Exciting news dropped during the recent Xbox Developer Direct, as we received more insight into the upcoming grand strategy game, Ara: History Untold. With an expected launch in Fall 2024, the game is being developed by Oxide Games, which includes veterans from the renowned Civilization series. The developers shared new details about the game mechanics, including a simultaneous turn system designed to reduce downtime between turns and a dynamic "living world" that evolves according to player decisions. The highlighted Prestige System will allow users to demonstrate their leadership skills in various ways. Based on community feedback, the game will feature less aggressive wildlife and post-launch support through Oxide's Insider program for continuous improvement.

Ara: History Untold promises a unique take on the strategy genre and builds upon Oxide Games' experience with their previous title, Ashes of the Singularity. Differing from Xbox's real-time strategy game Age of Empires, Ara is turn-based, providing a fresh angle for grand strategy enthusiasts. Oxide is once again leveraging its Nitrous Engine, which powered the solidly received Ashes of the Singularity back in 2016.

What new features can players expect in Ara: History Untold?

Players can look forward to the simultaneous turn system, a procedurally generated living world, and the Prestige System to gauge their success as a leader. The game will also take player feedback into account, making wildlife less aggressive and including an Insider program for ongoing development post-launch.

Ara: History Untold has the gaming community eagerly waiting to construct and manage societies. It sits in the same genre space as the widely acclaimed Civilization series while promising to challenge and innovate within the genre. As the game hails from developers with an impressive pedigree in strategy gaming, fans have high expectations. Ashes of the Singularity, Oxide's previous title, showed their ability to create engaging strategic gameplay, albeit in a different subgenre. As the release window approaches, strategy game aficionados will keep a keen eye on this title that aims to redefine the boundaries of turn-based grand strategy gaming.