In celebration of the company’s 20th birthday, Stardock has today announced the third installment of Galactic Civilizations, the long-awaited next chapter in one of the highest-rated strategy franchises of all time.
Coming exclusively to 64-bit PCs, Galactic Civilizations III stays true to its core gameplay while adding new features including multiplayer, political intrigue, vastly improved visuals and much more.
“The move to 64-bit architecture heralds a new era of game development at Stardock,” said Derek Paxton, vice president of Stardock Entertainment. “The technology allows players to experience a level of graphical detail and on-screen activity unprecedented in large-scale strategy PC games. It dramatically increases the size and scope of the maps, and opens the door for modders to add a virtually unlimited amount of new content to the game.”
Players will take on the role of an all-powerful leader of a spacefaring civilization that must explore, expand and colonize new worlds across the galaxy. The press release goes on to describe how players can dominate rival alien species through technological, economic, political and military prowess tests players’ cultural, ideological, and diplomatic skills as they pursue victory via peaceful or belligerent means.
Galactic Civilizations III gives players far more detail in the textures, models, and overall look of everything from the planets they colonize to the fleets they command. New interstellar terrain elements on the hex-based map like black holes and mysterious Precursor relics change the way players explore the galaxy. A completely overhauled ship builder puts nearly every element of starship design in players’ hands, while the new resource system creates fresh opportunities to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate.
As part of the company’s birthday celebration, Stardock games will be featured on sale this week on Steam and the Stardock store.
Disclosure: The author is acquaintances with Stardock CEO Brad Wardell.