Ashes of the Singularity II News

[p]Ashes of the Singularity II is a game that supports thousands of individual soldiers and combat vehicles, each with their own local decision making. So, when I order some units to go somewhere how does that happen?[/p][p]First off, check out our Dev Journal on Armies for a bit of information on that system. Pathfinding starts with Armies, which are composed of Units. Each Unit isn’t necessarily a single vehicle or solider, it’s a small ‘squad’. The individuals within each Unit are called Elements. Elements represent the individuals that do the fighting, take the hits, etc. Units are organized within an Army according to create a desired formation, so you can issue an order to just the Army and it can pass it down to the Units and then the Units pass it down to the individual Elements.[/p][p]A navigation graph in games is a map of all possible movement paths for gameplay entities, in our case Armies, Units, and Elements. It breaks the world into connected points or cells, showing where movement is allowed and how different areas link together. In Ashes 2, even a Small map contains around 150,000 of these cells.[/p][p][/p][p]A Simple Visualization of Map Cell Density, Showing Some Passable and Impassable Cells[/p][p][/p][p]To move through this graph, the game uses the A* algorithm, which acts like a smart guide to find the quickest route. A* looks at how far an entity has already traveled and makes a good guess about how much farther they still need to go. By combining those two pieces of information, it compares different routes and chooses the one that seems most efficient. Step by step, this process continues until the destination is reached, ensuring they avoid dead ends and unnecessary detours while moving naturally through the world.[/p][p]When an Army receives a move order, it uses the A* algorithm to calculate the most efficient path on the navigation graph to its destination. This path is then cleaned up straightening out some wiggly parts and removing extraneous points. Once the path is determined, the Army establishes the new formation it will adopt upon arrival. The destination formation points are then passed down to the Units, which they use for their part of the pathfinding. The Army then starts moving along the path.[/p][p][/p][p]The Army Path, Visualized in Large Green Arrows. The Unit Goals, Visualized as Small Green Circles. Individual Element Goals, as the White and Red Lines.
[/p][p]Each of the Units of the Army then tries to see if it can go straight to their destination without hitting some bad terrain. If so, they are done. This is always the case for flying Units. If they can’t, they have A* compute a path to the destination. In either case, they start moving along their individual paths.[/p][p]While moving, they continuously update the squad formation around the current position of the Unit. These formation positions are used as local goals for each of the Elements of the Unit. Think of it like the carrot on the stick for the Element.[/p][p][/p][p]A Separated Unit and Its Elements Pathing Back to the Army to Rejoin the Formation[/p][p]
Elements constantly update their movement, making decisions multiple times each second. In choosing where to go next, they weigh a range of factors: the goal assigned by their Unit, nearby obstacles to avoid, other Elements they may want to steer clear of or engage with, and opportunities to reach firing positions that maximize their weapon effectiveness. When possible, they simply move directly to their target, which is often the case since the distances involved are usually very short. It should come as no surprise that if they can’t they will use A* to find a way there.[/p][p]A lot of optimization goes into a game like Ashes of the Singularity II, in order to keep the pathing costs manageable for literally hundreds of individual elements at a time. But in the end, it is this work that allows the game to feature robust and responsive movement of large-scale armies across vast maps, while keeping the performance something that older machines, and portable PCs, can run.[/p]

[p]In Ashes of the Singularity, both 1 and 2, weapons are a bit of their own unique gameplay component. Units aren’t limited to just a single weapon; they can actually have any number of weapons, and each weapon can define its own firing properties, gameplay effects, etc. While for practical purposes, most units often have only one primary weapon (which suits their combat role), a number of units in Ashes 2 will have multiple weapons, each capable of independent targeting and firing solutions.[/p][p][/p][p]Tank primary weapons face forward while their secondary weapons face backwards
[/p][p]Most weapons in Ashes 2 are mounted on Turrets. If you’re familiar with a tank turret, you probably get the idea. Turrets aren’t just for visuals, however; they have defined rotation rates, maximum pitch and yaw thresholds, etc. Turrets have to rotate to a valid firing solution before they can fire on a target, and while we keep rotation speeds high to give a responsive feel, it can still cost you a few seconds if a hostile approaches from behind and your turrets have to rotate before returning fire.[/p][p]If a target is too far above, or too far below the turret’s pitch threshold, the weapon won’t be able to fire upon it. Certain weapons need pretty generous pitch thresholds, such as anti-aircraft weaponry, but many weapons are a bit limited and will require the unit to reposition itself into a ‘better’ location when it has to fire up or down extreme angles. This also means that map topography matters! You can put your tanks in a position that, while they may have an eagle-eye view of a hostile target, they can’t actually depress their weapons far enough to fire at them.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Tanks will need to crest the hill to hit targets far below[/p][p][/p][p]New to Ashes 2 is actually the ability to have “turrets on turrets”. This means that we can have nested turrets on a vehicle, such as the UEF’s primary tank unit. It has a classic tank cannon on it, but it also sports a secondary machinegun on its own turret, which sits on top of the cannon turret. With a little bit of work we’ve also managed to use this system to support ‘torso twisting’ on mechs, which are sort of weapon-less turrets. Now we can have a mech with a torso that can rotate to face a target, while the mech's arms are each independent weapons, capable of their own targeting as well! The UEF’s heavy mech currently has two radically different arm weapons, and it can fire those at completely different targets, rotating to use different firing solutions.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Artillery units have a large turret traversal, enabling them to fire over steep elevation and indirectly at radar signatures
[/p][p]There are going to be a lot of great weapons in Ashes of the Singularity II, with each of the three factions sporting their own unique arsenals. We’ll have lasers, plasma launchers, missiles, and more explosions than you can shake a stick at. We’ll be unveiling more of our arsenal as we introduce each new faction, so stay tuned for details on the deadly technology powering the PHC and Substrate.[/p]

