Arcane Wilds: a fresh take on real-time strategy gaming
Arcane Wilds is an upcoming real-time strategy (RTS) game that promises to bring a unique blend of Wild West fantasy and survival gameplay to the RTS genre. Developed by indie studio Avancadia, the game introduces innovative resource management mechanics, where players must strategically gather, steal, and transport resources to fuel their faction’s growth and enhance battlefield capabilities. The game is set in a captivating environment filled with mystical creatures and procedurally generated maps, offering players a fresh and engaging gaming experience.Key features of Arcane Wilds
One of the standout features of Arcane Wilds is its innovative resource management system. Resources remain localized at their gathering sites, necessitating careful transportation and opening up tactical opportunities for stealing from enemies. Players must manage these scarce resources wisely, balancing their allocation between base building, troop recruitment, special abilities, and technological advancements. Strategic decision-making is crucial, including raiding enemies’ stockpiles and defeating powerful creatures to secure valuable relics and additional resources.
The game also features a cooperative survival mode, allowing players to team up to face perilous challenges, survive against mystical creatures, and customize their home island. The game supports solo play or collaboration with up to three friends, offering choices in adventure, difficulty, and mission complexity.
Arcane Wilds immerses players in a captivating blend of western and fantasy elements, featuring three distinct factions: the Army, the Colony, and the Tribe. Each faction has distinct abilities and strategies, adding depth to the gameplay.
Community involvement and early access
Arcane Wilds is currently in closed beta, with the developers seeking a dedicated community to help refine the game before its broader release. The game is set to be a premium title and will be available early in its development through an early access program. The developers plan to enter public early access in 2024, although the exact release date is still undetermined. This early access phase will allow a select group of players to provide feedback and help tailor the game for a wider audience.
The game emphasizes community involvement, encouraging players to wishlist the game on Steam and participate in its development process. The developers are committed to creating a great RTS experience and are actively looking for player input to achieve this goal.
An in-game screenshot of base-building in Arcande Wilds
Future plans and modding capabilities
The developers plan to refine the mission mode, introduce new factions, and enhance the game's art and sound design based on community input. The Early Access phase is expected to last between 2 to 4 years, during which the game will evolve through player feedback and the addition of new content.
The game supports various multiplayer modes, including cooperative and competitive play, and aims to keep its content accessible to a wide audience. Players can expect regular updates and new factions released as downloadable content (DLC) after the game's full launch. The developers have also incorporated extensive modding support, utilizing Lua scripting to enable players to create and share their own maps and game modes through the Steam Workshop.
A fresh frontier in RTS gaming
Overall, Arcane Wilds promises to deliver a fresh experience in the RTS genre, blending classic elements with innovative mechanics and a captivating Wild West fantasy setting. The game is currently available for wishlist on Steam, and a demo will be playable during the Steam Next Fest starting October 14, 2024. With its unique resource management system, cooperative survival mode, and community involvement, Arcane Wilds is set to redefine the RTS genre.