Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is an upcoming real-time strategy game that aims to capture the epic scale, intensity, and grandeur of the legendary Supreme Commander series. Developed by a small independent studio composed of veteran RTS developers, this ambitious passion project hopes to recapture the magic of those revered classics while bringing new innovations to the RTS genre.
Early previews show enormous promise, with Sanctuary taking the key elements of Supreme Commander’s exhilarating strategic gameplay and evolving them into something fresh and modern. If the final product lives up to expectations, it could be the next evolution of large-scale RTS games. Let’s explore what sets Sanctuary apart.
A Planet-Sized Battlefield
The setting of Sanctuary is a mind-bogglingly massive Dyson Sphere megastructure built by humanity to harness the power of an entire star. This immense globe-enclosing construct allows for unparalleled scale, with battlefields spanning dozens of kilometres across the sphere's artificial surface.
To put this in perspective, maps in Supreme Commander could reach up to 81 square kilometres. Sanctuary’s scale means that even maps of half this size will offer the same gameplay experience. Smaller units will make the same size map appear twice as huge. Players will be able to zoom from an intimate view of individual units to a god-like view of the entire battlefield.The battlefield will offer distinct strategic considerations for players. Seas can be frozen allowing tanks to drive over and attack previously inaccessible sections of the map. Bridges will span chasms and can be destroyed to prevent their use. Gargantuan game-changing weapons will deform the environment, blocking chokepoints and forcing players to adapt their tactics on the fly.
The sphere is home to over a trillion human lives, divided into various factions vying for control. Tensions between the enhanced post-humanoid Chosen, the disenfranchised masses of the Earth Defence Alliance, and the sphere’s own robotic Guard have erupted into all-out war. Their struggle for dominance takes place across Sanctuary’s mix of high-tech cities, idyllic nature preserves, and war-ravaged wastelands.
This vast and visually varied battlefield meshes well with Sanctuary’s theme of civilization-spanning warfare. Battles will have fronts spanning multiple biomes, testing a player’s ability to adapt strategies and supply chains across vast distances. Manoeuvring between different terrain types will add further complexity.
Three Unique Factions
In the world of Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, you have the option to align with one of three factions vying for control over the Dyson Sphere: the EDA, the Chosen, or the Guard. Each faction employs unique strategies, weaponry, and forces, all united by a common objective – to emerge as the ultimate power within the solar system:
The Earth Defence Alliance is a coalition prioritizing humanity's interests, committed to safeguarding the rights and autonomy of its populace. Emerging in response to enduring corruption, economic disparity, and the imperative for unity, the EDA emerged as the predominant governing force, vehemently countering the Chosen faction. While some view them as domineering zealots, others regard them as humanity's sole beacon of hope.The EDA prioritizes efficiency over ornate strategies employed by their adversaries. Leveraging vast human populations and abundant resources, their mobilization might be gradual, yet it commands formidable power. Embracing a doctrine of swift and overwhelming impact, anticipate the EDA to obliterate opposition using an array of devastating weaponry, their ruthlessness matched only by their dependability. However, necessity fuels innovation, leading many of their top Sentinels to master guerrilla tactics, skilfully merging stealth technology and robust armour to deliver unexpected blows where adversaries are least prepared.
The Chosen are a society of Post-Humans who have transcended their physical forms to inhabit machines. Perceiving themselves as the next phase in Human evolution, their heightened intellect is harmonized with an impeccable aesthetic sensibility. From the vastness of their super-computer networks, the Chosen orchestrates warfare, leading legions of elegant yet lethal robotic forces.The Chosen stands as the pinnacle of technological advancement among the three factions, harnessing streamlined designs and personal shielding to swiftly approach and annihilate adversaries with an exotic arsenal of energy weaponry. While their war apparatus boasts specialisation, it also demands substantial investment. A commitment to excellence over sheer quantity necessitates the astute management of fewer units for heightened impact. Within each Sentinel resides the consciousness of an individual from the Chosen; its obliteration equates to the demise of that consciousness. Given their limited numbers, safeguarding these unparalleled field commanders becomes of paramount importance.
The Guard are the custodians of Sanctuary, once its architects, now its sentinels. Their warfare is driven by a singular objective: to quell the rival factions and safeguard the Dyson sphere from further harm. Remodelled and fortified, the Guard stand as an unfeeling and strategic mechanized force, resolute in their determination to preserve their creation through any means necessary.Unrivalled in their knowledge of Sanctuary, the Guard possess unparalleled intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, enabling them to meticulously select the optimal time and place to engage their adversaries. While lacking the intricate designs seen in EDA military technology or the advanced shielding employed by the Chosen, the Guard predominantly rely on vast numbers of near-disposable drone vehicles, supplemented by a smaller contingent of unorthodox specialized units and potent Experimental assets. The most proficient Guard Sentinels adeptly maintain ceaseless pressure on their foes, biding their time until their opponents weaken, ultimately delivering the decisive, concluding strike.
Simulation-Driven Large Scale Combat
Unlike many RTS games where combat is resolved abstractly with hit point mechanics, Sanctuary features real-time ballistic and beam weapon simulations. Projectiles visibly fly across the battlefield and can be dodged. Direct hits matter more than just steadily depleting hit points. This gives battles a more immersive and authentic feel.The developers promise this will lead to chaotic and intense clashes as thousands of projectiles crisscross the battlefield. Expert players will need to master movement and positioning to avoid devastating barrages. Individual unit survivability will rely heavily on properly using cover and line of sight, allowing for ambushes and flanking manoeuvres during the heat of battle.
