Astral Throne II: Age of the Phoenix has been recently announced by developer Zero Sun Games. This new title serves as a prequel and a sequel to the original game launched earlier this year.
While it might be too early for a new version, the developers said the changes they were adding were too fundamental. That is why they decided to make another one. In the same way, it could be a good move since the first game got positive community feedback despite dismal commercial performance.
While a new one is coming, the original title is not ending soon. In fact, there will still be another patch for it. The makers also believe it is okay to have both at the same time.
“We don’t intend to replace Astral Throne; we think the games can exist side-by-side,” Zero Sun Games said in the announcement.
Despite the changes, the studio said that the sequel will still offer a unique strategic experience.
Refined Gameplay Mechanics
According to the official Steam page, Astral Throne II leans more toward the Roguelite genre. Even so, the turn-based mechanics remain. Likewise, players can still build their army and go through a continent-spanning quest. Particularly, this popular SRPG lets players lead a team through tactical battles. It now also has smaller maps and shorter runs. Each run is different, with permadeath mechanics, randomized loot, and more. This change ensures that the process does not feel like a long grind. More importantly, the studio wants to focus more on meta progression.
Transformed Graphics, Better UI, and New Story
Aside from the fresh gameplay, Zero Sun Games said that Astral Throne II will now use a hybrid 2D-3D pixel art style for its visuals. Removing the 3D low-poly look fits with the player’s preference in the genre. At the same time, it enables the developers to add content more easily.
Similarly, they are working on improving the UI to support controllers. In particular, the studio wants the game to get the Steam Deck verification.
On top of that, players can look forward to a new story that is more linear. The creators are very excited, as award-winning fantasy novelist Shami Stovall will write it.
Upcoming Demo and Release Window
Fans can expect the first demo to be available in the first quarter of 2026. However, there is no official launch date for the game yet. Looking at the situation, developers could drop the game by the second half of next year. For now, players can Wishlist the game on Valve’s Steam.
