Sins of a Solar Empire expands next year

By Oli Welsh Published 26 August, 2009

Beta this autumn, release winter 2010.

PC space strategy epic Sins of a Solar Empire will get its second mini-expansion early next year, according to a post on publisher Stardock's Impulse digital distribution network.

The Diplomacy expansion does what it says on the virtual tin - increases the diplomatic, peaceful routes to galactic domination available to players. It's expected to go into beta testing this autumn, with release to follow in the winter 2010 quarter, i.e. between January and March.

Previous micro-expansion Entrenchment expanded the game's defensive options early this year for a modest £6.50 / $10.

"It's one of those rare strategy games that actually has its own view of how the genre should work," said Kieron on his way to slapping a 9/10 on Sins when it was first released.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • chudders #1 3 years ago

    Thoroughly good game Sins is - especially with the Star Wars Mod.

    Not so sure I have much interest in a 'diplomatic' expansion. Why would I want to chat with thy neighbour when I can bomb the shit out of him instead?

  • j-bo #2 3 years ago

    Hmm, awesome - any expansion to Sins is a good thing.

    While I agree the diplomatic aspect of the game is less fun, I reckon that's precisely why it could do with a boost in this area.

  • WrongShui #3 3 years ago

    Anything that adds depth to this somewhat shallow game is a good thing.

  • hidden_asbestos #4 3 years ago

    If it makes it more like Imperium Galactica 2 then that's a good thing in my opinion. Spies and breaking non-aggression pacts were great fun.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/09 @ 11:04

  • WinterSnowblind #5 3 years ago

    I loved Solar Empire, but winter NEXT year? Really?

    I was expecting it this year, it's an overhaul the game desperatly needs, and I'm sure it'll be great, but it feels as though they could make a full-fledged sequel in this amount of time.

  • Muneeb #6 3 years ago

    @hidden_asbestos - I thoroughly enjoyed IG2 and was hoping this would be like it. Can anyone say if it *is* like IG2?

  • WrongShui #7 3 years ago

    It's not.

    It's more like a large conquest frontier wars skirmish map.

  • Azazel #8 3 years ago

    What a great name for a game. /approves

  • Inigo #9 3 years ago

    I thought the whole point of mini expantions was to release them quickly. Still, the last expantion was pretty cool for 6 pounds so i will get this.

  • crazyhorse174 #10 3 years ago

    Got this, but can't seem to find the time to play it for any extended period! Argh! Really really want to get into it as well!

  • Lukree #11 3 years ago

    I really like Sins but I need to admit that playing gets repetitive after five games... This game would have benefitted more of a proper campaign.

  • Bumbuliuz #12 3 years ago

    Liked the game, but it lacked a campaign, and without it I wont be buying any more connected to this game.
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/09 @ 13:32

  • Branoic #13 3 years ago

    Guys, relax and read the article properly - winter next year means some time between January and March 2010 in strange corporate world - not the winter at the end of 2010

  • hiddenranbir #14 3 years ago

    The lack of campaign would have been better if the sandbox play was as interesting and diverse as a regular 4x game.

    Hopefully these mini expansions will deal with that.


    Very happy with the mention of IG2. Was a big big fan of this and had early on in Sins development hoped it would be similar, alas it wasn't. But yeah, woo IG2!
    Edited by 1 at 26/08/09 @ 16:48

  • basalarmageddon #15 3 years ago

    I want to play this game so much but my PC is crap and im too poor to afford or build a new one.

  • DrMGinius #16 3 years ago

    'Thoroughly good game Sins is - especially with the Star Wars Mod.

    Not so sure I have much interest in a 'diplomatic' expansion. Why would I want to chat with thy neighbour when I can bomb the shit out of him instead? '

    You may want to team up with said neighbour and then double-bomb the shit out of some other neighbour, with your ally's help, or something. And then... even betray your ally? I dont know, I did not play the game and I dont know if such a thing would be possible.