Having suffered a few delays, Mode 7’s Frozen Synapse 2 is now available. Yes, right now. As in, this very instant. Head on over to Steam to pick it up for $29.99, or watch the launch trailer below (or, you know, do both).

Tactical combat returns in the sequel, but this time, it takes place in a procedurally generated city called Markov Geist. Players will set up bases and use different defenses, but the twist is in entering a building and commanding units by yourself. This contributes to the overall “open world tactics” theme.

There are a number of different AI factions, like the Diamond Brothers and GUEST, to deal with. The player can either work with them or stab them in the back through various means, like assassination, robbery, etc. You also have to deal with a strange force that’s assaulting the city, but it’s completely up to you whether you pursue the main quest or not.

Remember Frozen Synapse? It was an indy darling on PC inspired by X-Com Apocalypse, that released way back when thanks to the efforts of Mode 7. The studio originally intended to release the follow up back in 2016, but suddenly and without explanation, froze those plans. Until today.

Thanks to extreme pressure for an update by their own Steam community, Mode 7 has now promised an August launch for the strategy follow up, though strangely have not committed to a set date. With only a window of an entire month, all we know from the press release is that the game is allegedly “undergoing final bug and balance testing, as well as a last beta round for gameplay purposes.”

With the announcement of the apparently imminent release date of what Mode 7 is calling the “culmination of everything [they’ve] done” since they first began the studio, they’ve also released a gameplay preview video, which is just below for you to check out. Have you played the original game? Are you looking forward to the sequel? Let us know in your comments.

Star Citizen

Star Citizen is going to be amazing…when it’s finally done. Imagine a huge open universe to explore with large space ships (which you can captain), first person shooter levels with zero gravity, unique planets with their own culture and laws and of course, the freedom to do whatever. That’s not even taking the single-player component Squadron 42 into account which boasts hours of story and features high profile actors like Mark Hamill and Gillian Anderson.