Chances of a New Command & Conquer Game are Slim, but EA Surprises by Reviving a 12-Year-Old Hidden Gem

I’m a massive fan of the Command & Conquer series, yet I had to dig a bit to remember what Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances was all about before jumping into this discussion. You might be wondering why this obscure title is back on my radar. Well, EA just surprised everyone by creating a Steam page for the game—it seems a re-release is imminent.

Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances is a bit of an oddball in this otherwise illustrious, albeit currently quiet, real-time strategy franchise. It started out as a browser-based MMO, back in the days when those kinds of games were quite popular.

Launched in May 2012, over a decade ago now, it’s not really the first game you’d think of when the Command & Conquer series comes up. However, the version that’s landing on Steam will also be free-to-play and will retain the game’s strategic layer, an aspect not typically synonymous with classic C&C games. I’m very curious to see how EA will convert the social, invite-your-friends feature from the browser version to this new desktop version.

In Tiberium Alliances, you choose between two iconic factions: GDI or NOD. Each has its own set of buildings, units, and defenses, and just like in the classic RTS games, you can research upgrades to improve your capabilities.

The strategic layer of the game focuses on capturing territories and forming alliances with friends, bringing that classic 2010s browser game vibe, which seems will be preserved in the Steam edition. As of now, the only hint we have regarding the release date is a vague ‘coming soon’ on the Steam page. Given the game’s obscurity, it wouldn’t be surprising if it unexpectedly dropped during an event like The Game Awards.

While revisiting a game so emblematic of its time has its charm, what the C&C community is really craving are remasters of the acclaimed classics. It’s puzzling that the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection didn’t lead to more. At one point, it appeared as though EA was ready to dive into their archives and breathe new life into some old franchises, but after the Remastered Collection and the earlier Command & Conquer re-releases on Steam, there hasn’t been much to speak of.