[p]Get a first look at Ashes of the Singularity II, the sequel to the massive-scale RTS, with the team![/p][p][/p][h3]📅 Tuesday, December 16th at 11:00 AM EST[/h3][h3]📍Location: Ashes of the Singularity II Steam Page[/h3][p][/p][p]In this massive RTS game, command vast armies fighting for control of entire worlds. Control the forces of Earth, the mechanical AI Substrate, or the enigmatic Post-Human Coalition as you battle across the solar system in single player, cooperative multiplayer, or competitive multiplayer.[/p]

[h2]Check out the first gameplay trailer for Ashes of the Singularity II[/h2][h3]Command vast armies fighting for control of entire worlds in this massive-scale RTS game[/h3][p]Add to your Steam wishlist now[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The first gameplay trailer for Ashes of the Singularity II is now live, offering a closer look at the game’s current visuals and gameplay mechanics that fans have been eager to see. This trailer provides a first look into the strategic depth and immersive experience that the sequel promises to deliver.[/p][p][/p][p]In conjunction with the trailer release, we’ve also published our first set of FAQs. These address common questions about gameplay mechanics, story elements, and system requirements, providing players with essential information as they prepare for the game’s launch.[/p][p][/p][p]For further insights, be sure to check out PC Gamer's article, which delves into key features and offers their perspective on what to expect from Ashes of the Singularity II.[/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to share information leading up to the release.[/p]

