Endless Legend 2, from developer Amplitude Studios, is receiving its first major update, bringing welcome changes to tackle its formidable Doomwraiths. While another major 4X title is still evolving, this new sequel has quickly captured my attention, showing immense potential to become a top contender among PC strategy games. Thankfully, Amplitude has been actively listening to its player base, and a recent “State of the Game” blog post for October addresses several critical issues.
A video discussing core game features is included here.
Amplitude kicked off their Endless Legend 2 update announcement with an impressive statistic: players have collectively spent over 1,000,000 hours in the game since its launch just one month ago. High on the priority list are concerns about diplomacy, enemy AI, turn order mechanics, and menu navigation, alongside a significant nerf to the challenging Doomwraiths. These unique enemies are a standout innovation in Endless Legend 2, appearing as the mystical tides of Saiadha shift. They function as powerful, boss-level threats capable of severely impacting your economy if not addressed swiftly.
A video showcasing game mechanics is embedded here.
The developers aim for Doomwraiths to be a genuine mid-game objective, but not to completely cripple an economy while players gather resources. The first update for Endless Legend 2, expected soon, will reduce their corrupting influence on cities. The negative effects will now scale over time, capping at 50% after ten turns. Additionally, players will now have access to both the ‘Bait Doomwraith’ and ‘Close Rift’ actions by default, preventing early-game disadvantages due to specific tech-tree choices. The cost of luring a Doomwraith will now depend on distance, increasing with each passing monsoon, though a ‘Collective Sacrifice’ technology can halve this cost. The team is also exploring a separate difficulty setting for Doomwraiths, allowing players to customize their challenge.
An image illustrating the Endless Legend 2 development roadmap is displayed here.
This initial update also promises substantial AI improvements. Computer-controlled factions are expected to build more effective army compositions and manage their troops more strategically, leading to longer-lived units and better veterancy upgrades. AI opponents will no longer leave forces idle (especially Necrophage larvae) and will show improved intelligence in approaching minor villages, resulting in stronger mid-to-late game performance.
Another area of focus is how Endless Legend 2 handles turns. Currently, opponents act simultaneously with the player to minimize downtime, a common frustration in many 4X games. While the AI is already designed to avoid interfering with player-initiated plans, Amplitude is introducing a new ‘Always show empire statuses’ setting. Activating this feature will display indicators next to the “end turn” button, showing what other factions are currently doing. This allows players who prefer to wait for AI actions, mimicking a non-simultaneous turn system, to do so.
An image displaying the redesigned user interface, including rival faction progression indicators, is shown here.
The first round of UI enhancements includes a redesign of the top-left section, which will now house all empire-level buttons. The research screen also receives an upgrade, offering clearer visibility of unlocked and in-progress technologies. Amplitude is still refining the city screen; the new iteration will maintain a similar visual style but will streamline the process by having players first select a district type, then choose its placement, with the game suggesting optimal locations.
Multiplayer functionality and a complete overhaul of the diplomacy system are slated for the second major update. The early inclusion of multiplayer on the roadmap is intentional, as the developers aim to address any potential issues early to ensure a stable experience upon full release. When playing with others, a display similar to the empire status indicators will help track which human players have completed their turns.
Regarding the endgame, despite an earlier adjustment to victory conditions, the developers observe that “too many victories [are occurring] too early,” with most games concluding between turns 100-200. The aim is not to force all players to reach turn 300, but to avoid situations where a player has effectively won but must endure many additional turns to claim victory. The ideal victory distribution should gradually ramp towards the true endgame, rather than peaking prematurely around turn 170.
A chart illustrating player victory turns across the player base is presented here.
Endless Legend 2 has made a strong impression, reflected in its positive player reception. While there’s still work to be done, the future looks promising. Amplitude also announced a contest inviting players to design a new minor faction, with the winning ideas heavily influencing its creation.
To fully appreciate Saiadha’s stunning visuals, consider upgrading your gaming monitor. You might also explore other excellent grand strategy games available on PC.
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