Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts is a prominent game designer and entrepreneur, best known as the Chairman and CEO of Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) and Roberts Space Industries. He was born on May 27, 1968, in Redwood City, California, but spent his early years in Manchester, England. Roberts returned to the U.S. in 1986 to pursue a career in the video game industry.

Early Career

Roberts began his career at Origin Systems, where he developed influential titles such as Wing Commander, which became a hallmark of space combat games. His work at Origin Systems included creating critically acclaimed games like Times of Lore and Bad Blood. In 1996, he co-founded Digital Anvil, which produced the game Starlancer and released a feature film adaptation of Wing Commander in 1999.

Transition to Film and Return to Gaming

After Digital Anvil was acquired by Microsoft, Roberts shifted focus to filmmaking, founding Ascendant Pictures and producing films like Lord of War and The Punisher. However, he returned to the gaming industry in 2011 by co-founding Cloud Imperium Games with Ortwin Freyermuth.

Star Citizen

CIG launched a crowdfunding campaign for its flagship project, Star Citizen, in 2012. This campaign set records in the gaming industry, raising over $106 million by January 2016. The game is designed as an expansive online multiplayer space simulator with both persistent universe and single-player components.

Current Role

As of now, Roberts continues to lead CIG in developing Star Citizen and its single-player counterpart, Squadron 42. His vision emphasizes narrative-driven gameplay and immersive experiences, reflecting his dedication to storytelling within interactive entertainment.

Roberts holds a degree from The University of Manchester and has had a significant impact on both the gaming and film industries throughout his career.123