Tag: #RTS

The Great Threat Revealed: Sins of a Solar Empire II ‘Harbinger’ Expansion Arrives September 3
For nearly two decades, fans of the iconic space strategy series have pondered one massive, terrifying question: What were the Vasari running from? The Vasari Empire spent generations fleeing across the stars, warning anyone who would listen about an all-consuming nightmare pursuing them from the dark reaches of deep space. For 35 years in-game, those warnings went unheeded. But on September 3, 2026, time officially runs out.

Stardock has officially announced the launch date for Harbinger, the explosive upcoming expansion for Sins of a Solar Empire II. With this release, the ultimate enemy is finally unmasked—introducing a terrifying new playable faction known as the Eidolon.

Who Are the Eidolon?

Unlike the TEC, Advent, or Vasari, the Eidolon aren’t interested in traditional galactic conquest. They don’t fight for credits, trade routes, or territorial pride. Instead, their sole purpose is corruption, secrecy, and total control.

They operate from the shadows, altering the fundamental rules of 4X space warfare. Here is a breakdown of what players can expect when the Eidolon arrive:
- Planetary Transformation & Shrouding: The Eidolon spread corruption to weaken world populations. Once a planet falls completely under their influence, it can be “shrouded”—unlocking massive, dark upgrades that drastically expand the planet’s capabilities.
- Unit Corruption: Corruption is a double-edged sword for Eidolon fleets. As their ships become corrupted, their hull integrity drops, but their offensive firepower surges. Worse yet, enemy fleets can be infected, turning your own ships into ticking time bombs.
- Shield-Bypassing Null Weapons: The Eidolon bring ultra-advanced weaponry to the battlefield. Their Null Weapons ignore standard shielding entirely, dealing direct damage and spreading corruption with every strike.
- Cloaking & Subterfuge: Featuring new stealth systems and vessels like the Kalizaeth Profaner support capital ship, Eidolon fleets excel at hit-and-run ambushes that punish unprepared fleet commanders.
- Psionic Madness & Phase Echoes: Using terrifying psionic abilities, the Eidolon can turn Vasari crews mad—forcing them to fire on their own allies. To make matters worse, corrupted Eidolon units refuse to die easily, persisting as “Phase Echoes” to continue fighting beyond destruction.
Enhanced Visuals Across All Factions

It isn’t just the Eidolon getting an upgrade. Harbinger also introduces a brand-new Unit Animation System for the entire game. This brings new visual fidelity to all factions, featuring recoiling cannons, expanding space factories, opening hangar bay doors, and dynamic mechanical animations during battle.

Release Date and Pricing

Mark your calendars for September 3, 2026.
- Standalone Expansion: $29.99 USD
- Included In: Sins of a Solar Empire II: Content Pass ($59.99 USD) and the Premium Edition ($99.99 USD)
- Platforms: Available to wishlist now on Steam, and purchasing at launch via Epic Games Store and sinsofasolarempire2.com.
Will you stand together to push back the dark, or will you embrace the corruption and shroud the galaxy? The ultimate battle for survival begins this September.

#RTS #SinsofaSolarEmpire2 #Harbinger #Stardock #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash #4XGaming #SciFiGaming
7th August 2026
Command the Chaos: Sci-Fi Fantasy RTS ‘Liquidation’ Launches Today on Steam Early Access!
Strategy fans, assemble! Iconic publisher MicroProse and indie developer Divio have officially launched their highly anticipated tactical RTS, Liquidation, into Steam Early Access.

If you’ve been longing for an old-school real-time strategy experience that balances classic base building with deep tactical combat, this might just be your next big obsession.

Welcome to the Shattered World of Veá

Liquidation transports players to the dying world of Veá—a harsh, war-torn planet ripped apart by a cosmic disaster known as The Splintering. Out of the planet’s core emerged Quenrium, a mysterious and highly powerful substance capable of sustaining life. Naturally, the remaining survivors and otherworldly invaders are locked in an all-out war to control it.

The game stands out immediately by blending high fantasy with grit-and-steel science fiction. Laser rifles firing alongside dark magic? Mechs clashing with demonic entities? Liquidation leans into this genre mashup with style.

