Stardock Games - Everything about Stardock Games

GalCiv IV Dev Journal #114: The Evolving 4X Interface (and v3.3)

The Problem Nobody Talks About 4X games have a UI problem and it's getting worse. Not because designers are getting lazier. It's because the games keep getting deeper. Every year we add more systems, more resources, more decisions per turn. And the interface has to present all of that without making you feel like you're working air traffic control. I've been making 4X games since 1993. The original Galactic Civilizations on OS/2 had maybe 15 screens total. GalCiv IV has... I actually don... [read more]

4/15/2026 By Frogboy in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: Substrate Mechanics

Substrate Mechanics in Ashes of the Singularity II Wishlist Now The Substrate faction has some unique mechanics in Ashes of the Singularity II. In this video dev journal, we’ll explore their Shield and Drone mechanics, discussing how they work and how they impact the gameplay for the faction. [read more]

4/8/2026 By Oxide_BrettN in Ashes Dev Journals

Sins II Video Blog: v1.51 "Hunt fer Booty" Update

v1.51 "Hunt fer Booty" Update Avast yer scurvy scallywags! The "Hunt fer Booty" update dropped at the start of March and it's time to take a look at what Sins of a Solar Empire II looks like with *proper* Pirates in the game. Bounties can now be placed on the heads of your rivals, Pirates have their own brand new Capital Ship, Minor Factions exhibit new Raiding behavior and two new Advent Minor factions enter the game too. We've reworked the Civilian Structure Capture system, and made a s... [read more]

4/2/2026 By wasabi_md in Sins Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: Pathfinding Updates

Pathfinding Updates in Ashes of the Singularity II Wishlist Now Pathfinding is a tricky subject in RTS games, and especially if you’re trying to allow for maps that are more than just mostly flat spaces. In this dev journal, we’ll explore some of the updates we’ve implemented since Steam Next Fest to the pathfinding. We’ve been working on keeping units from clumping up, improving traffic control through tight spaces, and giving bigger units the priority to shov... [read more]

4/1/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Elemental: Reforged v1.01 - AI Improvements, Balance Tuning, Stability Fixes

Elemental: Reforged v1.01 - AI Improvements, Balance Tuning, Stability Fixes v1.01 is now available. This update focuses on AI decision-making, balance adjustments, performance and stability fixes, and a long list of bug and text corrections reported by the community since launch. Get it Now | Full Changelog Smarter Non-Cheating AI The AI settles cities more intelligently and no longer picks barren tiles. Spell usage and outpost construction decisions have... [read more]

3/30/2026 By redskittlesonly in Elemental News

Faction Reveal: The Substrate in Ashes of the Singularity II

The Substrate Are Here The third and final faction has arrived in Ashes of the Singularity II Wishlist Ashes II here If you've been following Ashes of the Singularity II, you've already seen the Post-Human Coalition and the United Earth Forces go at it. Today, the war gets a lot more complicated. The Substrate are in the game. For veterans of Escalation, the Substrate need no introduction. Haalee, the world's first true artificial intelligence, and her children have been a fan-f... [read more]

3/26/2026 By redskittlesonly in Ashes of the Singularity News

Ashes II Video Blog: Region Power

Region Power Wishlist Ashes II Now Region Power replaces our previous Region Slot system, giving players more flexibility, with additional upgrades providing more specialization. Each building has a unique power cost, and different regions generate different amounts of power. Do you play it safe and upgrade your backline regions, or upgrade your frontline for more pressure? [read more]

3/25/2026 By Oxide_BrettN in Ashes Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: Army Formation and Creation Updates

Army Formation and Creation Updates Wishlist Ashes II Now Building on player feedback from our Steam Next Fest demo showcase of Ashes of the Singularity II, Armies will now organize themselves into a formation: close range damage dealers and meat shields form the front line while less well armored, longer ranged snipers and artillery will form the back ranks. And now, an Army's facing can also be quickly adjusted to properly face oncoming threats. These new features allow increased co... [read more]

