What the Steam listing says
Steam labels the date as a "Planned Release Date: Q2 2027". That is a quarter, not a day. One outlet read it as April 1 to June 30, 2027. The listing shows no price, and Steam says the game is not yet available. Visitors can only add it to a wishlist.
Cloud Imperium's own support documentation backs this up. Roberts Space Industries (RSI) support, updated February 4, 2026, says the game is in development and not available for download. It also says RSI accounts that own a pledge containing Squadron 42 will be able to download it once it is finished, tested and released. A Steam wishlist entry is therefore not a playable build.
Nothing here says how a future Steam purchase will interact with existing pledges. That is not covered, so don't assume it.
Minimum PC requirements
These are the requirements Steam currently lists as the minimum:
| Component | Listed minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Processor | Quad-core CPU: Intel i7 (Sandy Bridge or later) or AMD Bulldozer or later |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | DirectX 11.1-compatible card with 8 GB VRAM |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
| Network | Broadband internet connection |
| Storage | 150 GB available space |
The recommended section currently contains only the 64-bit processor and operating system line. Steam therefore gives no recommended CPU, GPU, RAM or storage figure yet. It also gives no frame-rate or resolution targets.
Reading the numbers sensibly
Windows 11 is the only listed OS. Windows 10 is not named. If you are still on Windows 10, plan around the listing as written. It could change before launch, and Steam shows no Mac, Linux or console version.
The CPU line is very broad. Sandy Bridge dates from 2011, and Bulldozer is older still. Wccftech called the minimums "very low". A requirement that wide is a floor for launching the game. It says nothing about how the game will perform. The Steam text names no specific CPU or GPU model, so don't read compatibility into it.
The 8 GB VRAM line matters more. Plenty of older or budget graphics cards ship with less than 8 GB. Those cards sit below the stated minimum. Windows 11 also brings its own hardware requirements, which this listing doesn't change.
150 GB is available space. Steam describes it as free space on the drive. It does not say the install will be exactly that size, and it doesn't cover download size or later patches. The listing also names no SSD requirement and no extra free-space buffer. Leave some headroom anyway. A 150 GB game plus the Steam client and shader caches will not fit comfortably on a nearly full drive.
Recommended specs will matter more. The most useful number for a purchase decision hasn't been published. Several outlets reached the same conclusion. One said players should wait for Cloud Imperium's detailed requirements rather than buying hardware around an incomplete early listing. That is sound advice. Don't buy a GPU on the strength of a minimum line.
Other details on the page
- Account: Steam lists a required third-party RSI account, with support for linking it to a Steam account. A Steam login alone won't be enough.
- Features: Steam lists single-player, achievements, Steam Cloud, HDR and Family Sharing. Steam also lists full controller support, with Xbox and PlayStation controllers named.
- Steam Deck: Compatibility is shown as Unknown, so the listing doesn't establish that it will run there.
- Languages: Ten are supported. English has interface, full audio and subtitles. The other nine have interface and subtitles only.
- Content: The developers' description warns of strong language, intense violence, blood and gore.
- Premise: Cloud Imperium has been developing the single-player campaign for more than a decade. Steam describes a rookie enlisting in the UEE Navy, with settings including fighter cockpits, capital ships, space stations and frontier outposts.
What to do now
- Check your OS. Confirm you are on, or can move to, 64-bit Windows 11.
- Check your GPU memory. Look at the dedicated VRAM figure for your graphics card.
- Check your free space. Confirm you have at least 150 GB free, preferably on a fast drive.
- Create or confirm your RSI account. The listing says one will be required.
- Wait for recommended specs before spending money on hardware.
Caveats
This is a store-page update, not a launch announcement. The Q2 2027 window can still move, and the requirements are Steam's current minimums. Other outlets reported the same window and spec table. One of them noted that the window was already known, so this is a confirmation of existing timing and not a new date. The page gives no performance data and no benchmarks, and I haven't tested anything. For now, the useful takeaway is that Windows 11, 16 GB of RAM, 8 GB of VRAM and 150 GB of free space get you to the starting line.