Open source RTS 0 A.D. Alpha 27 released bringing a new Vulkan renderer, new maps, AMD FSR and lots more

The free, open source and cross-platform RTS 0 A.D. Alpha 27 is now finally available and it brings with it a whole lot of new features and content. Alpha 26 was all the way back in 2022, so it's been a while, but it looks like the wait was worth it!

New features highlight:

• Vulkan Renderer.
• Multiplayer Savegames.
• Tips & Tricks Page.
• Naval Overhaul.
• Observer Flares.
• New random maps: Foothills, Migration, Coast Range; New skirmish map: Isthmus of Corinth; and updated skirmish maps: Watering Holes, Sporades Islands.
• New and updated art.

Check out the new trailer:

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Some more of what's new includes AMD FSR support, GPU Skinning config option that can boost FPS, various technical upgrades to their underlying tech, various civilizations should now feel more unique and more.

With this release they're also moving away from the Alpha label on the game. The next will simply be known as "Release 28". They mentioned how the game at this stage is "polished in many aspects, sometimes more so than some released professional strategy games, but not feature-complete", noting how the gaming industry as a whole has changed since their early releases with Early Access and so they don't really feel the "Alpha-Beta-Release plan" doesn't seem relevant for them now. Plus, they would plan to continue after the "final release" as well.

For developers, they also finally moved from SVN to a more modern Git that they said "allows us to leverage powerful tools of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery, improving the stability and the quality of the game during development".

Their team will also be present at the upcoming FOSDEM 2025 event. See all in their news post.

Hopefully it won't be long before the Linux packages are updated.