Xenonauts 2 Hits 1.0
The long wait for the definitive “Alien Invasion” sim is over. Xenonauts 2 has officially left Early Access. Goldhawk Interactive has spent years developing and polishing the tactical combat and the global strategic layer, and the 1.0 version brings the complete narrative arc, refined base management, and a much-improved air combat mini-game. If you’ve been holding out for the full experience before diving into the alien-hunting business, now is the time. I plan to publish a review for the game soon, but I’m currently working on another title, which you’ll learn more about next week. In case you don’t want to wait for my final review of Xenonauts 2, you can always check my preview of it, where I was seriously impressed with the improvements that were made. It’s a much better game than the first one, in my opinion.
Shadow Empire: Republica DLC Dated
VR Design and Slitherine have officially announced that the Republica DLC for Shadow Empire will launch on April 9th. This expansion introduces a massive overhaul to the internal politics of your post-apocalyptic nations, allowing for the formation of senates, parliaments, and more complex governing bodies. Managing your high command just got a lot more complicated (and interesting). New political systems, new lays, and over 200 new stratagems should keep you busy for a while.
Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes Out Now
Ukrainian Warfare: Gostomel Heroes has been released, and places players in command of the Russian forces during the first days of the war, as they attempt to capture the titular airport and Kyiv. The game tries to be a gritty, grounded look at modern urban combat, and touches a conflict that no other game development company dared to do. Having played the demo, I still think the game is a bit rough, but it’s being made by the same team that created Syrian Warfare, a real-time tactics title that was pretty decent. I do have my fears as to the seemingly propagandistic nature of its Steam page.
Field of Glory: Kingdoms – Burghers and Bombards Out Now
The medieval grand strategy landscape just got a lot more “explosive.” Slitherine has released the Burghers and Bombards expansion for Field of Glory: Kingdoms. This update shifts the focus toward the late medieval period, introducing early gunpowder units and a completely revamped economic system that overhauls the late-game balance to reflect the emergence of trade, wealth, and inflation. You can now transform your settlements into economic powerhouses or fortified bastions capable of weathering the new siege artillery.
Scourge of the Reptiles Revealed
In perhaps the most unexpected move of the week, MicroProse announced Scourge of the Reptiles. This is a party-based tactical RPG set in a “prehistoric low-fantasy” world where a meteor strike has granted magical powers to humans, elves, and dinosaurs alike. While it sounds like a wild departure for the brand, the focus on deep turn-based tactics and 19 species of controllable dinosaur mounts suggests it’s carrying that classic MicroProse tactical DNA. Expect a 35-hour campaign when it arrives later this year.
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