Three Distinct Factions Fight for Survival

At launch in Early Access, Liquidation lets you take command of three radically unique factions, each offering distinct playstyles, lore, and visual design:
1. The Twilight Crusade: Fanatical holy warriors clad in gleaming gold armour. Guided by an unyielding faith, they deploy heavy armour and radiant abilities to wipe out anyone standing in their way.
2. The Scourge Alliance: A desperate coalition of reptilian Lamia tribes and tech-savvy Frogkin. Forced together by necessity, they blend primal instincts with advanced weaponry and guerrilla tactics.
3. The Legion: Infernal monstrosities pouring out from a tear in reality. Serving a godlike Nether-entity, this faction overwhelms foes with sheer aggression and dark magic.
Tactical Micro Meets Strategic Macro

Unlike games that rely purely on high APM (actions per minute) or massive zerg-style swarms, Liquidation emphasises smart tactical decisions:
- Hero Commanders: Drive your forces with powerful hero units who level up and unlock game-changing skills without overshadowing your main army.
- Cover & Positioning: Combat features lower unit lethality, giving you time to retreat, make tactical adjustments, and utilise terrain and cover effectively.
- Innovative Replay System: Single-player mode features a revolutionary “Take Control” replay tool. Made a fatal mistake during a match? Rewind the replay, jump straight into the driver’s seat mid-match, and test a totally different strategic outcome!
What’s Included in Early Access Today?

Divio and MicroProse are kickstarting the Early Access journey with a solid package right out of the gate:
- Campaign Mode: The initial 6 story-driven single-player missions introducing the lore and mechanics.
- Skirmish & PvP Multiplayer: Jump into competitive or casual battles on 5 to 6 dedicated maps (including 1v1, 2v2, and Free-For-All modes).
- Community-Driven Roadmap: Divio plans to keep the game in Early Access until late 2027, working directly with players on balance, additional factions, map editors, and new campaign chapters.
Final Thoughts: Should You Jump In?

If you miss the golden era of Warcraft III and Command & Conquer, but want modern quality-of-life upgrades and sharp tactical depth, Liquidation is definitely worth checking out.

Liquidation is available right now on Steam Early Access with a launch discount. Grab your unit controls, choose your faction, and join the fight for Quenrium today!

Are you diving into Veá today? Which faction are you maining first—the Twilight Crusade, Scourge, or Legion? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here

#Liquidation #MicroProse #Divio #RTS #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #TechMash #StrategyGames #IndieGames #GamingNews
5th August 2026
Firefly Studios Expands Horizons: Introducing WuselFaktory and Its Debut Indie Strategy Game!
Firefly Studios—the legendary British developer behind the iconic Stronghold series—has officially taken a massive leap forward. Levering a quarter-century of strategy game development expertise, Firefly has announced the launch of WuselFaktory, a brand-new publishing label dedicated entirely to nurturing and releasing indie strategy titles from around the world.

With this exciting step into third-party publishing, Firefly Studios is opening its doors to passionate, small dev teams looking to leave their mark on the strategy genre.

Here is everything you need to know about WuselFaktory and the very first game lined up under its banner!

What is WuselFaktory?

For over 25 years, Firefly Studios has been a household name for real-time strategy (RTS) and castle management fans. With WuselFaktory, the team is pivoting its extensive industry knowledge toward scouting, mentoring, and publishing PC-first indie strategy games.

WuselFaktory isn’t aiming for generic releases; it’s looking for games that embody:
- Deep mechanical gameplay
- Rich world-building
- Intricate attention to detail
- Systems-driven design
If a game shares the design ethos that made Stronghold an enduring classic, it’s bound to fit right in at WuselFaktory.

Debut Title Announced: Fool King

Alongside the label’s reveal, WuselFaktory unveiled its debut publishing title: Fool King, a dark fantasy tactical autobattler featuring asynchronous PvP combat.

Developed by Loot Donkey—a passionate, two-person indie studio—Fool King drops players into the twisted world of Everdawn.

Key Features of Fool King:
- Dethrone the King: Players assemble custom armies, equip powerful relics, and stack upgrades to carve through the forces of previous players on their quest to supplant the immortal Fool King.
- Tactical Autobattling: Position your units and watch your strategic plans unfold in frantic, simulated combat against real player setups.
- Plan, Battle, Fall, Repeat: Combining roguelike elements with tactical planning, failure is just a step toward building an unstoppable force.
Players interested in checking out Firefly’s debut published title can already wishlist Fool King on Steam ahead of its Early Access release later this year.

Calling All Indie Strategy Developers!

Firefly Studios has made it clear that Fool King is only the beginning. While they continue expanding their internal projects—including work on the Stronghold franchise—WuselFaktory is actively searching for new projects to back.

