I think the most likely "release" state for Star Citizen is going to be something like a technically feature complete open beta version released with some fanfare and an assurance that there won't be any more progress wipes, followed a year or two later by an "official release" that changes little or nothing, thus blunting any backlash by spreading it out. Further speculation: they'll probably start that "open beta" stage when Squadron 42 is released.
Alternatively, they may never actually get the multiplayer in a stable state because their engine demands are just irreconcilable with networking due to old design decisions they can't fix now. Or Chris Roberts dies of covid and whoever takes over after him pulls a rockstar and decides that "mass of chewing gum and bailing wire that is on fire at least 70% of the time" is an acceptable state for netcode to be in and hurries it out the door.
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I think the most likely "release" state for Star Citizen is going to be something like a technically feature complete open beta version released with some fanfare and an assurance that there won't be any more progress wipes, followed a year or two later by an "official release" that changes little or nothing, thus blunting any backlash by spreading it out. Further speculation: they'll probably start that "open beta" stage when Squadron 42 is released.
Alternatively, they may never actually get the multiplayer in a stable state because their engine demands are just irreconcilable with networking due to old design decisions they can't fix now. Or Chris Roberts dies of covid and whoever takes over after him pulls a rockstar and decides that "mass of chewing gum and bailing wire that is on fire at least 70% of the time" is an acceptable state for netcode to be in and hurries it out the door.