That’s the driving idea behind new approach to real time strategy (RTS) games from Uncapped Games, a newer studio formed in 2021. It just announced itself just this week with a documentary by Danny O’Dwyer from Noclip. The studio’s new approach is meant to make these games more accessible with focus on specific strategic decision making instead of memorizing build order or executing a specific sequence of events.
Based on their roster, if anyone could achieve such a shift, Uncapped Games seems primed to do so. With industry veterans from Blizzard, Relic, and Blackbird, and a creative team headed by David Kim, of StarCraft 2 multiplayer design fame, it seems the odds are in their favor. Lincoln Carpenter of PC Gamer had the chance to sit down with Kim while attending a preview event in March. Carpenter also said that having gotten to play the game for two days, he thinks there might be some merit to these claims.
David Kim wants to create a game that’s fun to play, which is something that he’s wanted from a RTS since his work on StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Speaking further about his experience with the game, Kim has said: It’s one of my favorite games of all time, but I often wonder, like, is this really a real-time strategy game, or is it more like real-time execution?” Kim and his team are looking to move in a different direction for this new game that focuses on accessibility and strategic decision making moment to moment. To anyone who hears that and is worried that they might end up not playing an RTS game when it drops, worry not. Kim is aware of the core rules of the genre and is committed to making an RTS game, just with some adjustments. If that news is exciting then keep an eye out for more information later this year. Uncapped Games new RTS game is set to be announced on Friday June 7th at Summer Game Fest.