Struggling sci-fi strategy from Warcraft and StarCraft veterans finally gets what its title promised players back at launch

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If asked about what was missing in Frost Giant studio’s RTS game, many Stormgate players would quickly respond: more “Stormgates” in the game. Luckily, the developers listened and are now incorporating these essential elements into their title, resulting in the addition of actual stormgates to the game, titled Stormgate.

As a gamer, I’ve just learned about these intriguing game elements called Stormgates. In a recent post on Steam, they’re described as portals that pop up on the battlefield due to a massive energy buildup during a storm. If a player can navigate through and open them in combat, they’ll be rewarded with one of three random goodies! Exciting times ahead for sure!

Initially, one gate provides a basic level 1 reward, while subsequent gates offer progressively superior rewards that significantly influence the outcome of the game. Some examples of these rewards are potent combat units, the ability to clone a unit only once, or a storm that wipes out everything in its path.

Developers describe Stormgates as not just a fresh addition, but rather a transformation in the intended experience for one-versus-one (1v1) matches, and eventually all game modes. They aim to make 1v1 games more exhilarating and gratifying, while also introducing an element of unpredictability that’s enjoyable. Instead of focusing on gradually dominating your opponent with a four-base advantage, the emphasis shifts towards critical moments, comebacks, and strategic choices – making each match more thrilling and engaging.

Apart from the main updates, the Frost Giant studio has considered additional community suggestions as well. One of the most recurring feedback was about the Creep camps. Players found the monsters guarding powerful items too tough to defeat, making the attack not worth the effort. In response, the developers decided – these camps will be eliminated from three ranked maps, but they can still be found in custom games.

It remains to be seen if these modifications will revitalize the gaming experience of Stormgate, given its underwhelming performance thus far. Launched by veterans from Blizzard Entertainment and released in early access last year, the game has struggled to attract a substantial player base and positive reviews. As per Steam’s database, the concurrent peak player count in recent days has stayed below 65 individuals. Furthermore, on Valve’s platform, only about half of the reviews are favorable, leading to a “mixed” rating for this RTS title.

It remains to be seen whether the Stormgates will amount to anything beyond being simply an addition; however, it’s indisputable that this mechanism could either make or break the future of the project.

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2025-06-23 13:03