Software:Tempest Rising

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Short description: 2025 video game
Tempest Rising
Steam header
Developer(s)Slipgate Ironworks
2B Games
Publisher(s)3D Realms
Knights Peak
Director(s)Frederik Schreiber
Producer(s)Malthe Jensen
Designer(s)Brandon Casteel[1][2]
Composer(s)Frank Klepacki[3]
EngineUnreal Engine 5[4][5]
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseApril 17, 2025[6]
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Tempest Rising is a 2025 real-time strategy video game developed by Slipgate Ironworks and 2B Games, and published by 3D Realms[7] and Knights Peak.[8]

Gameplay

Tempest Rising is a real-time strategy game that is reminiscent of the Command & Conquer series and other similar RTS games from the 90s and 2000s, in which players gather resources on a map in order to build up bases, and field armies in order to defeat opposing human or AI players.[9][10][11] Base construction uses a similar structure to Command & Conquer, in that players need to unpack a Mobile Construction Vehicle (MCV) to establish a base and construct additional structures - production sites for training units; tech sites for accessing advanced units and support powers; defenses; and utility sites for resource management and unit repairs - with power required to ensure the base operates efficiently. All structures are placed down in a grid layout with ability to rotate them before placement. Units are divided between infantry, vehicles, aircraft, and specialist units, with units having their own strengths and weaknesses, along with special abilities for use in combat.

The game features playable factions, each with their own distinctive unit appearances and structure architecture:

  • The Global Defense Force (GDF), who specialize in mobilized and positional combat. The GDF rely on two forms of technology to provide advantages against opposing forces, as well as utilizing a secondary resource they can gather, which can be spent on unit abilities or new units and structures.
  • The Tempest Dynasty, who specialize in brute force strategies. The Dynasty can adopt one of three Plans to provide combat bonuses, upgrade structures to gain additional abilities alongside accessing higher-tier units, and overwork Power Plants to improve unit production and defensive structures.
  • The Veti, who operate with advanced alien technology. At present, they are not yet available except in singleplayer.[7]

The game features a single-player Campaign mode, which provides options to allow players to augment their forces before a mission begins, and learn more about the lore of Tempest Rising from the officers briefing them. Multiplayer and Skirmish modes allow players to engage against human and AI opponents respectively, over a variety of maps, using the available factions.

Plot

Setting and characters

Tempest Rising is set in the same universe as Bombshell and begins around 100 years before the events of Ion Fury.[12]

Tempest Rising is set in 1997, in an alternate version of history in which the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was not resolved peacefully. Exacerbated diplomatic tensions from this event led to a Third World War, where the use of nuclear weapons led to significant areas of the Earth being irradiated.[7] In the wake of the war's conclusion, fissures opened up in the Earth's surface in irradiated regions, from which the virulent, vine-like Tempest emerges, initially frightened the human populace. Soon, however, scientists discover that Tempest vines, leaves, and pods carry abundances of "voltaic" energy, which could serve as means of rebuilding civilization and contending with a major energy crisis. Scientific consensus holds that, despite its vine-like appearance, Tempest is neither a plant nor even eukaryotic.

In the wake of the Tempest emergence, the Eastern European and Asian nations struggling with nuclear fallout form the Tempest Dynasty, union that owns the majority of the world's Tempest deposits. They view Tempest as their birthright, a divine gift bestowed upon them as restitutions for their loss. Meanwhile, a coalition of the surviving Western governments form the Global Defense Force (GDF) and seek to regulate the world's Tempest reserves as a means of gaining peace through power. This results in a global conflict between the two over a period of three decades.

The GDF is led by a secretive Council of Directors who keep their faces hidden and their voices scrambled. Undersecretary Jacob Greene directly serves the council as a politician. Other GDF characters include Colonel Robert Fisher (a senior commander of GDF forces), and Doctor Lyssa Francis (GDF head researcher on Tempest). In appearance, GDF resembles the modern-day NATO forces.

The Dynasty is led by Domovoy Molchalin, the alliance's founder whose neurological health declined, requiring specialized implants to be able to communicate. His military is led by his son Aleks. Serving them is the chief intelligence officer, Lieutenant Jelena Melnik. The Dynasty, however, is struggling with an internal conflict. While Domovoy and Aleks do not see eye to eye, a secret society called the Hawthorne Initiative seeks to control Dynasty from within.

Synopsis

In 1997, a Tempest Dynasty excavation in Iraq uncovers an ancient object that is not human in origin. The discovery is passed on to the Dynasty's founder, Domovoy Molchalin. Meanwhile, in Europe, his son Aleks orders his new Dynasty General to counter GDF forces within the Dynasty's territories in Eastern Europe. At the same time, GDF officer Colonel Fisher assigns a new GDF Commander to counter efforts by the Dynasty to hit their Tempest operations in Iceland, and later investigate their plans, leading to a major defense of a GDF position in Germany. During their operations, Domovoy secretly contacts the Dynasty General and reveals his concerns about the existence of a secret society called the Hawthorne Initiative. He believes the society knew about Tempest before it emerged in the wake of the nuclear war of the 1960s.

Eventually, the Council of Directors orders GDF forces, led by the GDF Commander, to take over the Dynasty's excavation site in Iraq and protect their team of archaeologists sent to investigate the site. Domovoy, learning of this, orders the Dynasty General to transport a nuclear warhead to the site and detonate it underground, stating it will invite an "enemy of humanity". The GDF manage to gather enough information before withdrawing, moments before the warhead detonates. In the wake of the blast, both sides witness the emergence of an alien force called the Veti, which indiscriminately attacks the GDF and Dynasty, spreading out quickly.

