If you’re an MMORTS junkie as MOP’s Tyler is, you’ve probably been watching Stormgate’s development with great interest over the last few years. In fact, we first covered it back in 2023, when we got our first look at the “StarCraft 2.5” game built by former Blizzard developers under the Frost Giant Studios banner. Since then, it saw enormous success on Kickstarter, pulling in a cool $2.38M from player donors, then dipped into the equity crowdfunding pool, raising $1.12M from small-tier gamer investors, all pennies compared to the $35M in corporate investment it used to get this far.
The big news today is that the game has entered its headstart early access period ahead of its planned F2P release on August 13th, meaning that closed beta testers, Kickstarter backers, and preorder players can now jump in.
“Created by veterans of StarCraft® II and Warcraft® III, Stormgate is a love letter to classic RTS games. Set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi and fantasy future, Stormgate challenges players to build and command armies in epic battles. Early access includes the game’s three highly asymmetric factions–warring armies vying for control over our planet. Between the stalwart Human Vanguard, the demonic Infernal Host, and the techno-angelic Celestial Armada, players are sure to find an army that they’ll love to play. Stormgate preserves classic RTS gameplay while introducing modern innovations to make it more approachable. The BuddyBot assists players of all skill levels, acting as training wheels or an always-on helper to aid in managing the game’s economy and base-building, so that they can enjoy RTS gameplay without needing the high actions per minute (APM) of a seasoned pro. Automated control groups and the quick macro panel simplify inputs, lowering the skill floor without affecting the skill ceiling.”
The cheapest early access pack is 25 buckaroos on Steam, where the earliest reviews are currently sitting at mixed. Frost Giant says that “this is only the beginning” and that the game will “continue to grow” into the future. “We’re planning to release more story, more game modes such as 3v3, as well as our powerful new editor, while we continue working with the community to make Stormgate the best RTS it can be,” Game Director Tim Campbell promises fans.
