14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most exciting strategy titles of 2016 is Stellaris from Paradox Development Studio, which aims to take the mechanics of grand strategy to science fiction settings, and the team working on the video game has big plans for the multiplayer side of the game.
On the official forums, the company explains that 32 gamers can take part in multiplayer matches featuring their own designed empires which can be complemented by randomized empires controlled by the Artificial Intelligence of the experience.
Hot joining is featured in Stellaris, with those who step away from the action for a limited period allowing the AI to take over their faction and guide it until the human is ready to take the reins again.
Paradox adds, "Thanks to persistent testing and fixing of out-of-syncs as soon as they happen, we’ve managed to make Stellaris our most stable multiplayer experience yet, allowing us to run stable multiplayer with up to and probably more than 32 players. We test our multiplayer stability weekly by playing multiplayer with our betas and the developers on the project, and it’s loads of fun."
According to the team, Stellaris will feature relationship values that affect how empires interact with each other when they are controlled by the AI but that have no effect on the options human players have when they are in charge.
The game will also feature randomized and symmetrical starts for all gamers to add competitive elements to the experience, and a new mechanics means players remain anonymous until communications are established between their empires.
Paradox has long sought to generate more interest in the multiplayer side of its grand strategy titles, which can create impressive AARs and interactions between players but also require a commitment on their part.
More details about the Artificial Intelligence to be featured in Stellaris will be offered next week.
The game will feature complex diplomacy and tech progression
Paradox has a long history of creating interesting and immersive strategy titles with their roots in history and the shift to science fiction opens up new options for the studio, like a research system that does not guarantee the same progression for all campaigns.
There are also plans to make management for the interstellar empires of the title as easy as possible and to introduce a wide range of options when it comes to interaction with other factions and special characters.
The game has federations and alliances that will allow each player to join with others who have the same enemies or seek to reach the same in-game goals.
Stellaris will feature a dedicated ship building system and combat that will not be under the direct control of the player but will be influenced by his earlier choices.
Stellaris will be offered on the PC but at the moment Paradox has not offered any details about a launch window.
This year the team also plans to launch the World War II focused Hearts of Iron IV while also offering new content for Crusader Kings II and for Europa Universalis IV.