Ashes of the Singularity II Announced for 2026, Bringing Humans to the Frontlines in Massive-Scale RTS Warfare

A decade after redefining large-scale RTS gameplay with Ashes of the Singularity, developer Oxide Games and publisher Stardock Entertainment have officially announced the long-awaited sequel, Ashes of the Singularity II. The game is scheduled for release sometime in 2026, marking a return to the sprawling real-time strategy battlefield that originally set performance benchmarks and tested the limits of DirectX 12 gaming. The announcement came with a cinematic reveal trailer, offering a brief look into the futuristic setting of the sequel.

While gameplay was absent from the initial footage, the press release promises a leap forward in both scale and strategic depth. Ashes of the Singularity II picks up the war-torn narrative of its predecessor, focusing on humanity’s desperate struggle against hyper-intelligent AI forces that have already conquered most of Earth.

“Ten years ago, we set a new, literal benchmark for RTS games with massive battles and groundbreaking technology,” said Stardock CEO Brad Wardell. “With Ashes of the Singularity II, we're raising the bar even higher, delivering strategic gameplay depth that RTS fans have always dreamed of.”

One of the most requested features from the first title was the inclusion of a full human faction something that was technically infeasible during the original’s development. Stardock confirms that Ashes II will finally allow players to command human forces alongside the robotic armies of the Post-Human Coalition (PHC) and the enigmatic Substrate, bringing organic military units into the fold for the first time.

“Back then, we just couldn’t support having thousands of organic, walking, squishy people in the world and had to design in favor of machines,” Wardell added. “We’re really excited to bring the humans into the war and watch how they fare.”

With the introduction of human factions, fans can expect a radically different approach to unit design, tactics, and possibly new tech trees and AI behaviors. Although the game still has no confirmed gameplay footage or system specs, more details are expected in the coming months as development progresses toward the 2026 launch window.

Are you excited to see humanity finally enter the battlefield in Ashes of the Singularity II? What features would you want to see improved or added in the sequel?