3/18/2026 By Oxide_BrettN in Ashes Dev Journals

Ara: History Untold - v2.1 Opt-In Update Now Available

v2.1 Opt-In Update Now Available A new national crafting system, 27 culture traits, religious verses, and more Get Ara: History Untold Now | View the Changelog The v2.1 opt-in build is now available on Steam. This update brings a new national crafting system, 27 culture traits, new religious verses, and a handful of balance and stability improvements. National Crafting Policy System Managing crafting across a growing empire just got a lot ... [read more]

3/18/2026 By redskittlesonly in Ara: History Untold News

Elemental: Reforged, the Remastered 4X Strategy RPG from Stardock Launched Today

Elemental: Reforged, the Remastered 4X Strategy RPG is Now Available Features three campaigns, dynasty system, deep crafting, and hundreds of new quests, characters, and dungeons Buy with the Launch Discount A unique mix of 4X Strategy and RPG gameplay is now available as Stardock Entertainment has officially released Elemental: Reforged . To celebrate the release of this passionately crafted and expanded remaster of Stardock’s most ambitious title, players... [read more]

3/17/2026 By redskittlesonly in Stardock Entertainment Announcements

Ashes II Video Blog: Post-Human Coalition Pt. 2

Post-Human Coalition Showcase Pt. 2 Wishlist Ashes II Now Ashes of the Singularity II, the sequel to the massive-scale RTS, takes you to a world in the near future where three factions are fighting for the fate of the solar system: the United Earth Forces (UEF), the Post-Human Coalition (PHC), and the AI Substrate. Whether you're interested in the single-player campaign, multiplayer, or skirmish matches, the faction you fight for is in your hands. Joining the fight against the United... [read more]

3/12/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Galactic Civilizations IV v3.2 Update Now Available

v3.2 Update Now Available AI diplomacy, early-game pacing, and gameplay balance improvements across the base game and Tales of the Terran Alliance DLC. Get GalCiv IV Now | Full changelog below The v3.2 update addresses some of the most common community feedback. AI civilizations are now better about when and how often they contact you diplomatically, and they make smarter decisions about when to surrender rather than giving up prematurely. Early-game pacing gets a no... [read more]

3/11/2026 By redskittlesonly in GalCiv News

Launch Livestream: Elemental: Reforged

Join us for our Elemental: Reforged Livestream Event Save the Date | Wishlist Now Join us as we play through the campaigns and quests of the remastered 4X strategy RPG, Elemental: Reforged! 📅 Tuesday, March 17th at 1:00 PM EST 📍Location: Elemental: Reforged Steam Page What to Expect A world of unique characters: Players can design their own units with desired visual customization and attributes, recruit champions, equip gear and watch them develo... [read more]

3/10/2026 By wasabi_md in Elemental News

Beta 3C "The Menagerie Update" for Elemental: Reforged is Now Available

Beta 3C "The Menagerie Update" for Elemental: Reforged is now available Wishlist or Join Early Access New and Upgraded Monster Lairs Monster lairs now feature greater variety with new creature types including Ghouls, Bone Hounds, Feral Slaves, Embers, Prowlers, and Herglings. Lairs also drop more loot, with specific monster types tending to drop specific types of rewards and crafting ingredients. Guardian monsters will no longer wander away from their lairs. New Tutori... [read more]

3/6/2026 By redskittlesonly in Elemental News

Ashes II Video Blog: What's Next After Steam Next Fest

What's Next After Steam Next Fest Wishlist Ashes II Now Ashes of the Singularity II landed in the top 50 most played demos during Steam Next Fest, and the demo is still available through March 16 . In this video, I open up what we call a "zoo map" for the United Earth Forces faction, it's a development tool that lays out every unit and building for a faction in one place so we can review them all at a glance. I talk a bit about how we use these internally and what's still co... [read more]

3/5/2026 By Oxide_BrettN in Ashes Dev Journals

Hunt fer Booty Update Now Available for Sins of a Solar Empire II

The 'Hunt fer Booty' v1.51 update is now available New pirate capital ship, bounty system, minor faction raids, and more arrive in the v1.51 update Play Sins II Now New Unit: Pirate Galleon Capital Ship The Pirates have a new flagship. The Galleon is a playable capital ship with four unique abilities, bringing some new tactical options to the table. Bounty System A new Bounty Office in the Markets window lets players spend resources and exotics to put a p... [read more]

