The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Squadron 42 is not available to download yet. Roberts Space Industries (RSI) says the game remains in development and will be downloadable to eligible accounts after development, testing, and release. You can prepare your PC and installation drive now, but RSI has not published a confirmed Squadron 42 download size or final release-specific PC requirements.
How much space should you set aside?
There is no confirmed figure for Squadron 42’s eventual download or installed size, so avoid treating any current storage recommendation as its final footprint. RSI’s Game and Launcher Requirements, updated December 17, 2025, list a 150+ GB SSD for CIG games, including Star Citizen and Squadron 42. The same page recommends a drive with at least 100 GB for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen installation, plus at least 10 GB of additional SSD space for the pagefile. Those figures describe RSI’s current general game and launcher guidance; they do not establish how much space a standalone Squadron 42 installation will require.
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Before a download becomes available, check the free space on the drive where you intend to install the game. RSI cautions that its launcher does not check whether the selected drive has enough available storage. A nearly full drive can also cause problems during updates or file verification.
Check the drive itself
- Use an SSD: RSI’s current guidance requires one for CIG games.
- Check usable free space on the specific drive you plan to select, not just total capacity or free space on another drive.
- RSI recommends NTFS formatting for the installation drive.
- If you need more room, compare drives by SSD status, usable capacity, NTFS compatibility, and compatibility with your PC. An SSD upgrade can improve general storage readiness, but it does not predict Squadron 42’s eventual space requirement.
Check Windows and memory against current RSI guidance
RSI’s published requirements list Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 and 16 GB or more of RAM for CIG games, including Star Citizen and Squadron 42. These are current requirements, not a guarantee of the final specifications when Squadron 42 is released; RSI may update them before then.
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Check your Windows edition and installed memory now so you can identify a possible upgrade or compatibility issue in advance. Do not treat these checks as a substitute for the release-specific requirements RSI may publish later.
Make a fresh Windows installation launcher-ready
For a newly installed or reformatted copy of Windows, RSI’s launcher troubleshooting guidance, dated May 27, 2026, recommends completing Windows updates and checking for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.5.2. This is launcher and Star Citizen readiness advice, not a confirmed Squadron 42-specific release requirement.
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- Install pending Windows updates and let installation finish.
- Check that .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.5.2 are available.
- If you use Windows N or KN, install the latest Media Feature Pack. RSI says this pack is not needed for ordinary US Windows Home or Pro editions.
Set up the launcher when Squadron 42 becomes downloadable
When RSI makes the game available, follow its official account and launcher flow rather than relying on an old installer or an unofficial download. RSI’s launcher installation guidance, updated July 27, 2026, explains that the selected game location must match where the game files are stored. If the location does not match, the launcher may treat the game as not installed.
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- Choose the intended installation location. Select the SSD you checked for space and confirm the launcher is pointed to the correct folder.
- Adjust download behavior if needed. In the launcher’s Download options, set a speed limit or change the number of concurrent downloads to suit your connection and other household network use. RSI documents the defaults as unlimited speed and the maximum number of concurrent downloads.
- Use Verify if files seem damaged. The launcher’s Verify control can check files and may help address corrupted or broken files.
Leave enough free space for the launcher’s currently recommended pagefile allowance and for normal updates, but wait for RSI’s eventual Squadron 42 requirements before making a purchase based on a supposed final game size.
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