Terra Invicta: Dark Skies DLC
Image: Hooded Horse

One of the most complex, in-depth sci-fi strategy games around is set to get a little deeper still. Developers Pavonis Interactive (formerly the crew responsible for the Long War mods for XCom 1 & 2) and publisher Hooded Horse have announced that alien invasion geopolitics sim Terra Invicta is due for its first commercial expansion—Dark Skies—due out on July 27th.

For those who haven't played it yet, Terra Invicta asks 'What if XCom was Europa Universalis'? There's an alien invasion headed Earthwards, and it's up to you to build a secretive military presence to undermine the invaders on the home front while developing a space fleet to tackle the problem closer to the source... if you're playing as the XCom-equivalent faction, that is. There are seven groups to play as, ranging from fiercely territorial 'humanity at all costs' radicals to alien-worshipping cultists to cutthroat war profiteers who are happy to extend the conflict so they can profit from both sides.

So what you get is a dizzyingly complex geopolitical simulator, as multiple shadowy organizations try to subvert and control world governments to secure the funding and resources to carry out their ultimate goals. It's intense even before you get to the gritty, realistic space combat layer where you can design your own spacecraft and stations piece by piece.

The Dark Skies expansion adds two new scenarios to the game. 2023 begins with the US invasion of Iraq, with tensions at their highest and armies already distracted by questionable conflicts over oil; Earth's in a poor state to resist an alien invasion, and it sounds like it'll take much longer to get your forces into space.

Even grimmer is the Broken Earth scenario. Set a century after the Cold War turned hot in the 60s and humanity almost nuked itself into extinction. With a completely different post-apocalyptic world order risen from the ashes, there are new nations, wildly changed borders, and huge damage done to humanity's chances of survival long before the aliens turn up on your doorstep.

Less importantly but still nice, the expansion will feature two new spacecraft hull cosmetic sets inspired by present-day NASA tech and gritty industrial sci-fi, to define your aesthetic when you're protecting Uranus from alien probes.

The Dark Skies DLC launches July 27th, with the already-intimidating base game available now on Steam.