Squadron 42 new gameplay show's a promising cinematic masterpiece?

Cloud Imperium Games recently held their annual convention, showcasing exciting new features for Star Citizen, their ambitious MMO that's been in development for 12 years. I had high expectations for Squadron 42, especially after researching the project extensively in 2022—a decision that led me to buy the game before it was taken off the store. Tuning into the latest demo with high hopes, I found that the trailer not only met but exceeded my expectations.

Henry Cavill Joins Star-Studded Cast of Squadron 42 for Star Citizen

The trailer began with a cameo of the well known actor Henry Cavil, who joined the cast of Squadron 42, the single-player campaign within the Star Citizen universe, sometime in 2015. Cavil's involvement was part of a star-studded cast that includes well-known actors like Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, and Gary Oldman. His role within the story does not seem primary compared to other actors, but since 2015, Cavil grabbed many large roles since his initial casting. There is a rumor that Henry Cavil took part in Squadron 42  because of his love for gaming and didn’t accept payment, but this hasn’t been confirmed by Cavil or Cloud Imperium Games. Cavil is well-known for his genuine passion for gaming (he famously almost missed the Superman casting call because he was playing World of Warcraft), so it’s plausible that he might have been drawn to Squadron 42 simply out of interest in the project and the chance to be part of an innovative game.

Immersive World and Powerful Performances

You are soon put into the opening cutscene, and from then on you are totally immersed in the world of Squadron 42. The ambience and environments are crafted with clear care and passion by the developers, and it seems a large area of the game was focused on environmental story telling. Instead of retelling the trailer, which available both on the IGN YouTube and Star Citizen YouTube Channels, I'd like to point out my favorite parts. The Admiral Bishop speech hits every note correctly, the rising of the music, the incredible performance capture of Garry Oldman, and the dialogue all set the scene for this impeding doom, as the Admiral gives one last speech to his crew, which might be their last.

Real-Time Cutscenes and Epic Score

During the final scene before the face off against the Vanduul, we hear the another version of the bagpipes intro, which is incredibly well done and composed by Geoff Zanelli, known for his work on Pirates of the Caribbean and other Hollywood films.

It's also important to remember the cutscenes in Squadron 42 are not pre-rendered, but are all rendered in-engine happening in real-time, an impressive feat for the sheer scale of the battle. This is confirmed by the texture popping seen from scene to scene, but we assume this will be patched out during the polishing phase Squadron 42 seems to be in.

A Blend of Cinematics and Seamless Gameplay

The arrival of the Kingship is brilliantly executed, both the reaction from the characters and the music, which has a mix of Star Wars John Adams Orchestra and the chanting of Orcs from LOTR. Similar to God of War, you seamlessly go from Cinematic to gameplay, as you currently play as a lowly turret gunner. The ships you fire at are using Cloud Imperium's in house technology called Maelstrom, which dynamically allows parts of the ship to break off based on the impact of the player's incoming attacks, allowing for a truly impressive showcase.

The impressive technology showcased in this demo cannot be overstated. We finally witness the full power of the Kingship as it tears through the Bengal Carrier—the largest class ship in the UEE Navy—in a single, devastating shot, all rendered in real-time.

Performances Shine High-Stakes Moments

The performance and acting in Squadron 42 is exceptional, the high caliber of actors involved make this clear from the beginning. When Admiral Bishop orders his crew to stop targeting the Vanduul destroyer and focus on the kingship, the subtlety of Mark Strong’s eyes and the shock and hesitation are conveyed perfectly. Without a single line of dialogue, you can see his reaction solely through his expression—a momentary pause before he commands the gunner to execute the order. It’s small, nuanced moments like these that highlight the attention to detail in the production.

A Thrilling Turn of Events Against the Kingship

After countless attacks by the Kingship onto Bishop's carrier, hope seemed lost as the Kingship charged up it's devasting main canon, but suddenly Bishop exclaims "go" and in perfect que with the music and cinematics... It's Squadron 42-ing time! We see the squad of humanity's best fighters now heading for a bombing run for the Kingship behind the enemies front line.

Vanduul's Attack and Stunning Real-Time 'Maelstrom' Damage

As the Vanduul grow desperate, they let off without proper aiming, the powerful attack of the Kingship. The shields hold just enough to deflect the attack towards the rear engine, severing it completely in a stunning real-time manner.

After the attack, the Kingship is wounded greatly, and so a staff of great importance to the Kingship is handed off the another Vanduul as he escapes the battlefield. Before he escapes, we get an incredible closeup to show the detail of the Vanduul's character design, which is once again done brilliantly.

Navigating a Vanduul-Infested Ship

After a long cutscene, you are put back into your dying ship, as you navigate the Vanduul infested areas of the ship in first person as you find your escape. Comrades around you are burnt alive or killed by Vanduul, showing us the brutal nature of these creatures. You go through a fight with a Vanduul, which did seem underwhelming, and hopefully something that will be improved on before launch. As you make your way into the elevator, a spear is thrown by a Vanduul, sending you out into space where you must navigate the battle in real-time traversing through the wreckage and the ongoing battle surrounding you.

Conclusion

These are my highlights from the gameplay demo, and it has me very excited to experience a cinematic sci-fi story set in a new universe I've began to read about 5 years ago. After seeing this, I am certain my $45 I spent on it are well worth it, for this truly looks like the first AAAA game. A hard pill to swallow however was the 2026 release date. As announced at the last Citizen Con, Squadron 42 was feature complete, and entered it's polishing phase in Q4 of 2023.

Many fans expected a Q2 or Q4 2025 release at the latest, so the lack of a specific quarter for 2026 left the audience quiet at the convention. Yet, despite the wait, the demo highlighted the incredible passion, care, and attention to detail behind the project. I’m holding out hope for a Q1 2026 release and eagerly await the chance to dive into Squadron 42’s richly crafted world—a world that captivated me from the start with its compelling storytelling and immersive design.