I knew Crusader Kings II rose steadily in popularity throughout the years and that there was some excitement in the air for Stellaris, but to be honest the fact that it broke Paradox’s previous day-1 sales records still surprised me. Then again, I was also surprised by the sales of Cities: Skylines (the previous record holder for concurrent players at launch), so I suppose that just shows how much I understand of their ability to target niche audiences:
Stellaris Day One Sales Breaks Paradox Records
Grand Strategy SciFi Game Rivaling the Success of Cities: Skylines
STOCKHOLM – MAY 10TH – Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio launched into space last night with the release of sci-fi grand strategy Stellaris. The launch was received to almost universal acclaim by the community, with an impressive 95% positive user reviews on Steam. With 68,000 simultaneous players on the day of release, Stellaris also managed to de-throne the publisher’s other recent success Cities: Skylines, which previously held their record for highest amount of concurrent players at launch. Less than 24 hours after release, Stellaris has sold over 200,000 units, breaking the revenue record for any of Paradox Interactive’s previous titles during the same time period. For the internal development studio, the game has broken every record available and is the studio’s fastest selling game ever.
(We are immensely proud of the Paradox team for putting together such a stellar release,) said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive and master of puns. (This release is the result of hard work and dedication from the entire company and in particular Paradox Development Studio. The incredible reception by players, indicated for instance by the steam user reviews, is all the proof we could ask for that our hard work paid off. Our fans have put their faith in us and Stellaris will be a part of Paradox’s onwards journey for a long time to come.)
)Stellaris breaks a lot of new ground for Paradox Development Studio. It is a type of game we have never attempted to do before, and we are immensely satisfied to see this leap of faith work out well, especially with all the positive response we are getting from the players,) said Henrik FÃ¥hraeus, Game Director of Stellaris. “We are listening very keenly to all the feedback we are getting and look forward to many years of continued expansions and improvements to the game. Let’s make space great again, together!)
In Stellaris, players guide a species of their own design to power and glory in the depths of space. From humble beginnings, as players leave their home planet and explore the unknown, to tense (first contact) moments with alien species, to the difficult choices and responsibilities of managing diplomatic relationships with other star-faring races, Stellaris presents the iconic gameplay of a Paradox grand strategy title on a galactic scale. With randomly created opponents and procedurally generated star systems, no two games can ever play out the same way.
Stellaris is available now from digital retailers everywhere. To learn more about Stellaris, visit www.stellarisgame.com
We’ve also put together a round-up of reviews of the game, starting with this review from IGN, that feels the game grinds to a halt after the early phases, 6.3/10.
Stellaris is filled with good ideas, and it’s not difficult to see the outline of a great space strategy game where those ideas could come together. But beyond the early game, it’s only compelling in bits and pieces it turns into a largely uneventful slog after that. Paradox has developed a reputation of major upgrades to their games for years after launch, and Stellaris is going to need all that love and more to reach its potential.
It’s a complaint that the PC Gamer review echoes, though the score is higher, 70/100.
I’m disappointed, because Stellaris’s first few hours hinted at a smart, scintillating reinvention of the 4X. The early game is packed full of personality, but it’s squandered as the hours roll on. Maybe I had a particularly bad late game experience the random nature of each campaign suggests many potential outcomes. But the glacial pace feels intentional, and the long periods of inaction bring other limitations to the fore. How most research is purely a stat boost, with only a scant few technologies progressing the story in fun, inventive ways. How presidential candidates have so few mandates, often cycling between just two basic objectives. How espionage is an obvious omission, especially when effective combat is so dependant on information.
None of which is to say Stellaris is a bad game, just an inconsistent one. Given Paradox’s history, I hope upcoming patches and expansions can fill in the gaps, and smooth out the omissions and weird quirks of diplomacy. I desperately want the full game to match the promise of its opening. Tweaked in the right way, Stellaris has a chance to become an enduring classic. Right now, it doesn’t meet its full potential.
Rock, Paper, Shotgun, scoreless.
The great experiment of the game was not so much the change of scenery, from history to science fiction, it was the decision to create a Civ-like game of expansion with some complexities and aspects of simulation borrowed from grand strategy. It’s in the simulation of a living galaxy that most of the complexity has been lost, but what has been gained is a precise and finely tuned machine. Less erratic and surprising than its ancestors, but much more elegant in its design.
Destructoid, 9/10.
This is a game for anyone who has already enjoyed the grand strategy genre or anyone who has always wanted to. There is a strong sense of accomplishment from starting an empire and guiding it along the path you choose, even if it eventually ends in failure. Stellaris is easy to comprehend and exciting to execute, which is a perfect combination for a genre notoriously difficult to break into.
Eurogamer, Recommended.
In many ways, the Stellaris I’ve played is but a starting point for modding support and a DLC plan that’ll keep us going for years to come. But what a starting point it is! Leaving behind the shackles of historical accuracy has allowed Paradox to play around with so many new ideas, but somehow, whilst doing so, they’ve created a grand strategy game that isn’t entirely terrifying to start playing in the first place. If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toe into this incredible genre, but found Paradox’s other stuff a bit intimidating, this is the one to play. If you’ve enjoyed their other stuff, this one’s even better.
PC Invasion, 8/10.
Thoroughly alien in presentation, yet unerringly human in many of its galactic power tousles, Stellaris successfully gene-splices the themes of a 4X game with the mechanics and systems perfected over Paradox’s last couple of grand strategy titles. The complexity curve, often a bit of a problem for newcomers in prior releases, will be smooth enough for those who’ve played a strategy game or 4X before; while Paradox veterans will be immediately at home with a star-nation sandbox that shows every sign of being another long-term strategic triumph.