Small indie studios working on RTS, city builders, autobattlers, or complex management sims are encouraged to submit their games for consideration via the official WuselFaktory website.

Final Thoughts

It’s always incredible to see industry veterans give back to the indie ecosystem. With Firefly’s wealth of knowledge and Devolver Digital backing, WuselFaktory is poised to become a premier destination for deep, systems-focused strategy games.

What do you think of Firefly’s new publishing venture? Are you excited to try out Fool King? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here

#FireflyStudios #WuselFaktory #FoolKing #IndieGames #PCGaming #StrategyGames #RTS #TechMash #GamingNews #LootDonkey
31st July 2026
Return to Medieval England: Stronghold 4 Storms Steam Early Access!
Strategy fans and castle architects, raise your drawbridges and sound the trumpets! Exactly 25 years after Firefly Studios first defined the “castle sim” genre with the original Stronghold in 2001, the iconic series is making a monumental return. The long-awaited next mainline entry, Stronghold 4, is officially charging onto Steam Early Access, bringing back the franchise’s beloved blend of granular economic simulation, intense tactical warfare, and rich medieval flair.

Whether you’re a series veteran who remembers balancing popularity with cheese workshops or a newcomer eager for a deep real-time strategy (RTS) experience, Stronghold 4 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting strategy releases of the year.

A Next-Gen Makeover in Unreal Engine 5

The biggest immediate leap for Stronghold 4 is its stunning visual transformation. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game breathes fresh, living detail into medieval England. From tiny, bustling peasants going about their daily chores to towering stone keeps crumbling under heavy catapult fire, the atmosphere is more immersive than ever before.

Unreal Engine 5 doesn’t just make the game look pretty—it directly impacts gameplay through dynamic environmental effects. Weather plays a central role: heavy snow will hinder crop growth, while torrential rain reduces your archers’ effective range. On larger-than-ever maps, managing dynamic siege mechanics, physics-based destruction, and environmental hazards adds whole new tactical layers to your castle defence.

Back to the Roots: A Living Medieval World

At its heart, Stronghold 4 marks a deliberate return to the series’ roots. Firefly Studios has focused heavily on bringing back high-complexity castle economy systems, where keeping your populace happy is just as important as building thick stone walls. You’ll need to carefully balance:
- Honour, Taxes, and Rations: Keep the peace among your peasantry through feudal details and cosmetics, or risk rebellion.
- Complex Supply Chains: Manage resources, food production, and specialised workshops to keep your war machine running.
- Gridless Building: Construct intricate, custom fortifications with complete creative freedom, laying down classic traps, moats, and tunnelers.
A Cinematic Prequel Campaign

For narrative lovers, Stronghold 4 introduces a brand-new prequel story set years before the events of the original 2001 classic. Players step into the peasant boots of Penryn of Wethel, a simple shepherd whose peaceful life is upended by war, forcing him on a journey toward leadership, glory, and knighthood.

Featuring star-studded voice performances from talent like Ben Starr and Samantha Béart, the story campaign will deliver 22 cinematic missions full of betrayal, triumph, and high-stakes siegecraft against hostile outlaws and rival lords.

What to Expect in Early Access

Firefly Studios is developing Stronghold 4 hand-in-hand with the strategy community, with an estimated Early Access period of around six months to refine mechanics based on player feedback.

At launch, players will get immediate access to:
- The 22-mission narrative story campaign.
- A robust Skirmish Trail and Custom Skirmish mode featuring 8 distinct CPU AI personalities.
- Free Build Mode for uninterrupted castle planning and construction.
As Early Access progresses, Firefly plans to roll out online multiplayer, a dedicated Economic Campaign, and a Co-op Skirmish Trail leading up to the full 1.0 release.

Final Thoughts

After 25 years of trebuchets, cow-slinging, and wood shortages, Stronghold 4 feels like a true love letter to classic real-time strategy. By combining modern Unreal Engine 5 capabilities with deep, old-school simulation mechanics, Firefly Studios is ready to reclaim the crown of castle builders.

Head over to Steam, add Stronghold 4 to your wishlist, and prepare your granaries—the siege is about to begin!

Find out more here

#Stronghold4 #FireflyStudios #CastleSim #RTS #UnrealEngine5 #PCGaming #GamingNews #SteamEarlyAccess #MedievalStrategy #TechMash
31st July 2026
RTS Fans Unite: Sanctuary: Shattered Sun Smashes Kickstarter Target in Hours with Over $326,000 Raised!
The Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre is experiencing a massive resurgence, and indie developer Enhearten Media is at the centre of the hype. Their highly anticipated next-gen grand-scale RTS, Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, has taken Kickstarter by storm, smashing through its funding target within a matter of hours.

