
a	O
scathing	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
articles	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
threatened	O
the	O
site	O
and	O
its	O
owners	O
with	O
legal	O
action	O
which	O
never	O
materialized	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2016	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
was	O
the	O
recipient	O
of	O
Wired	O
2016	O
Vaporware	B-Application
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
least	O
one	O
popular	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
personality	O
was	O
allegedly	O
sent	O
death	O
threats	O
by	O
a	O
fan	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
publishing	O
of	O
the	O
blog	O
post	O
and	O
widespread	O
news	O
coverage	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
refunded	O
him	O
and	O
canceled	O
his	O
account	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2015	O
via	O
his	O
attorneys	O
,	O
Smart	O
sent	O
a	O
demand	O
letter	O
to	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
asking	O
for	O
the	O
promised	O
accounting	O
records	O
for	O
backer	O
money	O
,	O
a	O
release	O
date	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
refund	O
option	O
for	O
all	O
backers	O
no	O
longer	O
willing	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
wrote	O
,	O
"	O
People	O
that	O
own	O
claim	O
licenses	O
now	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
anniversary	O
sale	O
to	O
support	O
development	O
,	O
and	O
people	O
that	O
earn	O
the	O
money	O
in-game	O
to	O
buy	O
one	O
will	O
be	O
on	O
equal	O
footing	O
assuming	O
they	O
have	O
enough	O
UEC	O
,	O
especially	O
as	O
there	O
will	O
be	O
millions	O
of	O
locations	O
for	O
people	O
to	O
explore	O
and	O
claim	O
within	O
the	O
Universe	O
over	O
the	O
lifetime	O
of	O
the	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2018	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
attempted	O
to	O
monetize	O
the	O
live	O
stream	O
broadcast	O
of	O
the	O
project	O
's	O
annual	O
CitizenCon	O
event	O
,	O
eventually	O
backing	O
down	O
due	O
to	O
online	O
protestations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
on	O
,	O
they	O
removed	O
a	O
cap	O
on	O
in-game	B-Application
currency	I-Application
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
renewed	O
criticism	O
over	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
pay-to-win	O
mechanics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
early	O
as	O
2015	O
,	O
some	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
backers	O
began	O
requesting	O
refunds	O
from	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Polygon	O
,	O
"	O
an	O
internal	O
survey	O
posted	O
on	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
message	O
boards	O
revealed	O
as	O
many	O
as	O
25	O
percent	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
backers	O
expressing	O
an	O
interest	O
in	O
a	O
process	O
for	O
getting	O
their	O
money	O
back	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
backer	O
stated	O
that	O
they	O
had	O
initially	O
been	O
interested	O
in	O
the	O
project	O
for	O
its	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
support	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
help	O
them	O
enjoy	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
their	O
disability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
postponement	O
of	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
support	O
and	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
terms	O
of	O
service	O
,	O
the	O
backer	O
stated	O
it	O
was	O
"	O
the	O
straw	O
that	O
broke	O
the	O
camel	O
’s	O
back	O
for	O
me.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DCBA	O
investigator	O
assigned	O
to	O
the	O
case	O
made	O
an	O
arrangement	O
with	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
to	O
process	O
the	O
US$	O
2,550	O
refund	O
as	O
the	O
backer	O
had	O
not	O
downloaded	O
the	O
game	B-Protocol
client	I-Protocol
and	O
therefore	O
not	O
accepted	O
the	O
revised	O
terms	O
of	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
cases	O
regarding	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
refunds	O
have	O
received	O
attention	O
from	O
the	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
few	O
months	O
later	O
,	O
in	O
December	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
reported	O
that	O
a	O
backer	O
had	O
spent	O
almost	O
three	O
months	O
requesting	O
a	O
US$	O
24,000	O
refund	O
and	O
had	O
initiated	O
a	O
small	O
claims	O
court	O
case	O
against	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
a	O
discussion	O
with	O
the	O
Better	O
Business	O
Bureau	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
made	O
changes	O
to	O
their	O
website	O
and	O
further	O
revised	O
their	O
terms	O
of	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Site	O
changes	O
were	O
designed	O
to	O
more	O
clearly	O
communicate	O
the	O
state	O
of	O
the	O
project	O
,	O
define	O
the	O
purchase	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
pledge	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
“	O
inform	O
potential	O
buyers	O
there	O
may	O
be	O
product	O
delivery	O
delays	O
and	O
to	O
check	O
the	O
roadmap	O
site	O
before	O
he/she	O
chooses	O
to	O
click	O
the	O
final	O
OK	O
box	O
and	O
provide	O
payment.	O
”	O
The	O
new	O
terms	O
of	O
service	O
opened	O
refund	O
requests	O
to	O
a	O
14-day	O
"	O
cancellation	O
period	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
claimed	O
that	O
they	O
also	O
maintained	O
a	O
company	O
policy	O
to	O
refund	O
backers	O
within	O
30	O
days	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
2018	O
,	O
a	O
backer	O
initiated	O
a	O
small	O
claims	O
court	O
case	O
against	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
to	O
refund	O
US$	O
