The RTS renaissance could be on the horizon as Stormgate, the highly anticipated real-time strategy game from Frost Giant Studios, officially launches its first story-driven campaign, Ashes of Earth, next month on August 5th. Created by former StarCraft and Warcraft developers, Stormgate aims to modernize the genre with a free-to-play model, cutting-edge technology, and deep storytelling.
Led by industry veterans Tim Morten (StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void) and Tim Campbell (Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne), Stormgate represents a spiritual successor to Blizzard’s golden era of RTS games. The new campaign will spotlight the Vanguard, one of three asymmetric factions, as they battle across a post-apocalyptic Earth.
The narrative is written by Micky Neilson, a New York Times bestselling author and former Blizzard writer, with support from Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans) and Chris Metzen, a key visionary behind the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo universes.
All-Star Voice Cast Powers the Story
Ashes of Earth features a powerhouse lineup of voice actors, including:
- Simu Liu (Shang-Chi, Barbie)
- Tara Strong (Teen Titans, Harley Quinn)
- Matthew Mercer (Overwatch 2, Critical Role)
- Rosanna Pansino (Nerdy Nummies)
- RTS legends Chris Metzen and Bill Roper
Game Features and Innovations
When Stormgate launches, players can expect:
Three Unique Factions: The human Vanguard, demonic Infernal Host, and angelic Celestial Armada, each with distinct mechanics and playstyles.
SnowPlay Tech Stack: Built on Unreal Engine 5, Stormgate features Rollback netcode, a groundbreaking system for RTS games that enhances multiplayer performance.
Accessibility and Player Tools: Customizable hotkeys, unique AI skirmish opponents, and BuddyBot—an in-game assistant to help players learn the ropes.
Sigma Labs: A testing ground for experimental features, including 3-player co-op missions and a Terrain Editor Alpha for user-generated content.
More to Come Post-Launch
While August 5th marks the official campaign debut, Stormgate is far from finished or ready to go for a full launch. Frost Giant Studios has confirmed that 3v3 Team Mayhem, ongoing updates, and community-driven features are all in the pipeline.
Stormgate launches August 5th on Steam as a free-to-play title, and with its legacy-backed pedigree, next-gen RTS engine, and ambitious plans, it may just lead the genre’s revival into the modern era. Will you be joining in and playing the first campagin?
What are your thoughts on the announcement? Are you an RTS fan or not? Let us know what you are thinking in the comments section dwon below!
As always, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates as we get them.