As of 24 July, the campaign has raised an astounding US$326,000 (AU$466,000) from more than 3,500 backers—reaching a staggering 326% of its original AU$143,000 goal.

A Sensation from Minute One

When the crowdfunding campaign launched on 21 July, strategy fans rushed to support the project. The response was immediate and overwhelming:
- 30 Minutes: Early bird reward tiers completely sold out.
- Under 2 Hours: The primary funding goal was officially passed.
- Day One: The campaign closed out its first 24 hours at a whopping 221% funded.
For a genre that fans have long begged to see return to its glory days, Shattered Sun is proving that demand for deep, large-scale strategy games is stronger than ever.

What Is Sanctuary: Shattered Sun?

Designed as a spiritual successor to legendary grand-scale RTS titles like Supreme Commander and Total Annihilation, Sanctuary: Shattered Sun drops players onto the surface of a massive, star-encompassing Dyson Sphere.

Key features driving the hype include:
- Enormous Scale: Control thousands of units across massive 40km x 40km battlefields without tanking your PC performance, thanks to modern DOTS engine technology.
- Terrain & Environmental Warfare: Reshape the battlefield with superweapons—shatter landmasses, collapse structural supports of the Dyson Sphere to send enemy bases plummeting into the sun, or freeze oceans to forge new land assault paths.
- Streamlined Strategic Focus: Enjoy a flow-based economy and high-level strategic zoom that prioritises big-picture decision-making over frantic micro-management.
Try the Demo Free on Steam Right Now

If you want to sample the action before backing, you don’t have to take anyone else’s word for it. A free public demo is available to download on Steam right now, featuring single-player scenarios and training simulations designed to give commanders a taste of the mechanics, scale, and destruction.

How to Get Involved

The Kickstarter campaign is set to run until 20 August, giving backers plenty of time to unlock stretch goals, secure exclusive reward tiers, and help shape the future of the game.

Head over to Steam to grab the demo, check out the campaign on Kickstarter to lend your support, and see if you have what it takes to dominate humanity’s greatest megastructure!

Find out more here

#ShatteredSun #SanctuaryShatteredSun #RTS #IndieGames #GamingNews #Kickstarter #SteamDemo #PCGaming #TechMash
28th July 2026
Build an Empire, Defend Your Wealth: City States: Medieval 1.0 Is Out Now!
If you love deep strategy, bustling city builders, and heart-pounding tactical combat, your next gaming obsession has arrived. City States: Medieval has officially left Early Access and launched its full 1.0 version today!

Published by indie.io, this impressive hybrid genre-blender lets you rise from humble beginnings as a single medieval settlement to a powerful, sprawling trade empire. But beware: as your coffers fill with gold and your influence spreads, the great powers of the realm will take notice—and they’ll be coming for your wealth.

Here is everything you need to know about today’s full release.

What Makes City States: Medieval Special?

Unlike traditional strategy titles that focus on just one aspect of realm management, City States: Medieval seamlessly blends three core gaming pillars:
1. Intricate City-Building: Design, expand, and manage a thriving medieval city. Optimise supply chains, manage population happiness, build infrastructure, and lay down robust defensive walls.
2. Grand Strategy & Trade Empires: You aren’t playing in a bubble. Send out merchant caravans, establish lucrative trade routes, forge alliances, or outmanoeuvre rival factions on a broader world map to build economic dominance.
3. Real-Time Siege Warfare: When peace fails, the real test begins. Defend your city from massive enemy armies or lay siege to rival fortresses. Command your troops, deploy siege weapons, and hold the line in intense real-time battles where your city’s layout directly affects your defence strategy.
Shaped by the Community

The jump to Version 1.0 isn’t just a label—it’s the culmination of dedicated development and crucial community feedback gathered throughout its Early Access journey. The full release brings refined mechanics, polished UI, expanded tech trees, improved combat AI, and a fully realised endgame experience that ensures your empire-building journey stays challenging and rewarding from start to finish.

Price, Platforms & Special Launch Discount

Ready to stake your claim? City States: Medieval is available now on Steam and the indie.io Store for $19.99 USD.

To celebrate today’s 1.0 milestone, you can grab the game with a 20% launch discount for a limited time!

