Cloud Imperium has opened a new development office in Frankfurt, Germany, according to the company’s latest press release. Star Citizen, dubbed a “first person universe space simulator” in the release, now boasts some of Europe’s top game design minds as part of its team, including developers who created the underlying CryEngine.

Currently the Frankfurt office features 21 team members, but CIG says that that number will expand to 50 by the end of 2015. Star Citizen officially launched its crowdfunded development campaign in October of 2012. Since then, CIG has amassed more than $84.6 million in backer funding, which makes Star Citizen the “top-ranking crowdfunded project ever,” CIG says.

In other SC news, executive producer Alex Mayberry left the company in June, according to PC Gamer. The website reports that Mayberry’s departure was for personal reasons and will purportedly not affect development.

Source: CIG press release