Tempest Rising: The Third Faction Zorus Arrives in Open Beta for Two Weeks

Tempest Rising: The Third Faction Zorus Arrives in Open Beta for Two Weeks

• A third faction for the RTS: the Zorus.
• A two-week open beta for every Steam owner.
• A hybrid bio-tech playstyle: organic tech and reconfiguring units.
• A biomass economy, unlike the minerals and gas of the other factions.
• A chance to give feedback and influence the game before launch.

A new player enters the war

Real-time strategy fans have plenty to be excited about: Tempest Rising, the RTS on the rise, has just launched its third faction in open beta. After months of waiting and teasers, the developers at Slipgate Ironworks have finally unveiled this new force. And the least we can say is that it promises to shake up the established balance. If you have followed the game since its early access launch, you know Tempest Rising bets on deep gameplay inspired by genre classics like Command & Conquer or StarCraft, while bringing its own modern touch. Until now, players could embody two distinct factions: the Terran Federation and the Scions, a belligerent alien race. But today, a third entity enters the fray: the Zorus.

Who are the Zorus? A faction apart

The Zorus are not simple clones of the existing factions. According to the first details revealed by the developers, they stand out through a hybrid approach, mixing organic technology and advanced mechanics. Their playstyle seems focused on mobility and adaptation, with units able to reconfigure mid-battle. Here is what we already know:

• A flexible economy: unlike the other factions, the Zorus do not rely solely on classic resources. They exploit a kind of “biomass” that lets them generate units and buildings more dynamically.
• Versatile units: some creatures can evolve according to needs, switching from an offensive to a defensive role without rebuilding from scratch.
• A unique look: their design recalls a mix between giant insects and futuristic machines, with a lovecraftian touch that gives them a distinct atmosphere.

Players who tested the faction in closed beta describe gameplay that is more aggressive and less predictable than that of the Terrans or the Scions. A real breath of fresh air for an RTS that is already making a place for itself among the genre’s benchmarks.

How to join the open beta?

Now, the question on everyone’s mind: how do you play? The good news is that the tests are open to all game owners on Steam, for two weeks. Here is how to jump into the arena:

1. Own Tempest Rising: if you do not already, you need to buy the game in early access on Steam. The price remains reasonable for an RTS of this scope, and the content offered amply justifies the investment.
2. Enable the beta branch: in the game’s properties on Steam, go to the “Betas” tab and select the corresponding branch (it should be called something like “public_test_zorus”).
3. Download the update: once the branch is enabled, Steam will automatically download the new files. Depending on your connection, this can take a few minutes.
4. Launch and play: once everything is installed, you will be able to create solo or multiplayer games with the new faction.

The developers specify that this beta is above all a testing phase on the public_test_zorus branch. So yes, there may be bugs, balance issues, or unfinished mechanics. But it is also the opportunity to give your feedback and influence the next balance patch. Player feedback will be taken into account for the upcoming updates.

Why this beta is crucial for Tempest Rising

Tempest Rising is not a small indie project thrown together in a hurry. It is an ambitious RTS, developed by a team that includes former members of Westwood Studios (the creators of Command & Conquer, no less). Since its early access launch, the game has already received regular updates, with balance adjustments, new maps and technical improvements. The arrival of the Zorus marks an important milestone for several reasons:

• Faction balance: until now, matchups between Terrans and Scions were getting well-worn. A third faction will necessarily reshuffle the deck and force players to rethink their strategies — on paper a roster addition, in practice a whole new metagame.
• Attracting new players: an RTS lives or dies by its community. By offering fresh content and a new way to play, Tempest Rising hopes to win over those still hesitating to take the plunge.
• Preparing the full launch: the more tests there are, the fewer unpleasant surprises at final launch. The developers want a stable and balanced game from day one.

First impressions: are the Zorus worth it?

We were able to glean some feedback from players who tested the faction in advance. Here is what comes up most often:

The strong points:

• Very dynamic gameplay: the Zorus allow punishing early-game rushes if you master their economy. Their light units are fast and can harass the opponent from the first minutes.
• An interesting learning curve: their “biomass” mechanic really changes the game. You have to learn to manage this resource differently from the minerals or gas of the other factions.
• A striking visual style: the animations of units and buildings are superbly crafted. The Zorus have a strong identity that makes them immediately recognizable.

The weak points:

• Some units lack clarity: their special abilities are not always well explained, which can confuse new players.
• Obvious imbalances: as with any new faction, some builds seem too strong (or too weak) and will need adjustments.
• Optimization to polish: some players report FPS drops during big battles with many Zorus units on screen.

Of course, all of this is normal for a beta. What matters is that the foundations are solid and that the faction brings real diversity to the gameplay.

What does the future hold for Tempest Rising?

With this open beta, Slipgate Ironworks shows they are taking their time to deliver a polished game. After these two weeks of testing, we can expect:

• A balance patch based on player feedback.
• New announcements about upcoming content (solo campaign, other factions, game modes?).
• An official release date that firms up.

The game has been in early access for a while, and the addition of the Zorus could well be one of the last big updates before the final launch. In the meantime, if you like RTS games and are looking for something deep, tactical and visually impressive, Tempest Rising deserves your attention. And with this open beta, now is the perfect time to jump into the universe and see what the Zorus have in store.

Verdict: jump in and test them!

Tempest Rising proves once again that it is one of the most promising RTS games of recent years. The arrival of the Zorus is not a simple cosmetic addition: it is a revolution in the way you play, with mechanics that force you to rethink your strategy. For players who already own the game, the choice is simple: enable the beta without hesitation. If you do not own it yet, maybe it is time to buy it. Two weeks of open testing is plenty to get a feel for it and, why not, fall in love with this new faction. And you, will you test the Zorus? Tell us in the comments what your first impression is! If you know tips or builds worth sharing, we would love to hear them. Meanwhile, we are heading back to our matches — because there are Terrans to crush.

See also

• Tempest Rising game hub
• Complete guide: RTS factions and strategies 2026
• Veti faction guide: enlightened strategy and beta access
• All RTS games

Sources

• Steam store page — Tempest Rising
• Official website — Tempest Rising