Not sure if you’re ready to rule? The developers have also released a brand-new free demo alongside the full launch, giving you the chance to test your strategic skills and build your first town before committing a single coin.

The Verdict

Whether you’re a veteran of grand strategy games, a city-building enthusiast, or someone who loves the adrenaline rush of real-time castle sieges, City States: Medieval offers a deep, rewarding sandbox experience that will easily consume hours of your time.

Head over to Steam or the indie.io store today, download the demo or grab the discounted full game, and see if you have what it takes to build—and defend—a medieval empire!

Find out more here

#CityStatesMedieval #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #Steam #GrandStrategy #CityBuilder #RTS #StrategyGames #TechMash #indieio
27th July 2026
High-Stakes Strategy: The Radio Commander Series Expands with Two Brand-New Chapters!
Strategy gamers and WWII enthusiasts, pull up a chair to the war table and dust off your maps. During the recent Slitherine Next showcase, publisher Slitherine announced that the critically acclaimed Radio Commander series is officially expanding with two brand-new standalone chapters.

If you played the original Radio Commander: Vietnam ’64, you know the thrill (and anxiety) of leading troops into battle without ever stepping foot on the frontlines. Now, the series is taking its signature “fog of war” mechanics to two of World War II’s most iconic, high-stakes theatres: the vast Pacific Ocean and the skies above Great Britain.

Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming expansions, fresh scenarios, and brand-new challenges heading your way.

1. Radio Commander: Pacific ’41

Estimated Deployment: Winter 2026

Can you command an entire war effort when your only window to the battlefield is a radio frequency and a paper map?

Radio Commander: Pacific ’41 shifts the action to the brutal Pacific Theater of World War II. Players will take charge of complex, multi-faceted operations across land, sea, and air—all managed entirely from the operations room.

What to Expect:
- True Fog of War: You won’t see combat directly. You must interpret fragmented intelligence, static-heavy radio transmissions, and delayed updates to issue orders.
- Combined Arms Operations: Coordinate land assaults, naval bombardments, and tactical air support across vast oceanic battlefields.
- High-Stakes Decision Making: In a theatre where distance and timing mean everything, a single misunderstanding over the radio can send an entire unit into an ambush.
2. Radio Commander: Battle of Britain ’40

Status: Wishlists Now Open on Steam

While Pacific ’41 focuses on expansive land and sea battles, Battle of Britain ’40 takes the series into the skies for a completely new, logistics-heavy management experience.

Taking the helm at RAF Fighter Command during one of history’s most critical air campaigns, players must defend British soil from the Luftwaffe—without ever touching a flight stick.

What to Expect:
- Operations Room Command: Direct interceptors using real-time radar contacts, intelligence reports, and command room plotting boards.
- Expanded Management Systems: It’s not just about giving orders. You’ll have to manage pilot fatigue, squadron morale, fuel reserves, and resource allocation.
- Full Historical Campaign: Experience the campaign from the opening German air offensive straight through to the Blitz, inspired by actual RAF command centre documentation and historic procedures.
Why Strategy Fans Should Be Excited

Since Slitherine acquired the franchise, they’ve doubled down on what made Radio Commander special: pure immersion and psychological tension. Most RTS games give you a “god-view” of the battlefield. The Radio Commander series strips that luxury away, forcing you to rely on cunning, patience, and cool-headed decision-making when information is incomplete.

With two vastly different historical settings—one spanning the Pacific Ocean and the other defending the British skies—the franchise is delivering fresh tactical scenarios that test strategy gamers in entirely new ways.

Wishlist Now!

Both titles share the authentic soul of the original while adding deeper management layers and completely new combat theatres. Wishlists are officially open on Steam—so ready your radio, sharpen your instincts, and prepare for deployment.

Which chapter are you most excited to command—the skies over Britain or the islands of the Pacific? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here

#RadioCommander #StrategyGames #Slitherine #WW2Gaming #PCGaming #RTS #GamingNews #RadioCommanderPacific41 #BattleOfBritain40 #TechMash #Gaming
24th July 2026
Tactical Strategy Meets Dark Fantasy-SciFi: Liquidation Hits Steam Early Access This August!
RTS fans, assemble! Iconic publisher MicroProse and indie developer Divio have officially dropped a brand-new announcement trailer revealing that their highly anticipated real-time strategy game, Liquidation, will enter Steam Early Access on August 4.

If you miss the golden era of tactical RTS combat where positioning, unit composition, and micro-management actually mattered—rather than just spamming high-population death balls—Liquidation might just be the exact game you’ve been waiting for.

