AI War 2 is the sequel to Arcen’s AI War space strategy release, and its Kickstarter campaign has officially launched. Initially AI War 2 was intended to be a straightforward sequel to the first game in the series. However, then Arcen decided to get some feedback from their fans, and that resulted in a design document that is longer than some novels. The game will be complete when they have implemented every mechanic in the document exactly as described.
Some of the highlights include:
- Keeping the best parts of AI War Classic: the focus on strategy over tactics, the ability to specifically customize your campaign, massive space battles, and an AI that can surprise you.
- Over one hundred types of ships ranging from fighters to capital ships to massive super weapons.
- Expanding the AI’s toolbox of tricks and strategies — the AI will recapture lost ground and press the advantage when your losses start to mount.
- Letting you decide your army’s strengths and capabilities via a new Science system.
- Expanding battlefields from individual single planets to entire solar systems.
- Replacing the original game’s ship triangle with more nuanced categories.
- Letting you play as humans, the incredibly powerful Spire, or the long dead but mysteriously revived Zenith.
The biggest and most exciting new feature in AI War 2 is selectable player factions, based on the aliens from AI War Classic’s 1st and 3rd expansions. Both newcomers have unique units and skills that set them apart from the other races, and they also have unique relationships with the other factions in the galaxy including the AI.
Private alpha access is currently planned for January 2017, with public Early Access in May 2017 and version 1.0 in October 2017.
