Real-Time Strategy
Ongoing coverage on Real-Time Strategy.
Latest coverage
Dawn of War 4 gets a release date delay to "further refine the experience ahead of launch"
King Art Games has delayed the release of Dawn of War 4 from September 17th to December 3rd to allow for further refinement. The additional development time will focus on performance optimization, bug fixing, and incorporating community feedback. An updated post-launch roadmap was also released, detailing upcoming content such as map packs, story expansions, and a mission editor throughout 2027.
Dawn of War 4 has been delayed: 'We saw an opportunity to further enhance Dawn of War 4 and deliver the quality of…
King Art Games has delayed the release of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 from September 17 to December 3. The additional development time will be used to enhance performance, fix bugs, and add polish. The game will receive free updates post-launch, including new maps and a mission editor, with two story expansions also planned.
Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand Review
The Final Stand expansion for Company of Heroes 3 offers enjoyable combat but lacks tactical depth, feeling more like a budget add-on than a full-priced standalone experience. While the core gameplay remains fun, the repetitive wave-defense mode detracts from its overall value.
Multiplayer RTS ZeroSpace devs confirm game is fully funded through the 1.0 launch
Starlance Studios has confirmed that the multiplayer RTS ZeroSpace is fully funded through its 1.0 launch, thanks to strong early access sales. The developers also addressed community concerns, promising UI redesigns, optimization, and bug fixing, with plans for weekly minor updates and monthly content drops. A new Galactic War season, units, and campaign updates are slated for September.
Company of Heroes Definitive Edition is a serious upgrade on an RTS classic
Company of Heroes Definitive Edition is a significant upgrade to the classic real-time strategy game, featuring enhanced visuals, modern system compatibility, and an updated UI. The Definitive Edition includes both expansions and will be released in September for PC, priced at $30, with a discount for original owners.
Arise Dark Lord is a new RTS where you raise evil armies and crush "godless heathens"
Introversion Software has revealed Arise Dark Lord, a new real-time strategy and action hybrid game where players assume the role of a dark lord commanding undead armies. The game is set for release in 2027, with a Prologue currently available on itch.io. The title features a parchment art style and clear homages to The Lord of the Rings.
Liquidation Early Access
The real-time strategy game Liquidation has launched in Early Access on Steam. The game blends science fiction and fantasy elements, centering on a conflict for control of the world Quenrium.
Fantasy RTS Flow of War is an immediately moreish blend of worker herding, fortress building, and 90s-style visuals
Flow of War is a real-time strategy game from Rongcon Games that blends worker management, base building, and a retro visual style. Players lay out structures efficiently to gather resources and defend against waves of attackers, with a focus on indirect strategy and AI quirks over direct unit control.
Age of Empires is doubling down on Vikings with a pair of new Norse expansions
World's Edge is releasing new Viking-themed DLC for Age of Empires 4 and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition by the end of 2026. Age of Empires 4 will introduce the Scots and Vikings with its 'Raiders of the North' expansion, while Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition's 'The Viking Sagas' will focus on Harald Hardrada and include the Danes, Varangians, and Saxons. Additionally, Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition will receive 'The Baltic Powers' DLC featuring the Danes and Poles, and a new bundle will include the base game with several previously released DLCs.
Dawn of War 4's Necrons bring back a classic Warcraft 3 and Starcraft mechanic
Dawn of War 4's Necron faction introduces a unique resource mechanic called Dominion, inspired by Warcraft 3's Blight and Starcraft's Creep. This system allows Necrons to expand their territory from structures, increasing resource acquisition without capturing traditional control points. Senior Game Designer Elliot Verbiest explained that while Dominion offers economic advantages, it also creates vulnerabilities and requires strategic expansion and defense, with structures like the Convergence of Dominion and Resurrection Gallery playing key roles in their gameplay.
Game Reviews
The Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand DLC is reviewed, offering new content for the real-time strategy game. The review likely details the additions and their impact on gameplay.
Your most powerful Necron unit in Dawn of War 4 is a sentient shard of a dead star god, and boy does he hate you
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 features the C'Tan Shard of the Void Dragon as its most powerful Necron unit, a fragment of a dead star god that harbors resentment towards its masters. Senior game designer Elliott Verbiest explains that this unit's unique lore reflects the Necrons' ancient history and their complex relationship with the C'Tan, making it a compelling addition to the real-time strategy gameplay.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 Showcases The Necrons’ Unyielding Efficiency In New Trailer
A new gameplay trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 showcases the Necron faction's efficient and durable units, highlighting their siege capabilities and powerful abilities. The trailer demonstrates their unique units like scarabs, spiders, and reanimators, as well as commanders like Chronomancer Thothmek and Ahmnok. The game is set to launch on September 17th.
Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand review - a novel wave defense
Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand offers a compelling wave defense experience with roguelike elements, serving as a strong standalone expansion to the main RTS game. It distills the core mechanics into shorter, more focused sessions, making it an ideal choice for players seeking strategic depth without a significant time commitment.
Roguelite strategy spinoff Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand breathes fresh live into some of the series' oldest features
Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand is a standalone roguelite horde mode spin-off that revitalizes classic series features. Players select one of four factions and survive twelve waves against increasingly difficult enemies, earning permanent upgrades for future runs. While the core formula may eventually grow stale, the dynamic events and adaptable unit combinations offer a fresh take on the established real-time strategy gameplay.
Not So Massively: ZeroSpace needs a lot of work, but Galactic War is a blast
ZeroSpace, an ambitious multiplayer RTS from Starlance Studios, has entered early access but remains in a very unfinished state with numerous bugs and UI issues. Despite its rough edges, the Galactic War PvE mode is highlighted as a strong and enjoyable feature, offering addictive co-op missions and territory control. The new Xol faction shows promise with its unique unit-combining mechanic, though its incomplete status prevents its use in competitive modes.
RTS games aren't dead yet - but nothing hits quite like Starcraft 2
Despite the rise of newer RTS titles and the enduring popularity of Starcraft 2, the genre's current state is questioned, with many modern games failing to match Starcraft 2's campaign quality. The article highlights Starcraft 2's exceptional mission design, narrative integration, and accessible free-to-play model as reasons for its continued relevance, while acknowledging the struggles of newer RTS projects like Stormgate and Battle Aces.
Game Demos
Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, a next-gen real-time strategy game, is available as a demo on Steam for PC. The game features large-scale battles across a Dyson Sphere with superweapons and environmental manipulation.
Midday Crowdfunding
Enhearten Media has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Sanctuary- Shattered Sun, a grand-scale Real-Time Strategy game set on a fractured Dyson Sphere. The game promises hundreds of units and vast battlefields.
This week in PC games: a battle royale detective game, a broken Y2K metaverse, a laptop tycoon sim, and a new Company of Heroes RTS
This week's PC game releases include a variety of genres, such as the battle royale detective game CipherMind, the Y2K metaverse puzzle-platformer Broken Reality 2000, and the laptop building tycoon simulator. Other notable titles span horror, real-time strategy, and roguelike deckbuilders, offering diverse experiences for PC players.