Welcome to Veá: Where Sci-Fi Meets Dark Fantasy

Set in the shattered, war-torn world of Veá, Liquidation takes place in the aftermath of a catastrophic event known as “The Splintering.” Entire civilisations were wiped out, and in the aftermath, a mysterious, vital substance known as Quenrium rose from the depths. As the only resource capable of sustaining life on a dying planet, Quenrium has sparked a brutal conflict across the globe.

What sets the lore apart is its unique fusion of futuristic technology, dark magic, and demonic nightmare creatures.

Command Three Distinct Factions

When Liquidation drops in Early Access, players will be able to take control of three asymmetrical factions, each boasting its own distinct identity, unit roster, and strategic playstyle:
1. The Twilight Crusade: Fanatical zealots in radiant golden armour. Guided by unshakable faith, they aim to enforce absolute order across Veá and purge anyone standing in their way.
2. The Scourge Alliance: A desperate coalition uniting the primal ferocity of Lamia tribes with high-tech Frogkin weaponry to ensure survival against overwhelming odds.
3. The Legion: Infernal demonic horrors pouring into Veá through a tear in reality, driven purely by the dark will of their nether-realm master.
Key Game Features to Look Forward To:
- Tactical Real-Time Combat: Battles focus on mid-sized armies, intelligent unit positioning, cover mechanics, and synergy over mindless unit spamming.
- Heroic Commanders: Lead your forces with powerful commander heroes who level up and unlock tide-turning abilities throughout the match without completely trivialising your standard army.
- Single-Player & Multiplayer Modes: Prepare to jump into campaign scenarios, skirmish modes, and online player-vs-player (PvP) matches.
- Community-Driven Early Access: Divio plans to use the Early Access period to closely work alongside the RTS community to balance gameplay, polish systems, and roll out new content based on direct player feedback.
Mark Your Calendars

Whether you’re a long-time fan of classic RTS titles like Warcraft III or Dawn of War, or simply looking for a fresh, atmospheric strategy game, Liquidation is shaping up to be a standout release.

Head over to Steam, add Liquidation to your wishlist today, and get ready for battle when Early Access launches on August 4!

Find out more here

#Liquidation #MicroProse #Divio #RTS #PCGaming #Steam #SteamEarlyAccess #GamingNews #StrategyGames #TechMash #GamingCommunity #IndieDev
24th July 2026
Overwatch from Above: MicroProse Launches Drone Sector into Steam Early Access
Military simulation giants MicroProse have officially launched Drone Sector into Early Access on Steam. Developed by Icosphere—the solo development studio of Ingmar Trump—this ambitious sci-fi action-strategy title blends close air support (CAS) firepower with real-time tactical decision-making.

If you have ever wanted to experience the sheer tactical tension of managing a high-tech battlefield from the sky, Drone Sector is ready for deployment.

A Fusion of AC-130 Power and Real-Time Strategy

Drone Sector puts players into the hot seat of an advanced aerial weapons platform operating high above hostile territory. Drawing heavy inspiration from real-world combat powerhouses like the AC-130 gunship and the MQ-9 Reaper drone, the game forces you to balance precision shooting with ground-level strategy.

Rather than acting solely as an airborne trigger-man, your primary mission is to protect and guide allied ground squads. Your boots-on-the-ground troops rely on your eye in the sky to scout ahead, identify high-priority threats, clear extraction zones, and call down devastating strikes. In return, your squad secures vital ground objectives, recruits engineers, and recovers valuable resources that keep your operation funded and flying.

What to Expect in Early Access

While the initial demo offered a taste of the core gunship shooting mechanics, the Steam Early Access release delivers the full operational framework around the combat loop:
- Career Mode with Persistent Progression: Manage resources, repair damaged drones, research futuristic weaponry, and maintain ammo stockpiles across multi-mission campaigns where squad losses and resource spending carry real consequences.
- 10 Handcrafted Maps: Take flight across a variety of terrains, featuring one 1km x 1km map and nine expansive 3km x 3km battlegrounds with procedurally generated mission setups.
- Multiple Optics & Loadouts: Switch seamlessly between colour, night vision, and thermal vision modes to spot enemies in any condition. Tailor your gunship and squad loadouts with customizable weapons and specialised ammo ratios.
- Sandbox Mode: Want to test out destructive weapon combos without career pressure? Jump into customizable sandbox battles with configurable enemy counts, map setups, and optional toggles like infinite ammo.
The MicroProse Legacy Continues

MicroProse’s legendary pedigree in tactical sims (from Gunship and Falcon to X-COM) makes them the natural home for Drone Sector. By launching into Early Access, the developers plan to work directly with the community to refine AI behaviours, balance mission dynamics, and introduce new squad and weapon types throughout development.

