Following a couple of betas and a long hiatus, developer Ubisoft Blue Byte has announced that real-time strategy The Settlers: New Allies will launch for PC on February 17, 2023, followed by Xbox One, Xbox Series S-X, Luna, Switch, and PS4 at a later, unspecified date.
The Settlers: New Allies has undergone a rocky development phase since it was first revealed at Gamescom 2018. Originally set for release in 2019, the hotly anticipated reboot of The Settlers series was pushed back indefinitely due to player feedback the development team received during the closed beta test. The city-building RTS is now targeting an early 2023 release with the introduction of a new economic system, customization options, surroundings, neutral bandit camps, and other fundamentals. Ubisoft also noted it will share more information about the game’s modes and lore, starting with a live stream on December 1.
The Settlers: New Allies is a town-building, real-time strategy in which players can compete against either friends or AI in three different modes, each requiring players to deploy a unique playstyle. Elari, Maru, and Jorn are the three factions available to choose from, with each one offering a different story. Players will settle on new territories that feature many challenges through the campaign mode. They can also battle against an improved AI in the Hardcore Mode, with a wide range of modifiers and conditions making the enemies even more challenging. Skirmish mode, on the other hand, allows players to experience PvP with up to eight friends on the 12 available maps at launch.
A developer update posted on YouTube details what main changes developer Blue Type has implemented since receiving feedback from the game’s beta. One of the significant changes is said to be that neutral camps of bandits now protect the ways to new resources and starting areas. Players will be able to help their allies without losing the opportunity to defend their town. The developer has also added the option to invite friends to private PVP matches. Faction differentiation will be a core feature for The Settlers: New Allies, with each having differing abilities and stats.
Moreover, there will be several touches on the economy, which is the basic fundamental of the game. Players can also utilize research options to improve the economy as well as upgrade their faction’s units.
The development team will host a live stream featuring the game’s Skirmish mode on December 1, at 10 AM – 11 AM ET / 4 PM – 5 PM CET on the Ubisoft Twitch channel. The Settlers: New Allies will be available for PC on February 17, 2023.
