A smaller news update this time around: Star Wars Zero Company is officially confirmed and there’s a new and exciting trailer. On the RTS front, Tempest Rising is out now and Critical Moves interviewed its game designer; Age of Empires 2 is still going as strong as ever, and it’s expanding to the Chinese Three Kingdoms setting. Distant Worlds 2 and Planet Coaster 2 get massive updates. Join me as we delve deeper into this week’s Strategy and Wargaming News.
Star Wars Zero Company
Remember me saying that the perfect strategy game would be a mix between XCOM and Star Wars? Well, looks like someone at EA heard me complaining and decided to create Star Wars Zero Company. Built by most of the team who worked on the XCOM reboot, Star Wars Zero Company is taking that formula and setting it during the fan-favorite timeline of the Clone Wars. The trailer teases us with promises of fighting an unseen, but nevertheless important war, and what better way to do it by handing us a squad with the three fan-favourite factions? A Clone Trooper, a Jedi, and a Mandalorian? Star Wars Zero Company is coming out in 2026.
Tempest Rising Reviews Are Promising
Tempest Rising is finally out, and after years of build-up and hype, it’s fair to say that most people think that the game came out swinging and delivered a much-needed Command & Conquer experience after EA refused to create a new game for nearly a decade. The game’s critical reception has been fantastic, with gaming publications praising the adaptation of what made C&C popular to a more modern audience. The people’s reception has been equally favorable, with the title sporting an 88% Very Positive rating on Steam. If you want to know more about the decisions behind Tempest Rising, the lesser-talented crew- as said by a commenter on the YouTube video- at the Critical Moves Podcast interviewed Brandon Casteel, the game’s lead designer. The game costs $39,99.
Age of Empires 2 – The Three Kingdoms
Age of Empires 2 keeps showing everyone why it is the best RTS ever made! Nearly 30 years after it first came out in the late 90s, the game’s still getting new content every couple of months and the people (and myself) absolutely love it. After a detour on the Ancient World, AoE2 is now going to China, with this new The Three Kingdoms DLC being set during the early medieval period. This DLC is adding 5 new civilizations, 3 new campaigns, and a bunch of new units and buildings. It’s funny to see that Age of Empires 2 is going to embrace the more fantastical side of the Three Kingdoms story by adding “legendary characters” with “deadly heroic abilities”. I’m very curious to see how this is going to turn out. The DLC is coming out on May 6th, and it’s going to cost $19,99.
Test Your Tactics In Distant World 2 Latest Update
After the release of the Atuuk & Wekkarus DLC earlier this month, Distant Worlds 2 got another major update. This time the focus is exclusively on the tactical side of the this massive space strategy game. With the Tactics Update players now have access to more intuitive fleet settings, an improved UI, the ability to upgrade fleet templates, new fleet policies, and improved fleet and ship behavior. I really need to dive back into Distant Worlds 2.
Planet Coaster 2 Gets Another Massive Update
As the summer season looms closer and closer, the prospect of playing Planet Coaster 2 and building my own waterpark is a very tempting one (if you know me, you know that I love water parks!). The fourth large update to Planet Coaster 2 is bringing out a ton of new and exciting features: Building and opening your restaurants, pool colour customisation, two new de-themed versions of two coasters, a new ride blueprint, franchise mode inchancements, coaster supports on paths, economy balance refinements, and a ton of bug fixes.
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