3/5/2026 By redskittlesonly in Sins of a Solar Empire News

Sins II Dev Journal: Pirate Incursions

In our last dev journal , we introduced the Pirate Galleon and hinted at unsubstantiated reports of these fearsome vessels roaming the phaselanes and attacking planets. We advised that a wise admiral should be prepared for anything. Consider this your preparation. The Pirate Incursion is a new game event in which a Pirate Galleon will actively target a player's territory, stage a forward operating position on their border, and launch escalating waves of Pirate raiders against their pl... [read more]

3/4/2026 By Unikraken in Sins Dev Journals

Ashes of the Singularity II - One of Steam's Most Played Demos at Next Fest

Ashes of the Singularity II was one of the most played demos during Steam Next Fest! We're extending the demo play period through March 16 at 1:00 PM ET . Play the Demo What's in the Demo Two fully playable factions . The United Earth Forces bring numbers, durability, and relentless ground power. The Post-Human Coalition abandoned flesh for advanced tech, fielding smaller armies that hit harder and cost more. They play completely differently. Multiplayer for up to 8 players . Ful... [read more]

3/2/2026 By redskittlesonly in Ashes of the Singularity News

Beta 3B: The Prelude Campaign Arrives for Elemental: Reforged

Beta 3B: The Prelude Campaign Arrives A new campaign, new sovereigns, smarter AI, and faster performance land in Elemental: Reforged's latest update Join Early Access | Wishlist Elemental The Beta 3b update for Elemental: Reforged is now available. Here's what's new. The Prelude Campaign The final campaign, Prelude, is now playable. This joins the existing Fallen Enchantress and Legendary Heroes campaigns, rounding out the campaign lineup ahead of launch. Ne... [read more]

2/26/2026 By redskittlesonly in Elemental News

Ashes II Video Blog: United Earth Forces Showcase Pt. 2

United Earth Forces Showcase Pt. 2 Play the Free Demo | Wishlist Now This is the second in a two part series showcasing the forces available to the United Earth Forces in Ashes of the Singularity II . From deadly fighter jets to enormous armored dreadnaughts, the UEF fight for the sake of all humanity. [read more]

2/25/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Ashes of the Singularity II Demo Available Now on Steam Next Fest

Free massive-scale RTS demo includes two factions, 8-player multiplayer, three maps and full skirmish mode Play the Demo Now Stardock Entertainment and Oxide Games announced today that a free demo for Ashes of the Singularity II , the highly anticipated sequel to the massive-scale RTS, is available now as part of Steam Next Fest . The demo will feature two factions, 8-player multiplayer, and full skirmish mode. Ashes of the Singularity II is an RTS where you command ... [read more]

2/23/2026 By redskittlesonly in Ashes of the Singularity News

Ashes II Dev Journal: Next Fest Demo Overview

Steam Next Fest is upon us, and with it, a playable demo of Ashes of the Singularity II! We’ve been hard at work getting an early version of the game ready for public play. In this demo, we’re exposing both Singleplayer Skirmish matches, as well as Multiplayer matches. We currently support up to 8 players in either singleplayer or multiplayer, and you can use AI players in both cases with customizable difficulties. We’ve included 7 different difficulties in the demo, ranging from ‘Trainee’, w... [read more]

2/23/2026 By Oxide_BrettN in Ashes Dev Journals

Launch Date Announcement for Elemental: Reforged

Stardock Announces March 17 Release Date for Elemental: Reforged The remastered fantasy 4X strategy RPG exits Early Access with three campaigns, a dynasty system, deep crafting, and hundreds of new quests, characters, and dungeons Wishlist Now | Join Early Access Stardock Entertainment today announced that Elemental: Reforged , the remastered and expanded fantasy 4X strategy RPG, will leave Early Access and launch on March 17, 2026 on Steam with a la... [read more]

