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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchNo. Squadron 42 is sold as a standalone pledge, separate from a Star Citizen Game Package. You need a Game Package to access Star Citizen’s persistent universe, but the official information does not state that owning Star Citizen is required to own Squadron 42. The campaign is still in development and cannot currently be downloaded.
The practical decision is which experience you want: buy a Squadron 42 pledge for the single-player campaign, a Star Citizen Game Package for the persistent universe, or both if you want access to both modules. Because offers and prices can change, verify the live listing and your account’s contents before completing an order.
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What the two purchases provide
Roberts Space Industries (RSI) separates the project into two modules. Squadron 42 is the single-player campaign. Star Citizen is the persistent-universe experience, accessed through a Star Citizen Game Package. RSI’s package-split announcement describes an a la carte structure: a buyer can select either module and then decide whether to add the other one.
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That separation means a Squadron 42 pledge is not automatically a Star Citizen Game Package. Conversely, buying a Game Package does not automatically mean you own Squadron 42 unless the listing or an added entitlement explicitly includes it. Treat the two products as separate digital entitlements rather than as two names for one required purchase.
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RSI’s current getting-started checklist specifically identifies a standalone Squadron 42 pledge as an exception to the usual Star Citizen package contents. That distinction is the clearest reason not to assume that one purchase unlocks both experiences.
Do you need a Star Citizen Game Package to buy Squadron 42?
No. The official material reviewed describes Squadron 42 as a standalone pledge and does not say that a Star Citizen Game Package is a prerequisite for owning it. If your goal is only the single-player campaign, the relevant purchase is the Squadron 42 pledge.
A Game Package matters when you want to enter Star Citizen’s persistent universe. RSI states that a Game Package is required for Star Citizen access. That requirement applies to the persistent-universe module; it should not be read as a requirement to purchase Squadron 42.
| Your goal | Relevant purchase | What the official information establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Play the single-player campaign when it is released | Squadron 42 pledge | RSI describes it as a standalone pledge. The game is still in development and is not available for download. |
| Access the persistent universe | Star Citizen Game Package | RSI says a Game Package is required for Star Citizen access. |
| Own and use both modules | Both pledges, or a qualifying checkout add-on | RSI describes the modules as separable and says a discounted Squadron 42 add-on may appear during checkout. |
What “standalone pledge” means
In RSI’s store terminology, a pledge is a purchase that grants the digital items and access described in its listing. A standalone Squadron 42 pledge is therefore the campaign entitlement by itself, not a hidden requirement to buy the persistent-universe package first.
The separation is about ownership and access, not about release timing. Squadron 42 is not a currently playable download, so buying its pledge does not give you an installer today. The pledge records your entitlement for when the campaign has completed development, testing and release.
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RSI’s support article states: “Squadron 42 is currently in development and is not available for download.” Its checklist likewise says the single-player campaign is still in development and is not yet available. No release date is established by those official pages, so a purchase should not be treated as a promise of a particular launch day.
Current availability: you cannot download Squadron 42 yet
As of the RSI support information updated February 4, 2026, Squadron 42 cannot be downloaded. RSI says that an account containing a Squadron 42 pledge will be able to download and play after development is complete, testing is complete and the game has been released.
This creates an important distinction between buying an entitlement and receiving immediate access. A standalone pledge can establish that you own the campaign, while the game itself remains unavailable. If you need something playable now, the Squadron 42 purchase does not satisfy that expectation; the official material does not provide a current download or a confirmed release date.
How to choose the right purchase
Use the following decision path before placing an order. It avoids paying for a module you do not want and helps identify whether an existing account already contains one of the entitlements.
- Define the experience you want. Choose the Squadron 42 pledge if your objective is the future single-player campaign. Choose a Star Citizen Game Package if you want persistent-universe access. Plan on both only if you want both modules.
- Open the live RSI store listing. Read the current product description and included items rather than relying on an old forum post, cached price or a package name that sounds comprehensive.
- Check whether the listing is a standalone pledge or a Game Package. The package type determines which module the purchase addresses. A Game Package is the item RSI identifies as required for Star Citizen access; a standalone Squadron 42 pledge addresses the campaign.
- Review the entire checkout page. RSI may present a discounted Squadron 42 add-on with a qualifying Game Package order. Confirm whether the offer appears, whether you want it and what the current price is before submitting payment.
