RTS Tempest Rising expanding with new faction

A third faction is joining the alternate history of 3D Realms’ Tempest Rising, with the ancient and mysterious Veti.

Tempest Rising once again

First released onto Early Access on the PC, before its full arrival in 2025, real-time strategy title Tempest Rising aims to be a throwback to the glory days of the genre. The title hails from developer Slipgate Ironworks, Saber Interactive’s 3D Realms publishing label, and Knights Peak, and presents a pretty cool alternative history.

That begins in the 60s, with the Cuban Missile Crisis. We’re sure you can see where that’s heading, but yes, it goes nuclear in this timeline. Obviously, that changes the face of the world, and in a few ways too. Fast-forwarding a few decades, it’s in a very different 1997 that Tempest Rising picks up its action.

The game in question offered the campaign that you just read about, as well as multiplayer and skirmish modes. As you can see, it also had a cool retro(ish) vibe to it, as it served up many conventions of the genre’s legacy. There was quite a bit of action, yes, but also some base-building. Given the genre as it stands in the modern age, the latter is not a given.

When it launched however, it did so with a pair of factions to field. Those were the Global Defense Forces and the Tempest Dynasty, but there was a mysterious third as well. And while this group wasn’t around for the title’s launch, they’re now official. The “ancient and enigmatic” Veti are almost here.

Nominated for Best Sim/Strategy title at The Game Awards, Tempest Rising transports you to a battle-scarred 1997 in an alternate timeline where the Cuban Missile Crisis went nuclear. From epic single-player campaigns to ranked multiplayer and skirmish mode, you’ll experience fast, hard-hitting gameplay with classic RTS base building and unique asymmetrical factions. Take command of the battlefield, lead your armies in all-out warfare, and execute bold strategies to emerge victorious.

3D Realms press release

Those are some interesting descriptors for sure, though as of right now, we don’t have really anything other than the name to go on, as go the Veti. Fans though, won’t have to wait long to actually get some hands on time with them.

Along with the first bits of info about the Veti, 3D Realms has revealed that there’s a new demo coming. Tempest Rising‘s latest playable preview will debut at TactiCon, coming up on July 9th, 2026. The Steam event will see the Veti take center stage, as PC players “get their closest hands-on preview yet of the mysterious faction!”