2/17/2026 By wasabi_md in Elemental News

Faction Reveal: The Post-Human Coalition (PHC) in Ashes of the Singularity II

The Post-Human Coalition (PHC) in Ashes of the Singularity II Play as the UEF or PHC faction in the Ashes II Demo during Steam Next Fest (Feb 23 - Mar 2) Wishlist Ashes II Now Ashes of the Singularity II , the sequel to the massive-scale RTS, takes you to a world in the near future where three factions are fighting for the fate of the solar system: the United Earth Forces (UEF), the Post-Human Coalition (PHC), and the AI Substrate. Whether you're interested in the single-playe... [read more]

2/16/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes of the Singularity News

GalCiv IV Dev Journal #113: Upcoming Content in 2026

Another Year in the 24th Century We have an exciting year coming up for Galactic Civilizations IV, probably the biggest year of updates and improvements yet. I’ll talk about the Expansions and DLCs we have in development first and then the free updates next. Expansion Pass 2 We’re very happy about our plans for the next two years of GalCiv, and we wanted to make that concrete for players by laying out those plans; and making it easy for players to get on board with a single purchase. ... [read more]

2/13/2026 By wasabi_md in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Sins II Dev Journal: Introducing the Pirate Galleon

The Pirate Galleon is a new and powerful capital ship created to serve as the centerpiece around which the expanded Pirate faction can operate. Based on the hull of a stolen Akkan Battlecruiser, the Pirates have made considerable modifications, transforming this normally lightly armed support vessel into a terrifying improvised battleship. A pair of jury-rigged, overcharged Gauss Cannons adorn the bow, giving the vessel a significant punch against opposing capital ships. Massive box la... [read more]

2/4/2026 By wasabi_md in Sins Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: The Streaming Economy Pt. 2

The Streaming Economy in Ashes of the Singularity II Pt. 2 Wishlist Ashes II Now Part 2 on the streaming economy in Ashes of the Singularity II. In this video, we’ll cover the second of our key resources, Elerite, and how it shapes key mid and late game strategies. [read more]

2/4/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: The Streaming Economy Pt. 1

The Streaming Economy in Ashes of the Singularity II Pt. 1 Wishlist Ashes II Now How and when you spend your resources will impact the battle outcome just as much as how and where you deploy your forces. In this video dev journal, we’ll explore the resources and decisions that go into the economy of Ashes of the Singularity II. [read more]

1/30/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

GalCiv IV: Supernova Dev Journal # 112 - The Exterminators

In Galactic Civilizations, the infamous Korath Clan are every bit as deadly as their horrifying and well deserved reputation suggests. This radical offshoot of the Drengin were changed, both mentally and physically, by a brush with the deadly energies of the Dreadlords themselves, and make regular Drengin, a race of cunning, brutal slavers look rather tame by comparison. As the self-proclaimed apex of Drengin evolution the Korath Clan take it on themselves to purge the galaxy of all inferior c... [read more]

1/29/2026 By BATTLEMODE in GalCiv IV Dev Journals

Ara Dev Journal #10: National Production Policy in v2.1

Long time no see! Sorry about that. Happy New Year! The sausage factory behind the scenes means that there are often multiple projects happening simultaneously. The Oxide team is busy working towards having a beta version of their near-future RTS: Ashes of the Singularity II . Do me a favor and wishlist that please! If you like strategy games, especially ones with a strong single player effort, and that focus on strategy instead of click speed, you’ll probably like it. A lot of... [read more]

1/29/2026 By wasabi_md in Ara: History Untold Dev Journals

Creator Spotlight: Ashes of the Singularity II

Community Creators for Ashes of the Singularity II This week, we're shining a light on the creators that are digging into Ashes of the Singularity II ! From first looks to never before seen gameplay, be sure to like and subscribe for more exclusive content. PotatoMcWhiskey PotatoMcWhiskey has built a massive following breaking down strategy games for players who want to know if something's worth their time. When he tries a new RTS, his audience listens. Pravus With y... [read more]

1/21/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Elemental: Reforged Beta 3 Now Available