4,496	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
court	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
argued	O
that	O
the	O
backer	O
's	O
involvement	O
in	O
an	O
early	O
tester	O
program	O
called	O
"	O
Evocati	O
"	O
proved	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
actively	O
providing	O
a	O
product	O
to	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
provided	O
evidence	O
that	O
a	O
"	O
vast	O
majority	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
backer	O
's	O
purchases	O
were	O
made	O
after	O
the	O
change	O
and	O
that	O
he	O
would	O
have	O
had	O
to	O
accept	O
the	O
revised	O
terms	O
of	O
service	O
when	O
making	O
any	O
new	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
judge	O
presiding	O
the	O
case	O
sided	O
with	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
ruled	O
against	O
the	O
backer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
report	O
noted	O
that	O
a	O
Freedom	O
of	O
Information	O
Act	O
request	O
had	O
shown	O
that	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Federal	O
Trade	O
Commission	O
had	O
received	O
129	O
complaints	O
concerning	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crytek	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
of	O
CryEngine	B-Application
,	O
filed	O
a	O
lawsuit	O
in	O
December	O
2017	O
for	O
copyright	O
infringement	O
and	O
breach	O
of	O
contract	O
against	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Specific	O
complaints	O
by	O
Crytek	O
include	O
that	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
continued	O
to	O
use	O
CryEngine	B-Application
after	O
the	O
announced	O
migration	O
to	O
Amazon	B-Application
Lumberyard	I-Application
,	O
failure	O
to	O
disclose	O
modifications	O
to	O
CryEngine	B-Application
,	O
using	O
the	O
same	O
engine	O
for	O
two	O
separate	O
products	O
instead	O
of	O
one	O
,	O
and	O
improper	O
removal	O
of	O
the	O
CryEngine	B-Application
logo	O
from	O
game	O
materials	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
initial	O
complaint	O
asked	O
for	O
direct	O
and	O
indirect	O
damages	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
permanent	O
injunction	O
against	O
further	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
CryEngine	B-Application
in	O
any	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
or	O
Squadron	O
42	O
materials	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
lawsuit	O
continued	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
argued	O
that	O
Crytek	O
was	O
"	O
selectively	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
misleadingly	O
"	O
appropriating	O
the	O
agreements	O
made	O
between	O
the	O
two	O
companies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
further	O
asserted	O
that	O
exclusive	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
engine	O
did	O
not	O
extend	O
to	O
a	O
"	O
requirement	O
to	O
use	O
that	O
engine	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
original	O
agreement	O
barred	O
"	O
either	O
party	O
from	O
seeking	O
damages	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
asked	O
the	O
court	O
to	O
dismiss	O
the	O
lawsuit	O
in	O
January	O
2018	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
August	O
that	O
same	O
year	O
the	O
judge	O
denied	O
the	O
dismissal	O
with	O
an	O
exception	O
of	O
a	O
single	O
claim	O
and	O
the	O
pursuit	O
of	O
punitive	O
damages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
in	O
December	O
2018	O
,	O
the	O
judge	O
dismissed	O
claims	O
regarding	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
 '	O
right	O
to	O
use	O
another	O
game	O
engine	O
and	O
their	O
obligation	O
to	O
promote	O
CryEngine	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
countered	O
with	O
a	O
motion	O
to	O
dismiss	O
with	O
US$	O
500,000	O
in	O
legal	O
expenses	O
paid	O
by	O
Crytek	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
dismissal	O
motions	O
,	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
submitted	O
an	O
email	O
sent	O
from	O
Amazon	B-Application
to	O
Crytek	O
in	O
May	O
2019	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
company	O
granted	O
a	O
license	O
to	O
its	O
Lumberyard	B-Application
engine	O
in	O
2016	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
rights	O
to	O
CryEngine	B-Application
in	O
their	O
license	O
agreement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2020	O
,	O
Crytek	O
and	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
filed	O
for	O
a	O
settlement	O
proposal	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
30-day	O
request	O
to	O
file	O
a	O
joint	O
dismissal	O
of	O
the	O
lawsuit	O
with	O
undisclosed	O
terms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
annual	O
report	O
published	O
by	O
CIG	O
in	O
early	O
2021	O
revealed	O
that	O
CIG	O
acquired	O
a	O
license	O
for	O
CryEngine	B-Application
from	O
Crytek	O
in	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2021	O
,	O
a	O
customer	O
complaint	O
to	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
's	O
Advertising	O
Standards	O
Authority	O
(	O
ASA	O
)	O
citing	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
transparency	O
in	O
marketing	O
emails	O
from	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
regarding	O
email	O
promotions	O
for	O
vessels	O
in	O
development	O
was	O
upheld	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ASA	O
asked	O
Cloud	B-Application
Imperium	I-Application
Games	I-Application
to	O
make	O
it	O
clearer	O
that	O
for	O
sale	O
"	O
concept	O
ships	O
"	O
are	O
not	O
yet	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
resulted	O
in	O
Star	B-Application
Citizen	I-Application
marketing	O
emails	O
now	O
including	O
a	O
disclaimer	O
warning	O
potential	O
customers	O
about	O
the	O
nature	O
of	O
concept	O
ships	O
.	O
</s>
