Ashes of the Singularity II: Massive-Scale RTS Sequel Announced for 2026 Release

RTS sequel Ashes of the Singularity 2 promises to let you gleefully watch hundreds of thousands of units blow each other up in 2026

Oxide Games and Stardock's absurdly massive-scale RTS Ashes of the Singularity is returning. Ashes of the Singularity 2 is expected out next year, a decade after the first game let us cover its war-torn maps with thousands of mechanical units. If you're all about scale, this might make you very happy indeed. Set in 2031, the sequel sees the return of its AI and augmented human factions, alongside a newbie: regular ol' squishy humans. "Obviously, in the first game, the number one request was to have a human faction," says Stardock boss Brad Wardell. "Back then, we just couldn't support having thousands of organic, walking, squishy people in the world and thus had to design in favour of machines. We're really excited to bring the humans into the war and watch how they fare against the massive mechanical armies of the Substrate and PHC." While Ashes of the Singularity boasted some impressive tech, which Oxide aims to push even further this time, the series is still created in the mould of a classic RTS, with a story campaign, base building, and comp-stomp skirmishes, alongside multiplayer brawls. Along with upping the number of units onscreen at once -- we're talking hundreds of thousands this time -- armchair generals can also expect features like dynamic environments that will be scarred by all the mayhem, continent-scale landmasses to fight over and commander assistants who will help you macromanage your ridiculously huge armies. You'll have to wait until 2026 to get stuck into this new war, but the Ashes of the Singularity 2 Steam page is live now. I've got my fingers crossed for this one. Stardock's last published RTS was Sins of a Solar Empire 2, developed by Ironclad Games, and it ended up being one of the best games of 2024.

Ashes of the Singularity II RTS Announced by Stardock and Oxide Games

Stardock and Oxide Games today announced Ashes of the Singularity II, the highly anticipated sequel to the groundbreaking, massive-scale RTS that redefined real-time strategy gaming a decade ago. Set to release in 2026, exactly ten years after the original, the game invites players to engage in strategic battles of unprecedented scale, depth, and intensity. In the original Ashes of the Singularity, players experienced revolutionary gameplay powered by the first-ever multi-core graphics engine capable of handling thousands of units simultaneously across maps the size of entire continents. The game's forward-thinking story envisioned a future dominated by sophisticated AI managing drone constructs to battle post-human factions for control over the solar system. A decade later, the battle grows, with the humans of Earth having a say in their own destiny. In Ashes of the Singularity II, players command the United Earth Forces, a powerful human alliance forged between NATO, China, and Russia, determined to reclaim Earth's territories -- including Australia and Africa -- as well as vital outposts on planets and moons across the solar system, all previously overtaken by relentless AI and formidable Post-Humans. With a significantly expanded development team, Ashes of the Singularity II introduces an arsenal of advanced units and sophisticated gameplay mechanics. Players will experience greater strategic depth, intricate base-building dynamics, and intense skirmishes against intelligent computer opponents. A gripping story-driven campaign set in a chillingly familiar near-future landscape of 2031 ensures a captivating experience. Fans can also look forward to robust cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. "Ten years ago, we set a new, literal benchmark for RTS games with massive battles and groundbreaking technology," said Brad Wardell, CEO of Stardock Entertainment. "With Ashes of the Singularity II, we're raising the bar even higher, delivering strategic gameplay depth that RTS fans have always dreamed of." While the gameplay and the production values have greatly improved since the original, the most obvious change in the sequel is the third faction: The humans. "Obviously, in the first game, the number one request was to have a human faction," said Wardell. "Back then, we just couldn't support having thousands of organic, walking, squishy people in the world and thus had to design in favor of machines. We're really excited to bring the humans into the war and watch how they fare against the massive mechanical armies of the Substrate and PHC." Sources: Stardock, Ashes of the Singularity II - Steam

Massive RTS Ashes of the Singularity II Announced, Arrives in 2026

Developer Oxide Games and publisher Stardock Entertainment have announced Ashes of the Singularity II, a sequel to the 2016 original that is set to arrive sometime in 2026. The news came along with an announcement trailer that showed off a cinematic look at the game, but unfortunately did not show off any gameplay. Ashes of the Singularity II continues the story of the first game, with humanity coming together to fight back against a highly sophisticated AI that has overrun most of the Earth. "Ten years ago, we set a new, literal benchmark for RTS games with massive battles and groundbreaking technology," says Stardock Entertainment's chief executive officer, Brad Wardell, in a press release. "With Ashes of the Singularity II, we're raising the bar even higher, delivering strategic gameplay depth that RTS fans have always dreamed of."