Legendary composer Frank Klepacki, known for his work on games like Eye of the Beholder 2, has stated that the real-time strategy (RTS) genre is far from dead, though he wishes developers would inject more creativity into its modern iterations. Klepacki addressed the long-standing narrative of the genre's demise in a recent interview with Edge magazine.
"There was all of this doom-and-gloom talk about ten years ago, saying, 'Oh, we think RTS is dead now—why are you still trying to work on games that are in a genre that’s going away?’" Klepacki recalled. "Obviously, if there are games coming out, [the genre is] not going away. It’s just that other types of games have taken the forefront of attention. Everything runs in cycles, you know? That’s how it always is."
While acknowledging that other genres have risen and fallen in popularity over the decades, Klepacki pointed to a perceived lack of innovation and increasing risk aversion within the industry, particularly among major developers. "I would love to see more unique ideas that are allowed to be triple-A titles," he said. "A lot of indie titles are taking those creative chances, but a lot of the middle ground has gone."
Despite these concerns, the RTS genre continues to show signs of life. Blizzard recently released a new campaign for Warcraft 3, over two decades after its initial launch. Additionally, a Game of Thrones RTS is reportedly in development, and established titles like Company of Heroes and Ruse have seen returns. Franchise mainstays Age of Empires and Age of Mythology remain active, while new entries like Tempest Rising offer a classic C&C-inspired experience. Even with Blizzard exploring new directions for StarCraft, the continued support and release of RTS games suggest the genre maintains a dedicated audience and potential for creative resurgence.