Stormgate in Early Access: Prepare for Battle

Greetings, Commanders of the Apocalypse! If you thought the world of real-time strategy games was dying, Stormgate has just arrived to show you that it's more alive than ever. Frost Giant Studios has finally released the long-awaited early access of this free-to-play RTS, and if you're one of those who loves commanding armies, building bases and, of course, releasing dragons onto the battlefield, you'd better make some time in your schedule.

Now before you leave running to Steam or GeForce NOW, let's take a look at what it does Stormgate a title that is already making people anxious – and in addition, we will laugh a little, because nothing says “strategy game” like making ridiculously complicated decisions while trying to hold back your laughter when you see your friend being torn apart by a dragon that he himself summoned.

A post-apocalyptic world with robots, dragons and angels, why not?

In Stormgateyou’ll be thrown into a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity is under siege from demonic forces. Because, of course, if there’s no demons and no apocalypse, it’s no fun, right? Here, you’ll choose between three main factions: the Vanguard, a human defense force that not only fights with advanced weapons, but also sends its sniffer robot dogs into the fray (because, after all, a cybernetic Labrador is always a good idea); the Infernal Host, which basically took the idea of ​​dragons and shouted “more is more”; and the Celestial Armada, which are essentially biosynthetic angels that take the term “divine army” to a whole new level.

Each faction has its own unique units, heroes, and strategies, so be prepared to spend hours deciding which style of apocalyptic destruction suits your personality best. Are you the type who likes to surround your enemies with robots and lasers? Vanguard. Prefer to incinerate everything with hellish flames? Infernal Host. Want to show that angels also know how to bring about the end of the world? Celestial Armada is for you.

Early Access: The Beginning of a Long Journey

Frost Giant CEO Tim Morten was keen to stress that this is just the beginning for Stormgate. The company is committing to shaping the game based on community feedback, which means that, yes, they’ll listen to every complaint you make about how that boss was “totally unbalanced” or how the matchmaking system “is so unfair.” In other words, they really want you to be a part of this evolution.

Additionally, Frost Giant is already looking ahead to the next major update. They want to add new features, improve the visuals (including facial animations – because nothing says “fight for humanity” like a well-crafted grimace) and expand the gameplay options with 3v3 team modes. Oh, and there’s more: they’re releasing a powerful editor that will let you, yes, you, create your own maps, mods and custom games. If you’ve always wanted to be an RTS developer, this is your chance to make something brilliant or completely chaotic – the choice is yours.

Reviving the RTS genre with style

Let's be honest, RTS (real-time strategy) games haven't been a big focus for a while now. But Stormgate seems determined to change that with a series of innovations that promise to revitalize the genre. For starters, the game comes with a technology called SnowPlaywhich essentially turns Unreal Engine 5 into a highly efficient RTS engine. This means that matches will be smooth, responsive, and most importantly, with less lag – because there’s nothing more frustrating than losing an epic battle because the game crashed just as you were about to win.

And for those who are just starting out in the world of RTS or who don't have the APM (actions per minute) speed of a professional StarCraft player, the Friendbot is here to help. This friendly assistant can act as your sparring partner or take care of the boring construction and economy tasks while you focus on crushing your enemies. In short, the Friendbot It's that friend who does the dirty work while you get all the glory – who doesn't love that?

The soundtrack of the gods (literally)

Now, let's talk about something that sometimes goes unnoticed in RTS, but that in Stormgate was taken very seriously: the soundtrack. When you have names like Frank Klepaki (yes, the same one from Command & Conquer), Tracy W. Bush (StarCraft, World of Warcraft), David Luis Ortega (Blizzard Entertainment, Ubisoft) and Nga Weng Chio (WSA Game Music Award nominee), you know the song is going to be epic. I mean, when even the angels start marching to the music, you know it's time to get worried.

Free to play, but with that naughty extra

In a world where pay to win has become a plague, it's refreshing to see that Stormgate will keep things balanced. The game is free to play, but it offers a few optional purchases – all of which are transparent and don’t involve loot boxes or gacha mechanics. You can pay to unlock the full progression of Heroes, access additional chapters of the campaign or even adopt an in-game pet. Yes, you read that right. Pets in an RTS. Because even apocalyptic commanders need a pet to pet between battles, right?

A Brief History of RTS

Now, to close with a flourish, a brief summary of the history of RTS. This genre began to gain prominence in the 90s with iconic titles such as Warcraft and Command & Conquerwhich set the standard for real-time strategy gameplay. The idea was always simple: build a base, raise an army, and then crush the enemy. But over time, RTS games became increasingly complex, introducing resource management elements, heroes with unique abilities, and, of course, epic stories. Stormgate is a direct heir to this tradition, but brings a modernity that promises to attract both veterans and new players to the battlefield.

So if you are ready to join the apocalyptic war, build your base and lead your army into epic battles, Stormgate is already waiting for you. And remember: dragons, robots and angels are great allies – as long as they are on your side.