When combined with thousands of units engaged in war across fronts separated by kilometres, players will need to keep a vigilant eye on multiple skirmishes happening across the sphere. Victory goes to those who can best manage their forces across a truly grand scale.
Strategic Scale Meets Tactical Gameplay
Players will be able to field armies of up to 10000 units on ground, air, and naval* theatres. For perspective, even at 200-unit armies, the scope of the epic clashes goes beyond what you see in most games. Units range from hulking experimental war machines to swarms of agile fighters. The game is designed around controlling such huge armies, with UI and controls optimized for commanding groups of units.
At the same time, individual units have their own unique attributes and abilities. Managing these tactical factors across a grand strategic battlefield presents a novel twist on traditional RTS gameplay. Do you mass an unstoppable army of brute force? Or use a specialized strike team for surgical precision strikes? Sanctuary’s scale allows for many creative paths to victory.
The developers have also emphasized smarter unit AI that requires less micromanagement compared to older RTS games. Your troops will manoeuvre and follow orders more intelligently, allowing you to focus on high-level strategy. But direct control is still crucial for utilizing each unit’s potential to the fullest. Finding the right balance of command and control presents yet another strategic choice.
Economy Drives Decision Making
An flow-based economic system aims to provide strategic depth beyond just base building and unit queues. Players must juggle income and expenses in real-time, with no arbitrary resource caps. Going all out for a quick massive army could leave you bankrupt and defenceless against a patient, fortified foe playing the long game. Intelligent expansion and investment will be required for victory.
The economy reacts dynamically to decisions, so no two matches will play out the same. For example, rapid investment in infrastructure could kick off an economic boom. Or reckless spending could trigger a recession making unit production tank. This system will test a player's flexibility in responding to an ever-changing battlefield. Economic choices will be just as important as unit tactics.
Between managing economies, battles, resource networks, and production across a planet-sized battlefield, Sanctuary will challenge players with the ultimate RTS juggle. Do you have the multitasking skills and strategic thinking to emerge victorious in such a grand undertaking? Sanctuary aims to find out.
Story-Driven Single Player Campaign*
For those who enjoy their RTS with an engaging campaign and storyline, Sanctuary aims to deliver. The initial release will ship with a robust story-focused single player mode to go alongside its multiplayer. Players can experience the intricate fiction of the Dyson Sphere through immersive missions unlocked in branching paths.The developers promise an epic tale filled with plot twists, tense diplomacy, grand battles, and colourful characters. Co-op support will also allow playing through the campaign cooperatively with friends, letting you conquer Sanctuary together.
The campaign aims to showcase the diverse abilities of the sphere's factions. Certain missions will let you take command of the Chosen, EDA, or Guard to highlight their contrasting strengths and playstyles. Deeper story content will also unveil more of the sphere’s hidden secrets and centuries-long history that led to open war.
Ambitious Post-Launch Plans
While the initial release promises hundreds of hours of RTS content, the dev team has even more ambitious plans post-launch. Their commitment shows this is a true passion project that aims to build the next great RTS franchise.
Planned features include multi-player seasons, ranked 1v1 ladders, team games, tournaments with prize pools, regular balance adjustments based on community feedback, and years of ongoing refinement and improvements.
The team wants to support Sanctuary so that keeps it evolving and expanding for the foreseeable future. There will be mod and map support allowing the game community to continuously add new content such as maps, factions, campaigns, and modes in response to what the player base enjoys most. This would provide near endless replayability and help Sanctuary’s multiplayer thrive for years past launch.
Overall the team seems laser focused on releasing not just a great RTS, but also on post-launch support to keep it a thriving destination for RTS players. If they can fulfil this vision, Sanctuary could become the next long-term staple and social hub for the RTS community.
Built From a Legacy of Classics
Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is the creation of a small but talented development team composed of veteran RTS designers and modders who were directly inspired by playing Supreme Commander, Total Annihilation, and other iconic strategy titles. They set out to capture the best aspects of these beloved games while modernizing the genre with Sanctuary’s fresh features and innovations.
Several developers’ work has been heavily inspired by Total Annihilation which was released back in 1997. Their experience with one of the first 3D large-scale RTS games equipped them well to now push boundaries even further with Sanctuary. The team and developers have been in fact endorsed and complimented directly by Chris Taylor, the legendary RTS visionary behind Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander. This makes the team uniquely suited to building the spiritual successor that Sanctuary aims to be.Make no mistake though, Sanctuary is not just imitating past games, but rather using their legacy as a foundation to build something new. This is not a sequel or remaster, but instead an evolution that takes the greatest aspects of its influencers and transforms them into a truly modern RTS perfectly suited to current gaming landscape.
With a jaw-dropping spherical world, unique gameplay mechanics, and revamped economics, Sanctuary is shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind strategy experience. Its shattered factions await your guidance. Which will you lead to victory? Keep an eye on this ambitious and promising game as it marches towards launch and carves out its own place in RTS history. The next evolution of the genre could soon be here.
System Requirements (TBC)
| MINIMUM: | RECOMMENDED: |
| Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system | Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system |
| OS: Windows 10 64Bit | OS: Windows 11 64Bit |
| Processor: 4-core 3Ghz | Processor: 8-core 3Ghz |
| Memory: 12 GB RAM | Memory: 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics: GTX 1050TI | Graphics: GTX 1080 |
| Storage: 25 GB available space | Storage: 25 GB available space |
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*dependent upon a successful Kickstarter campaign – coming soon.
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