Elemental: Reforged Beta 3 Is Here Beta 3 for Elemental: Reforged is here, bringing a substantial visual overhaul, expanded campaign content, and reworked AI Get into Early Access | Add to Steam Wishlist Visual Overhaul The most immediately noticeable change is the updated character models. We've left the PlayStation 1 era behind with new models that apply retroactively to existing characters. We may still need to upscale some clothing models and textures , but the core v... [read more]

1/20/2026 By redskittlesonly in Elemental News

Ashes II Video Blog: Powerlines and Flanking

Placing production facilities in forward regions comes with risks. Not just that the building might be destroyed, but that your opponent might flank your regions and cutoff power to your buildings. In this video dev journal, we explore the mechanics behind powerlines and flanking in Ashes of the Singularity II. [read more]

1/14/2026 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Video Blog: Popular Mods in Sins of a Solar Empire II

Popular Mods in Sins of a Solar Empire II Sins of a Solar Empire II has extensive modding tools to help creators in the community bring their ideas to life, to mutate, enhance and alter the game in many different ways. In this video, we’ll take a look at a small selection of the more popular mods that alter Sins II in various ways to give you an idea of what is on offer. These mods tweak statistics or remove limitations on existing units, add new Maps, or overhaul the game with enti... [read more]

1/14/2026 By wasabi_md in Sins Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: Defenses and Turtling

Video Dev Blog: Defenses and Turtling Wishlist Ashes II Now Building a base, with defenses around it, is one of those intrinsically fun aspects of real-time strategy games. In this video, we explore how you can ‘turtle up’ in Ashes of the Singularity 2. Because sometimes, defense is the best offense. [read more]

1/8/2026 By redskittlesonly in Ashes Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: Armies, Forward Deployment, and the Warfront

Armies, Forward Deployment, and the Warfront Wishlist Ashes II Now In Ashes of the Singularity 2 , we’re rethinking how large-scale RTS warfare works. Every unit you create becomes part an army that you design, customize, and command. Lose units in battle? Reinforce your army continuously, and watch new troops rally straight to the front without missing a beat. In this developer video journal, we break down how army customization and auto-reinforcement keep the pressure on yo... [read more]

12/31/2025 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Ashes II Video Blog: United Earth Forces Showcase Pt. 1

Showcase of the United Earth Forces in Ashes of the Singularity II Wishlist Ashes II Now The United Earth Forces fight to reclaim their worlds from not one, but two technologically superior foes, relying on superior numbers and advanced battlefield tactics to even the odds. In this first video in a two-part series, we showcase the first set of military units available to the UEF and examine the roles they play in their overall tactical combat doctrine. [read more]

12/24/2025 By wasabi_md in Ashes Dev Journals

Livestream Recap: First Look at Ashes of the Singularity II

Livestream Event: A First Look at Ashes of the Singularity II Wishlist Ashes of the Singularity II Brad Wardell and BATTLEMODE play the massive upcoming RTS, Ashes of the Singularity II in the first ever gameplay livestream, ( initially broadcasted over on Steam at 11:00 AM EST on 12/16/2025 ). [read more]

12/18/2025 By wasabi_md in Ashes of the Singularity News

Ashes II Dev Journal: Pathfinding for Armies

Ashes of the Singularity II is a game that supports thousands of individual soldiers and combat vehicles, each with their own local decision making. So, when I order some units to go somewhere how does that happen? First off, check out our Dev Journal on Armies for a bit of information on that system. Pathfinding starts with Armies, which are composed of Units. Each Unit isn’t necessarily a single vehicle or solider, it’s a small ‘squad’. The individuals within each U... [read more]

12/17/2025 By Oxide_BrettN in Ashes Dev Journals

Sins II Dev Journal: The Diplomatic Method (How to Win Friends and Influence People)

In the last Diplomatic Method dev journal, Yarlen walked you through all of our new Diplomatic stats like Patience, Trust, Rivals, and other racial and factional modifiers. In the Diplomatic Agreement window you can see a breakdown of all of the factors going into a AI player’s willingness to accept deals. Each field has a tooltip that will tell you what’s contributing to those percentages or an explanation of what they are. Patience, young grasshopper… Under the new Diplomatic system,... [read more]

12/17/2025 By Unikraken in Sins Dev Journals

Stardock Game News