[p][/p][p]As Ashes of the Singularity II continues to evolve, we’ve gathered the most common questions from across the community into one easy place. Whether you’re curious about new mechanics, returning factions, or what sets this sequel apart, this FAQ will help you get up to speed. As development progresses, we will continue to add questions and update answers.[/p][p][/p][h2]General[/h2][hr][/hr][h3]Q: Do I need to have played the first game to enjoy the new, and if so, is there a recap of the first game?[/h3][p]A: You don’t need to have played the first game to enjoy Ashes II. The story is told from a different point of view this time, and the game naturally introduces the core ideas of the Ashes universe as you play. You’ll learn who the PHC, UEF, Haalee, and the Substrate are just by going through the campaign.[/p][p]Ashes II is built to be fun for both brand-new players and returning veterans. There are a lot of new mechanics, but the campaign is designed to ease you into them, and we’ve worked hard to make sure they’re quick to pick up and start having fun with.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will all units be returning? If not, which won’t and why?[/h3][p]A: Not every unit from Ashes I is coming back. Ashes II features a brand-new roster, with the United Earth Forces being an entirely new faction with new units, and the PHC and Substrate having a mix of a few returning favorites and fresh units that replace older ones.[/p][p]We’re still finalizing each faction’s lineup and filling in gaps as we playtest, so we’re not ready to reveal full rosters just yet. But you will spot a few familiar units alongside plenty of new toys to experiment with.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will the game have new units, and if so, how many?[/h3][p]A: Ashes II has lots of new units. Since the game features far more ground-based troops than Ashes I, we couldn’t just reuse the old hovercraft designs. You’ll see plenty of new tanks, mechs, and other ground units across the factions.[/p][p]We’ll be revealing many of these units over the coming months, so there’s a lot to look forward to.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will there be a comprehensive tutorial?[/h3][p]A: Ashes II includes a tutorial that’s woven right into the campaign. As you play, new mechanics and systems are introduced naturally, so you’ll pick things up step by step without needing a separate training mode.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Is there a campaign and what is its scope?[/h3][p]A: Yes, Ashes II initial campaign will be told from the point of view of the newest faction, the United Earth Forces, and will not only ease players into the gameplay mechanics but bring the conflict home to Earth and other locations in our solar system that mankind is fighting to reclaim![/p][p][/p][h3]Q: How welcoming is this title to new players of Ashes?[/h3][p]A: We’re hoping to make the overall game very accessible, with lots of UX updates and affordances to make the fun and more accessible without diminishing the depth. We aren’t making anything close to a ‘casual’ strategy title, but we’re focusing a lot of attention on making these big, sprawling battles as enjoyable as possible. There are a lot of new interface and control features to make fighting on our huge maps, with vast armies, really fun.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Can this game be played offline?[/h3][p]A: Ashes II will support full offline play in both the campaign and in skirmish against AI bots. Whether you are teaming up with AI in team vs team or if you want to play massive free-for-alls against numerous AI opponents completely offline, you can.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Does the game have any Co-Op modes or features?[/h3][p]A: You can team up with friends to play online co-op against AI opponents. We’re looking into some additional, new co-op focused modes, but have not made any formal announcements about what will be included at launch.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will you be able to fill online multiplayer slots with bots/AI?[/h3][p]A: Yes. You can play purely human-player games, or mixed human-player and AI-player games.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: What differentiates Ashes II from other RTS games?[/h3][p]A: Scale and Accessibility. Ashes II is not the only RTS to focus on massive maps and vast numbers of units, but we’re putting a major focus on minimizing micromanagement and maximizing strategy. Ashes II has a much larger focus on the push-and-pull across the frontline, moving production buildings to key locations, and timing key strikes into your opponent's regions. You can even set your armies to replenish their units automatically and rally them to wherever the army is, eliminating the need to constantly build-and-rally new units. Our accessibility improvements remove a lot of the humdrum activities in many RTSs and free you to focus on enjoying the massive scale and strategy.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]Q: What is the max number of players supported by multiplayer?[/h3][p]A: Ashes II will have a player max of 8 players on release.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: How many maps will be available on launch and what will the variety look like?[/h3][p]A: We are supporting procedural map generation (AKA random maps) for both offline skirmish and online multiplayer. We do expect to include some prebuilt maps for release that are balanced, providing a more known factor in competitive play, but where the game really shines is its ability to procedurally generate maps, encouraging more exploration as part of the gameplay.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will Ashes II have a map editor?[/h3][p]A: Yes. Hoped for at launch but may not be fully featured until after initial release (part of a free update), allowing you to make new heightmap seeds for map generation that you can share.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will all the orbital abilities from the first game make a comeback in the second game ?[/h3][p]A: Orbital rosters, like unit rosters, are different in Ashes II. Some familiar faces will return, but many new faces will appear as well.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: The new earth based faction has ground infantry, will other factions be receiving their own infantry counterpart? [/h3][p]A: Not exactly. The PHC's units are generally more expensive and powerful than other factions, so they won't throw bodies at a problem in the fashion the Earth forces will. The Substrate do have more access to 'Drone Swarms', but drones are more like autonomous projectiles than individual units. The style of each faction's 'cannon fodder' unit is not symmetric, and that's intentional, as it immediately gives each faction a slightly different flavor.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: What does Unit Pathfinding look like in Ashes II? Has it improved?[/h3][p]A: Pathfinding is a highly customized solution for Ashes II. We have several tiers of pathfinding at the army, unit, and element level. Each one actually does pathfinding using slightly different algorithms, for optimization purposes. We hope to do a dev diary on this at a later date, as it’s a unique solution to the vast scale problems in Ashes II.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]Q: What does Modding of Ashes II look like compared to Ashes I?[/h3][p]A: We’re aiming for Ashes II to be far more moddable than the first game. The engine supports deep customization through our data/scripting, including UI tweaks, AI behavior, and a lot more.[/p][p]That said, we’re still deciding how much of that modding support will be available directly in-game at launch. As we get closer to release, we’ll have a better idea of what tools and features will be ready on day one or shortly after launch as part of a free update.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: How does the new game engine compare to the previous one?[/h3][p]A: The engine is far more advanced, as we've rolled all the tech we worked on with Ara: History Untold into Ashes of the Singularity II. This is what has allowed us to procedurally generate maps, as well as take advantage of numerous other tool and graphical enhancements.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Ashes I was well known for its benchmarks. Will Ashes II also include a similar benchmarking tools?[/h3][p]A: Yes, though Ashes II is focused on gameplay first, we are planning to support a new benchmark for launch.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Will the game use a deterministic simulation? If not, what's the approach to mitigate the teleporting units/army problem that happens often in Ashes I?[/h3][p]A: Yes, Ashes II uses a deterministic simulation. That means the “teleporting units” issue from Ashes I should not be a problem this time around.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: The inclusion of controller support to an RTS game like Ashes II is making a lot of players nervous. How are you making sure that mouse and keyboard is fully supported with all the expected RTS control schemes we've grown to love throughout the years?[/h3][p]A: No need to be nervous. PC/Keyboard has its own UX and it’s where we primarily playtest the game. Hotkeys, drag-select, and other inputs are already in-game and work on PC are present (EX: saving hotkey groups). Our desire to support gamepad controllers is to allow Ashes II to be played on portable PCs, like the Steamdeck. But we’re not making a console-focused game; this is still a PC RTS at its core.[/p][p][/p][h3]Q: Is Multiplayer Peer-to-Peer or Server-Based?[/h3][p]A: The game supports Peer-to-Peer networking, which is why from a quality of play standpoint we are limited the number of players to 8 at launch. The potential for server-based larger battles is something we would love to support in the future if there is demand.[/p]