Thursday, 25 Jul 2024

Ashes of the Singularity

Today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), I had the exciting opportunity to witness a demo of Ashes of the Singularity, the newly announced real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Oxide Games. This game caught my attention with its unique approach to unit management, visually stunning explosions, and the grand spectacle of thousands of ships engaged in intense laser and missile battles, all powered by the remarkable Nitrous engine developed by the studio.

Set in a distant future, Ashes of the Singularity presents a world where humanity has transcended their physical bodies and embraced digital consciousness. In this future, post-human beings find themselves locked in a fierce conflict against the A.I. Substrate, a rival faction. The scale of this war is truly awe-inspiring, far surpassing a mere skirmish between a few ships.

During the demo, Stardock brand manager Adam Biessener guided me through the impressive technological aspects of the game. The sheer magnitude of the action on the screen was overwhelming, making it hard to fully comprehend the intensity of the battles taking place. The screen was brimming with diverse units, ranging from nimble fighters to massive capital ships. Trails of smoke from missiles and vibrant streaks of light from energy weapons filled the air.

Biessener demonstrated the scale of the game by zooming out the map until the units appeared as tiny dots. It became clear that what I initially perceived as a warfront was just a small part of the overall conflict. He explained that the map I was observing was the smallest supported size, and it would take approximately 45 minutes for units to traverse from one end to the other. To put it in perspective, this demo alone showcased around 5,500 individual units in action.

Managing such a vast array of troops could potentially be a daunting task, but Oxide Games has implemented an innovative solution that caters to the game’s scale. Players have the ability to select groups of units and organize them into meta-units. These meta-units function as a single cohesive entity within the game, even though they consist of numerous individual ships working together. For example, if a meta-unit consists of tanks and artillery, the tanks will automatically prioritize safeguarding their long-range allies.

It is truly an impressive technological feat, although it is still too early to pass judgment on the overall gameplay experience. Currently, Stardock and Oxide are focusing on showcasing the immense scale of Ashes of the Singularity. As a result, fundamental questions such as “Will this game be enjoyable?” remain unanswered – at least for now.

Ashes of the Singularity is expected to be available for early access during the summer, with a full release planned for this winter.

FAQs

Q: When will Ashes of the Singularity be released?
A: The game is set to enter early access this summer, with a full release planned for the winter.

Conclusion

Ashes of the Singularity promises to deliver a gaming experience like no other. With its innovative approach to unit management and mind-boggling scale, players can expect to be immersed in a futuristic conflict of epic proportions. While it is too early to determine the game’s overall enjoyment factor, the demo showcased the impressive technology behind it. Keep an eye out for Ashes of the Singularity and prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey into the far reaches of the digital realm.

Ashes of the Singularity