Scientists from both sides determine the Veti were responsible for the creation of the Tempest. They arrived on Earth ten thousand years ago, when they lost a war with humanity and have been in hibernation ever since. While the GDF mount attacks to counter the spread of the Veti, Domovoy uses the alien force to help eradicate members of the Hawthorne Initiative from the Dynasty's ranks and go into hiding. He orders a Veti temple in Italy be captured to secure its secrets. The GDF ultimately captures a Dynasty missile silo in Spain to uses it to fire an experimental anti-Tempest missile against the Veti's main headquarters. The missile disables or destroys Veti machinery worldwide, while leaves their infantry in a vegetative state.

In the aftermath of the conflict, Fisher commends the GDF Commander for their actions, though warns the Veti will likely return, while the Council privately contacts them with an offer. Meanwhile, Domovoy commends the Dynasty General for their efforts, hoping the data they stole from the Veti can help rebuild the Dynasty, though Aleks later privately contacts them to express distrust over his father's machinations in the shadows.

Development

Developer Slipgate Ironworks is based in Denmark.[13] THQ Nordic announced Tempest Rising in August 2022.[14] A playable demo of the game was released in the following year.[15]

Tempest Rising was announced to be released on April 24, 2025,[16] with advanced access for purchasers of the Deluxe Edition on April 17, 2025. However, due to a publishing error purchasers of the standard edition of the game also received access, and the following day the publishers retroactively declared April 17 the release day rather than correct the error.[6]

Reception

Tempest Rising received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[17]

The game was nominated for Best Sim/Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2025,[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ Allsop, Ken (2023-04-07). "Tempest Rising captures classic C&C vibes in full multiplayer match". https://www.pcgamesn.com/tempest-rising/multiplayer-command-and-conquer. 
  2. ↑ Sedin, Vadim (2023-04-24). "Интервью с ведущим геймдизайнером Брэндоном Кастилом: О разработке Tempest Rising, кризисе RTS и наследии Command & Conquer" (in ru-RU). https://gamemag.ru/specials/177646/tempesr-rising-interview-brandon-casteel. 
  3. ↑ Allsop, Ken (2023-10-01). "Command and Conquer spiritual successor signs one of C&C's top talents". https://www.pcgamesn.com/tempest-rising/frank-klepacki. 
  4. ↑ Bathge, Peter (11 August 2023). "Tempest Rising spielt sich wie ein jahrelang verschollenes Command & Conquer - probiert's selbst aus!" (in de-DE). https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/tempest-rising-demo-gameplay-preview,3398877,fazit.html. 
  5. ↑ Schreiber, Frederik [@Freschism] (2023-02-27). "We're using UE5". https://twitter.com/Freschism/status/1630139811020374016. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wagner, Justin (2025-04-18). "Tempest Rising accidentally launched a week early on Steam, and the publisher has decided to just go with it". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rts/it-looks-like-tempest-rising-accidentally-launched-early-on-steam-for-everyone-despite-withholding-advanced-access-as-a-deluxe-edition-pre-order-bonus/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Hornshaw, Phil (2023-10-01). "Tempest Rising Channels The Feel Of 1990s RTS Classics". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tempest-rising-channels-the-feel-of-1990s-rts-classics/1100-6506458/. 
  8. ↑ Romano, Sal (2024-11-21). "Tempest Rising to be published by Knights Peak". https://www.gematsu.com/2024/11/tempest-rising-to-be-published-by-knights-peak. 
  9. ↑ Bolding, Jonathan (2022-08-12). "Classic-style RTS Tempest Rising hits in 2023". https://www.pcgamer.com/classic-style-rts-tempest-rising-hits-in-2023/. 
  10. ↑ Griffeth, Trey (2022-08-13). "Tempest Rising RTS Revealed by THQ Nordic". https://gamerant.com/tempest-rising-rts-thq-nordic/. 
  11. ↑ Denzer, TJ (2022-08-12). "Tempest Rising is an upcoming sci-fi RTS from 3D Realms & Slipgate Ironworks". https://www.shacknews.com/article/131831/tempest-rising-reveal-thq-nordic-3d-realms-slipgate-ironworks. 
  12. ↑ Schreiber, Frederik [@Freschism] (15 August 2022). "The story in Tempest Rising takes place in 1997 (over 100 years before Ion Fury)." [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Slipgate Ironworks". https://www.slipgate-ironworks.com/. 
  14. ↑ Robertson, Joshua (2022-08-12). "Tempest Rising Is A New Command & Conquer-Esque RTS, Coming In 2023". https://www.thegamer.com/tempest-rising-command-conquer-esque-rts-coming-2023/. 
  15. ↑ Castle, Katharine (2023-08-11). "Relive your Command & Conquer glory days with the free demo for Tempest Rising". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/relive-your-command-conquer-glory-days-with-the-free-demo-for-tempest-rising. 
  16. ↑ Bolding, Jonathan (2024-12-05). "Tempest Rising is a modern take on Command & Conquer you probably know you want". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/tempest-rising-is-a-modern-take-on-command-and-conquer-you-probably-know-you-want/. 
  17. ↑ "Tempest Rising PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/tempest-rising/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  18. ↑ Woods, Sam (2025-11-17). "The Game Awards 2025 Nominations Have Been Revealed, And You Can Find Them All Here" (in en). https://www.thegamer.com/the-game-awards-all-categories-and-nominations/. 
  19. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (Dec 11, 2025). "The Game Awards 2025 Winners List" (in en). Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. https://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/game-awards-winners-2025-list-1236606885/. Retrieved February 4, 2026. 



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