Drone Sector is out now on Steam Early Access. Head over to the Steam Store page today, take control of the sky, and lead your forces to victory!

Find out more here

#DroneSector #MicroProse #IndieGame #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #GamingNews #TacticalGaming #SimulationGames #Gunship #RTS
22nd July 2026
The Future of RTS Has Arrived: ‘ZeroSpace’ Launches Into Steam Early Access!
RTS fans, assemble! The wait is officially over. Today, Starlance Studios has officially launched ZeroSpace, its highly anticipated cinematic sci-fi real-time strategy game, into Steam Early Access.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because ZeroSpace was one of the undisputed breakout hits during Steam Next Fest, captivating thousands of players with its fast-paced action, incredible strategic depth, and high-production cinematic storytelling. Now, the full Early Access experience is finally in our hands—and it’s time to take command.

What is ZeroSpace?

At its core, ZeroSpace is a love letter to classic real-time strategy games like StarCraft and Command & Conquer, but built ground-up with modern design philosophies. Set in a sprawling sci-fi universe, the game blends intense 1v1 and team multiplayer battles with a deep, choice-driven single-player campaign.

Instead of locking you into rigid, pre-set factions, ZeroSpace revolutionises the genre with its Faction + Mercenary system. Players choose a main faction, a secondary faction, and powerful mercenary heroes to create highly customised, adaptable armies tailored to their exact playstyle.

What Can You Play Today?

By jumping into Steam Early Access today, players get immediate access to:
- The Orion Sector: Explore and battle across stunning extraterrestrial worlds with diverse tactical terrain.
- The Story Campaign Begins: Dive into the opening chapters of a rich, cinematic campaign complete with branching dialogue, meaningful choices, and fully voiced cutscenes.
- Competitive & Casual Modes: Test your build orders against players worldwide or sharpen your skills against AI opponents.
- Co-Op Action: Team up with friends to tackle objective-based scenarios.
Shaping the Road to 1.0

Starlance Studios—a team backed by veteran RTS creators, pro players, and passionate community leaders—has made it clear that Early Access is just the beginning.

By joining today, players aren’t just playing a game; they’re helping build it. The developer is actively inviting player feedback on balance, mechanics, and campaign pacing as they refine ZeroSpace on the road to its full 1.0 launch.

Ready to Drop In?

Whether you’re a seasoned RTS grandmaster looking for your next competitive fix or a campaign fan looking for a rich sci-fi story, ZeroSpace promises to be one of the most exciting strategy titles of the decade.

Head over to Steam now to grab ZeroSpace in Early Access, join the official Discord to share your feedback, and start conquering the galaxy today!

Are you jumping into the Orion Sector today? What faction combos are you planning to run? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here

#RTS #GamingNews #ZeroSpace #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #TechMash #SciFiGaming
22nd July 2026
Angry Birds to Angry Battlers: Why Warena is Your Next PC Gaming Obsession
The tactical card battler genre is about to get a serious shake-up, and it’s arriving from a very unexpected, highly pedigree’d source.

If you spent any part of the 2010s flinging furious fowls at green pigs, you’re already familiar with the work of Tuomas Erikoinen—the original artist behind the iconic Angry Birds characters. After conquering the mobile world and racking up over 50 million downloads across various projects, Erikoinen and his indie studio, Part Time Monkey, are trading mobile screens for PC monitors.

Their latest creation? Warena, a real-time tactical card battler that launches on Steam today (July 14, 2026), and it looks set to steal your sleep.

Real-Time Chaos: No Turns, No Waiting

Forget everything you know about traditional card games where you politely wait for your opponent to figure out their move. Warena throws etiquette out the window in favour of simultaneous, real-time chaos.

Both players act at the exact same time. Your objective is simple but intense: manage your mana pool, deploy troops, cast devastating spells, and push down lanes to tear down the enemy base before they do the same to yours. It’s a high-stakes tug-of-war where reading your opponent’s intent and timing your counters is everything.

“I love short, round-based games like Rocket League where you always want to go for one more round,” says creator Tuomas Erikoinen. “I played a lot of Clash Royale and kept thinking: this would work on PC if you built it right. Warena is that game.”

