Ready for some new tactics? In “Tempest Rising: The Veti’s Wrath,” starting September 29, you’ll command a macabre and powerful alien army across 11 epic missions!
Tempest Rising was my personal gaming surprise of 2025. The game brought back EXACTLY the C&C vibe I love so much—only without the annoyances from back then—and thrilled me more than any other RTS game in recent years.
The game’s wild, almost ironically over-the-top look and feel, with its insane cutscenes, had me hooked right away. And then there’s the gameplay: the unique factions and their distinct playstyles—each enabling completely different tactics and strategies—provided the depth needed to keep me coming back.
So far, you’ve been able to play as the two original warring factions: the highly mobile Global Defense Force (GDF) or the heavily armored Tempest Dynasty.
These are two asymmetrical, fundamentally different factions battling on a war-torn Earth for a mysterious, reddish-glowing energy source: the highly toxic Tempest Vines. But this is exactly where the “The Vetis Wrath” expansion changes everything!
Watch the trailer for the expansion here:
What exactly awaits you in the new expansion?
With “Tempest Rising: The Veti’s Wrath”, the next major chapter in the game’s thrilling story finally begins. And instead of just offering more of the same, this expansion introduces a truly new, playable third faction to the game.
The developers are treating you to a brand-new campaign featuring 11 epic missions, in which you command an absolutely bizarre alien army. The aliens that appeared in the base game as the story unfolded and caused all sorts of chaos are finally playable! And that doesn’t just apply to multiplayer mode, where the VETI will be available for free to all owners of the base game.
The mad invaders from the Earth’s core are getting a full multiplayer campaign that wraps up the base game’s finale—and we’ll finally find out exactly what those nasty aliens are up to.
Who Are the Mysterious Veti, Anyway?
(The Tempest plants were originally created by the Veti.)
Their story is dark, mysterious, and adds a completely new, menacing layer to the backstory of “Tempest Rising.” While the human armies simply harvest the vines in a ruthless and destructive manner, the Veti literally live and breathe this alien flora.
This is directly reflected on the battlefield: While the GDF relies on agile drones and the Dynasty on brute firepower, the Veti use macabre sacrificial rituals, floating monoliths, and hordes of mindless zombie soldiers to bring their enemies to their knees.
How do the Veti’s zombie mechanics work?
At the heart of the new faction is the so-called “Subjugation and Sacrifice” system. Instead of simply leaving fallen enemy units on the battlefield, the Veti resurrect them as mindless Enlightened Ones to a new, undead life.
(The Veti employ entirely new tactics and researchable combat doctrines.)
These zombie soldiers are by no means just cannon fodder. You can strategically sacrifice these desecrated units at the right moment to temporarily reinforce your own high-tech machines. This devious synergy creates a unique gameplay dynamic: the more losses your opponent suffers, the more powerful your own army becomes.
Why is base building with ascension anchors so special?
The Veti are also taking a completely new approach to base building. Forget the usual, simple practice of just plopping buildings side by side! Instead, you place powerful Ascension Anchors on the map. These floating obelisks connect to surrounding structures and upgrade them bit by bit.
(Even base building and the Veti’s structures work differently.)
Your base is thus transformed into an organic, interconnected system where the strategic placement of every single object determines victory or defeat. Those who build with foresight will be rewarded with a particularly well-balanced infrastructure.
How does resource harvesting differ from the other factions?
While the GDF and Dynasty troops brutally cut down the dangerous red Tempest vines and completely deplete the fields over time, the Invaders choose a more sustainable method: They erect special altars directly at the deposits.
These harvest the energy from the vines without destroying the deposit itself. This provides you with a continuous, reliable flow of resources and forces your opponents to completely rethink their own strategy for securing resources.
What crazy weapons do you send into battle?
The Veti’s arsenal includes a range of wonderfully nasty toys that cause quite a stir on the battlefield. A real highlight is the mobile Phantom Artillery: These defensive turrets teleport highly explosive charges directly onto enemy units before they even come within range of your main force.
But if you want to put an end to the chaos once and for all, summon the mighty “War Ender”. This gigantic superweapon acts as a walking avatar of destruction and crushes even the most heavily fortified bases in the blink of an eye—without destroying the game’s balance in the process.
All this and more awaits you in the highly anticipated expansion “Tempest Rising: The Veti’s Wrath,” packed with content and story. Get the expansion starting September 29 with a launch discount and unleash the vengeance of an ancient people!
New to Tempest Rising? For everyone who wants to dive into the world of Tempest Rising now, the Gold Edition will also be available starting September 29 at a beginner’s price!
