Ashes of the Singularity 2 drags a human faction into its sci-fi RTS battles

Thanks to technological advancements in recent years, new RTS games can offer a truly eyewatering number of units on screen at any given time. If large-scale battles are your thing, you're now well catered for. One of the 2010s' biggest boundary pushers when it comes to unit density was Ashes of the Singularity - a sci-fi strategy game that follows the struggles between a hyperintelligent AI and the heightened 'Post Humans.' Over nine years on from its initial launch, developer Oxide Games has just announced a sequel. Destined to launch next year, Ashes of the Singularity 2 not only introduces a third faction, but it'll aim to be just as technically progressive as its predecessor.

Ashes of the Singularity 2 shares the same overarching narrative as the first game - the galactic war between the Post Human Coalition and the sentient AI beings known as The Substrate rages, and there are battles to be won. The conflict revolves around Turinium, a valuable resource you fight over in matches. However, despite the original making its way onto our best RTS games list, Ashes 2 is changing things up in two big ways. First, it's not simply following on from Ashes 1's story - it'll actually take things back to a near-future setting of 2031. Second, it's adding a third faction - the humans.

Thanks to this journey back down the series' timeline, we can now witness the early plight of the humans. Fighting under the banner of the United Earth Forces, the global powers of NATO, Russia, and China assemble an army to take back control of not just humanity's homeworld but other nearby worlds too. Oxide says that the UEF is "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."

While the futuristic battles of Ashes of the Singularity were great, there was a desire from fans to make things a bit more grounded and bring the fight closer to home. Ashes 2 will absolutely deliver that.

"Obviously, in the first game, the number one request was to have a human faction," says Brad Wardell, the CEO of publisher Stardock Entertainment. "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."

A "gripping" campaign, co-op, and PvP competitive modes are all touted for Ashes of the Singularity 2. Compared to the original, Oxide and Stardock say that you'll experience "greater strategic depth, intricate base-building dynamics, and intense skirmishes" thanks to the gameplay innovations it's made.

As mentioned, the first Ashes game really pushed things forward in terms of the amount of on-screen units it could display at once, and that legacy hasn't been forgotten in Ashes 2. While there are no hard numbers to report right now, "hundreds" of units will be actively battling simultaneously.

Ashes of the Singularity 2 is set to launch in 2026. You can learn more about it over on its Steam page - give it a wishlist if it grabs you.

For some similar games you can play right now, head to our best strategy games list. Also check out our guide to the best gaming monitors if you're thinking of upgrading your setup anytime soon.

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