The Ultimate Hybrid: Clash Royale Meets Traditional RTS

Warena beautifully bridges the gap between two distinct gaming worlds, offering a unique hybrid experience:
- The Speed and Immediacy of Clash Royale: Matches are fast, punchy, and instantly engaging. It’s built for that “just one more game” loop that will have you looking at the clock, suddenly realising it’s 3 AM.
- The Strategic Depth of a Classic RTS: Don’t let the quick match times fool you; there is serious tactical weight here. With mid-match deck evolution via “Runes” and unique “Hero Skills” chosen at the start of the game, the deck you finish with will look wildly different from the one you started with.
Built for Pure Competition

In a refreshing move for the modern gaming landscape, Warena is entirely built around skill. Every single card in the game is earned purely through play. There are no pay-to-win mechanics or hidden stat advantages here—just visible stats, clever strategies, and split-second decision-making.

Whether you want to test your mettle against the AI in the single-player campaign or climb the competitive ladder in ranked 1v1 PvP, victory relies entirely on your brainpower and reflexes.

If you’re looking for a competitive strategy fix that doesn’t require a hardcore, hundreds-of-hours time commitment to enjoy, Warena is calling your name. Head over to Steam, grab the deck, and prepare for battle.

Find out more here

#Warena #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamNextFest #CardBattler #RTS #GamingNews #TechMash #PartTimeMonkey
13th July 2026
Double the Trouble: Circle Empires 2 Officially Exploits a Massive 24-Leader Roster!
The circle just got a whole lot bigger, tacticians. If you thought conquering neighbouring circular battlefields in Circle Empires 2 was already a chaotic test of wits, Luminous and Iceberg Interactive just blew the doors wide open.

In a massive milestone update, the fast-paced RTS has officially doubled its roster of playable leaders, skyrocketing the selection from the original 12 at launch to a staggering 24 unique leaders.

Whether you’re a micro-managing economic mastermind or a player who just wants to watch the world burn under a hail of dragon fire, this update completely reshapes the battlefield.

24 Leaders, Countless Ways to Conquer

What makes this roster expansion so significant isn’t just the sheer number—it’s how wildly different each leader plays. We aren’t just talking about simple colour swaps or minor stat changes here. Every single one of the 24 leaders comes packing their own:
- Distinct Units: From disciplined infantry to bizarre cosmic entities.
- Exclusive Technologies: Game-changing upgrades tailored to specific strategies.
- Unique Buildings: Custom infrastructure to optimise your resource engine or fortify your borders.
- Specialised Playstyles: Entirely new mechanics that force you to rethink how you expand, attack, and defend.
A Flavour for Every Strategy

The diversity on display in this expanded roster is brilliantly unhinged. To give you a taste of how varied your next campaign is going to look, check out a few of the standout faces joining the fray:
- Liam Laserfang (The Laser Faction): Perfect for players who love precision defence. Liam utilises Mirror Shields that can literally reflect incoming projectiles back at attackers, alongside the legendary Laser Cat whose eyes keep firing beams even after it falls. Plus, his faction features weapons that permanently slice away an enemy’s maximum health.
- Byron the Burful (The Dragon Legions): If your answer to every problem is “more dragons,” Byron is your man. He can recruit classic, ghost, and rare dragons from the very beginning, backed by disciplined legionaries wielding massive tower shields.
- Electra Eelshock: Ready to shock the system? Electra commands an electrifying army of eels and living lightning to shock and awe opponents out of their territories.
- Woody (The Wooden Faction): For the unconventional player. Woody has zero natural workers. Instead, he uses stationary Trap Workers to siphon resources from adjacent tiles, while his weapon launchers hurl actual melee weapons (and sometimes fish) across the map.
Why This Changes the Meta

With the roster doubling in size, the combinatory chaos of Circle Empires 2 is reaching peak levels. The push-and-pull of expanding circle-by-circle feels entirely fresh when you have to account for 24 different potential setups. A strategy that easily steamrolled a goblin-hoarding Hammerfist might crumble entirely against the high-tech, maximum-health-shredding laser walls of Liam Laserfang.

Luminous has also packaged this massive milestone with a suite of balance changes, fixes, and community-driven tweaks to ensure that even with 24 distinct factions running around, the competitive integrity remains intact.

The circles are waiting. Which leader are you taking to victory first?

Find out more here

#CircleEmpires2 #IndieGames #RTS #GamingNews #StrategyGames #PCGaming #SteamUpdate #TechMash
13th July 2026