One of the oldest traditions of real-time strategy games is the ability for players to choose between a few different factions that have unique units and gameplay mechanics. This creates variation in the kinds of matchups players will face and can keep the game from getting repetitive. While the 2025 title, Tempest Rising, already had a few factions to work with, players were never able to play as the antagonistic Veti until they were revealed in the new announcement.
The new trailer announcing the new faction begins by reintroducing players to the western and eastern factions that had been fighting over the Tempest, the central resource of the game, in the previous campaign. This lead directly into the surfacing of the Veti, alien beings with advance technology come to reclaim the Earth and end the war between the two factions. The Steam page for the update reveals that the new faction will have the ability to use fallen soldiers as sacrifices for the more powerful machines and soldiers of the Veti. They’re faction will also prioritize base layout, as their Ascension Anchors will be able to provide bonuses to nearby buildings in a radius.
In addition to the new faction for multiplayer available for all players, a paid DLC will also be coming to the game that will end the story of Tempest Rising from the perspective of the Veti. Players will fight across an 11-mission campaign in order to unite the fractured Veti forces and reclaim their lost territory from the human enemies. All the while, the looming threat of K’uhul the Immutable, an ancient Veti threat, looms in the back of the soldier’s minds.
As Tempest Rising was inspired by classic RTS games, it is no surprise that the completed game following the update will feature the standard three competing factions. While the update and the DLC have no release date at present, there is a demo available to allow players to get an idea of the new forces play.