- Save the order details. Keep the confirmation email and the exact pledge name. Those details make it easier to identify the entitlement later if several packages appear in your account.
- Verify your account after purchase. In the RSI account area, open My Hangar, expand the relevant pledge and inspect its included items. RSI’s Pledges FAQ identifies this as the way to see what a pledge contains.
How the checkout add-on works
RSI says that buyers may be prompted to add a discounted Squadron 42 add-on to a qualifying Game Package order. This is an optional route to owning both modules, but it is not the same thing as a universal requirement.
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The offer is tied to the checkout flow. RSI’s Orders FAQ says it must be accepted before the order is completed and cannot be applied retroactively through that checkout offer. If you skip the prompt or finish the transaction without accepting it, do not assume that support can attach the same discount afterward.
Because eligibility and pricing can change, the checkout screen is the authoritative place to evaluate the add-on. A current store page may show a different offer, no offer or a different price from an older announcement.
Pricing: why old figures are not current guidance
RSI’s package-split announcement from February 9, 2016 listed $45 for either base option and a $15 add-on. The announcement explicitly said those prices were not final and could change with promotions. They are historical figures, not a current price list.
The Orders FAQ, updated February 11, 2026, confirms that a discounted add-on may be offered during checkout but does not publish a current amount. For a purchase decision, use the live RSI store and the final checkout total in your region. Do not use the 2016 figures to estimate what a pledge costs today or to assume that a particular discount still exists.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Checking what you already own
If you have bought a package or pledge in the past, check the account before purchasing again. Sign in to RSI, open My Hangar and expand each relevant pledge. The included-items view is the practical way to determine whether your account contains Squadron 42, Star Citizen digital access or both.
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Package names alone can be misleading when an account contains older purchases, upgrades or separate pledges. Look for the itemized contents rather than inferring ownership from the order title. If the Squadron 42 entitlement is listed, buying another standalone pledge may duplicate an entitlement you already have. If only Star Citizen access is listed, that does not establish that Squadron 42 is included.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Assuming Star Citizen is a prerequisite. The Game Package requirement applies to persistent-universe access. It does not turn Squadron 42 into a required add-on for every buyer.
- Assuming a Star Citizen Game Package includes the campaign. The modules are offered separately. Read the included-items list and verify the pledge in My Hangar.
- Expecting an immediate download. Squadron 42 remains in development and is unavailable for download. Ownership today is an entitlement for a later release, not current installation access.
- Using the 2016 prices as a quote. Those amounts were explicitly provisional. Check the current store and checkout instead.
- Missing the checkout add-on window. The discounted add-on must be accepted before the qualifying order is completed. It is not a retroactive checkout adjustment.
- Assuming a release date. The cited RSI pages describe development, testing and release as conditions for future access but do not establish a date. Treat dates from unofficial discussions as unconfirmed unless RSI updates its official information.
Three practical buying scenarios
You want only the campaign
Purchase the current Squadron 42 standalone pledge, then verify that the pledge appears in My Hangar. You do not need to add a Star Citizen Game Package merely to hold the campaign entitlement. Remember that the campaign is not downloadable yet.
You want only the persistent universe
Purchase a Star Citizen Game Package that meets the current access requirements shown in the store. Do not add Squadron 42 unless you also want the future single-player campaign. The existence of an optional campaign add-on does not change the Game Package requirement for persistent-universe access.
You want both
Compare the current cost of buying the two entitlements with any discounted Squadron 42 add-on shown during a qualifying Game Package checkout. Accept the add-on before completing the order if it is the option you want, then expand the resulting pledge or pledges in My Hangar to confirm both items.
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Bottom line
Squadron 42 does not require a Star Citizen purchase. RSI presents it as a separate, standalone pledge, while a Star Citizen Game Package is the purchase required for persistent-universe access. Squadron 42 is still unavailable to download, historical prices are no longer reliable, and the safest way to confirm both current offers and existing ownership is to check the live store, checkout and My Hangar.
Quick Recap
Official references
- RSI Support: Where can I download Squadron 42? (updated February 4, 2026)
- RSI: Package Split Information (February 9, 2016; historical structure and prices)
- RSI Support: Get Started: Checklist (updated April 16, 2026)
- RSI Support: Orders FAQ (updated February 11, 2026)
- RSI Support: Pledges FAQ (updated April 14, 2026)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
