The Scouring: RTS Revolution or Glorious Disaster?
Hello everyone. Today we’re going to talk about The Scouring, a 2025 RTS that promises to blend real-time strategy, hero-based action RPG, community modding, co-op survival, and probably your morning coffee, because at this point, why not throw in a barista mode while we’re at it? The marketing copy screams “next generation” and “attention to detail,” which in gaming industry terms usually translates to “we threw particle effects at everything until the GPU started crying.”
The Genre Soup Approach
Let’s kick things off with the so-called “Action RPG Strategy” genre they’ve invented. Normally when devs coin a brand-new genre name, it’s because the game doesn’t fit neatly anywhere else – or more worryingly, fits awkwardly into several places at once. Here, you’re controlling a hero like in an action RPG, while the AI micromanages your RTS duties. That’s right – you can enjoy the thrill of commanding armies without actually commanding them, because the AI will do the boring job. This feels a bit like buying a racing game where the AI does the driving while you honk the horn and wave at the pit crew. Immersive!
Now, I understand the appeal here – simplify the genre so newcomers aren’t scared off by APM (actions per minute) nightmares. But as a doctor, I can confidently say: if you remove the heart from the patient, what you have left is a very pretty corpse. RTS without base management is like surgery without a scalpel – eventually, you’re just poking someone with a spoon.
Multiplayer Madness or Marketing Mirage?
They brag about 8-player battles, free-for-alls, alliances, and “the ultimate multiplayer RTS experience.” All well and good, but let’s not forget this is an Early Access title – translation: your “ultimate” experience will be tested on servers duct-taped together with optimism and bug reports. Ranked matches? Yes. Functioning matchmaking? Questionable. Expect to jump into a 1v1 with someone whose idea of “balanced” involves 400 APM and a perfect micro game while you’re fumbling for the build hotkey.
And yes, I like competition – but providing competitive modes before polishing core mechanics is like building an esports arena before laying the pipes in the bathrooms. You’ll get plenty of hype, but sooner or later, the stink will spread.
The Modding Dream… Or Open-Source Chaos?
Steam Workshop support is here from day one. That’s an optimistic gamble. On the bright side, the modding community can create custom maps, modes, and even AI scripts, possibly making the game better than the devs themselves will. On the other hand, you’re basically inviting internet strangers to rummage through your code and attach whatever Frankenstein creations they see fit. Brace yourself for “Shrek vs. Chuck Norris” themed hero mods dominating the top download list.
It’s nice they’re empowering players, but here’s the dirty secret: when you make modding the selling point of Early Access, you’re letting your customers finish the game for you – for free. It’s not crowdsourcing, it’s free labor dressed up as “community involvement.”
Early Access: The 18-Month Beta
The devs estimate 18 months of Early Access. Cute. That number is optimistic enough to make Elon Musk’s Mars timelines look reasonable. The plan is to add a story-rich campaign, flying units, naval warfare, more hero customization, and improved multiplayer. That’s essentially the actual game. So what you get at launch is a very pretty sandbox with modes they admit are prototypes – and they expect you to pay for the privilege of QA testing.
Price will increase after Early Access. Translation: buy now while it’s unfinished, or later when it’s finished-ish, you’ll have to pay more for a game you may already have played to death during its beta period. Brilliant marketing – if you’re running a conspiracy to sell people what they already own.
Graphics vs. Gameplay
The Scouring takes great pride in “attention to detail” and “dynamic destruction.” That’s lovely, but so did Battlefield 4 – and look how much that did to hide its atrocious launch state. Spells will sparkle, units will move “lifelike,” and explosions will set your retinas alight… but none of that matters if the multiplayer count drops below 50 active players in two weeks. RTS titles live and die on balance and replayability – two things particle effects can’t save.
Final Prognosis
As your attending physician in this gaming ward, my diagnosis is guarded optimism mixed with early-stage skepticism. The patient has good bones – solid premise, decent feature list, modding from day one, and love for classics. But the surgery they’re attempting is risky: mixing RTS fundamentals with hero ARPG mechanics, relying heavily on player-created content, and delivering it all in an extended Early Access cycle. If the devs actually iterate with community feedback instead of just nodding politely while ignoring it, The Scouring could evolve into something worth your time.
But there’s just as much chance it becomes a half-baked novelty that exists purely as a modding platform for memes. Approach with caution, keep your wallet in quarantine, and wait for the prognosis to improve. And for the love of all that is holy in RTS, don’t let the AI run your army while you chase a shiny loot drop unless that’s exactly the type of power fantasy you’re here for.
Verdict: Right now, it’s a maybe. Could be glorious, could be a slow-motion disaster. Choose your poison.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is entirely my opinion.
Article Source: The Scouring, https://store.steampowered.com/app/3338950/The_Scouring/
