What qualifies as a “next-gen” RTS sport? Is it shinier graphics? More in-depth tactical selections? Well, Ghostrunner and Graven devs Slipgate Ironworks hope to offer a solution with their newest real-time techniques base-building sport, Tempest Rising. Revealed earlier this night throughout THQ Nordic’s summer time showcase, Tempest Rising is a retro-inspired technique sport the place you will take management of three factions combating for a uncommon mineral. And yep, that mineral is known as ‘Tempest’. Here’s the reveal trailer.

Set in a sci-fi modern-day alternate historical past of Earth, the primary opposing factions listed below are referred to as the Global Defence Forces and the Tempest Dynasty, the later of whom are a mishmash of European and Asian nations united in opposition to the GDF. Each faction can have their very own single-player marketing campaign to dig into when Tempest Rising launches in 2023, however you will solely come throughout the sport’s third faction in multiplayer, the devs informed me throughout a presentation earlier this week.

In that presentation, they confirmed off a glimpse of the GDF’s first marketing campaign mission, which has a extra conventional boots on the ground-style tanks and infantry vibe. Like the Tempest Dynasty, they’re combating ot pay money for the sport’s titular mineral, which has been found on websites of nuclear fallout throughout the globe. Slipgate Ironworks promise these campaigns will not merely be a case of excellent vs dangerous guys, although, though we’ll have to attend till it launches to see simply how gray these faction edges actually are.

The mission begins on a snowy plain, with a squad of 4 troops parachuting in and dashing towards enemy forces. All of them are armed with rifles, permitting them to select off lone Dynasty troopers from afar. It’s not lengthy earlier than they’re joined by some drone operators, although, whose airborne bots can cope with extra heavily-armoured foes, such because the quickly incoming tank. The builders say there is a rock-paper-scissors battle system at work right here, and you will have to deploy the simplest items to cope with the threats in entrance of you. Alternatively, you’ll be able to all the time goal some useful explosive barrels, which may explode and trigger bigger chain-reactions with different bits of the atmosphere close by.

The rising squad shortly stumbles upon the Dynasty’s barracks and energy plant subsequent, each of which want taking down earlier than they transfer on. Later on within the mission, you will be doing your individual little bit of base-building as you put together to take down the Dynasty’s way more imposing HQ, however in the intervening time, one among our personal hunter tanks has simply been airdropped into the fray, whose anti-armour cannon makes brief work of the remaining buildings.

The mission additionally confirmed off a few of the secondary talents every unit has within the marketing campaign, which the devs promise can be simple to make use of and never require an excessive amount of micro-managing. The Riot Medic, for instance, is a specialist who can each heal different items and decelerate incoming enemy infantry together with his riot suppression gun. Specialist items like it will open up bonus aims throughout missions as nicely, letting you benefit from them in later ranges.

It actually appears like it should scratch that Command & Conquer itch if you happen to’ve performed the latest C&C Remastered Collection into the bottom, however I’m principally right here for the very Duke Nukem-esque voice within the sky who chimes in each now once more with phrases like “Unit Lost” and “Secondary Objective Accomplished”. Not shocking, actually, given Slipgate’s historical past with the collection, however an fascinating contact nonetheless.

We’ll have to attend just a little longer earlier than sinking our tooth into it, although. Tempest Rising is due out subsequent 12 months, and you’ll find out extra over on Steam.