The Sixth Axis, 8/10.
Marrying Paradox’s particular brand of real time grand strategy to the familiarity of space and 4X empire building has worked wonders, making this the most welcoming and accessible of their games that I’ve played. There’s a few minor niggles, but it’s compelling and it’s easy to lose yourself in Stellaris for hours at a time, as you build your empire and explore both the galaxy and the stories that it can contain.
GameWatcher, 9.0/10.
Stellaris is simply wonderful. If you enjoy grand strategy games then you’ll love this. If you don’t then this could be the one to change your mind. If you’ve been too intimidated to try the genre before now, then here’s your ideal starting point.
GameGrin, 8.5/10.
A blisteringly fun early game can be dampened somewhat by the bloated middle and late stages, but Stellaris is another example of Paradox Interactive showcasing that they are the kings of grand strategy, and is a game that every fan of the genre should have in their collection.
PC World, 4/5.
Stellaris is great. Maybe not Crusader Kings II great yet give it a few expansions to fill out but it’s a compelling bit of player-directed science fiction. Freed from the chains of history Paradox has created something creative and bold and inspiring, something that illuminates just how vast and unknowable space is and how tiny our place in it.
Still there’s something reassuring, watching the decades and centuries tick by and the tendrils of civilization creep across the galaxy, thinking (That could be us someday.) Maybe.
Metro, 6/10.
There’s a lot of interesting things in Stellaris, and the surprisingly intuitive interface and real-time progression does make it a good starting point for newcomers to the genre. But as with so many games nowadays this launch version seems only half-formed. It’s easy enough to imagine what it might become in the future, but at the moment this is stuck looking up at the stars and never able to reach them.
Kotaku, scoreless.
I’m hoping, then, that in the months and years to come we can talk about Stellaris in the same way we can about some of Paradox’s other series. Or maybe even in more glowing terms, since this is definitely more accessible than the studio’s previous, more interface-laden efforts.
But for now, Stellaris is a game that reaches for the stars, only to fall just short.
GameSpew, 9/10.
Unreasonable expectation of perfection aside, Stellaris is an expertly blended mosaic of 4X, grand strategy and self-created narrative. For the relatively small niche that this game occupies, it is the undisputed master and commander. It’s also a nice platform for DLC and modding so as if the game didn’t provide enough substance out of box, then I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of content for years of come to constantly rejuvenate the experience. If you’re the type of person who dreams of galactic empire, write a nicely worded letter to the people in your life saying (see you later) and pick up Stellaris.
PCGamesN, 9/10.
Calling Stellaris Europa Universalis in space is probably reductive, but it was the first thing I did in this review not because they are almost exactly alike, but because, when I put away my empires and get on with my day, the stories that have played out in these digital worlds embed themselves in my brain, and I so desperately want to tell people about them. Both games tickle the part of my brain that wants every battle to have some greater context, every move I make to be part of a larger narrative. Stellaris manages to do this without history to lean on, though, and does so with aplomb.
eXplorminate, “eXemplary.”
Stellaris is an absolute masterpiece, combining the Paradox sensibilities of grand strategy and epic international relations with the best that space 4X has to offer. Those looking to experience a huge range of spectacular encounters, in a seemingly endless galaxy, while feeling like true space emperors, are going to be very, very happy. The game isn’t perfect, but knowing that it can and will grow almost makes it more of a pleasure to play. Stellaris is a landmark in the genre and we fully expect it to have a lasting impact on the games we play and love.
The Mittani, scoreless.
While buggy in places, Stellaris has definitely been worth the wait. Paradox has broken free of its historical background to produce a great game that will delight fans of sci-fi 4X’s and grand strategy games alike.
The differences between different empire types aren’t as massive and distinct as non-feudal governments in Crusader Kings II, but it is great fun exploring the clash of ideologies that the game produces. Playing an expansionist, slave-taking empire is just as enjoyable – and an equally valid way to play – as being part of a tight-knit alliance of like-minded species.
Stellaris is engrossing enough that I spent the majority of my evenings playing my review copy since getting it. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in another four years.
The Inner Circle, 10/10.
For the price of admission, and the impeccable track record Paradox has with supporting their games with ongoing patches and content, you will have an improving gameplay experience that will get better with time. The game offers a unique look into managing a government, and give you a great escape into a time where you will be zipping across our massive galaxy exploring new and interesting species. Besides the fact that you’ll experience a far flung future where Warp drives exists, you’ll spend hours discussing diplomatic relations with other species with friends who also play the game. Multiplayer gives players an even bigger base to play with, opening your world to play up against real world gamers who might not be so forgiving in their strategy.
Critically Sane, 5/5.
Stellaris is the most fun, addicting 4X game I’ve played in a long, long time. The other night I set myself an alarm so that I would stop playing and go to bed, and I put the alarm across the room so I’d have to get up to turn it off. Well, my lazy ass got up and reset that alarm three times. On the fourth go around, I just shut it off, went back to my computer, and played for another hour. Stellaris takes me back to being a Civ-addicted teenager again, unable to stop myself from playing a game, and loving every minute of it. The game is complex and deeply detailed, but so easy to pick up and play that I can heartily recommend it to anyone.
Gaming on Linux, 9/10.
There is so much to the game, that trying to condense my feelings about it down into words on the internet is proving difficult. If you’re a strategy fan, or a general sci-fi fan you need to own this. To sound cheesy, this really is the space game I’ve been looking for.
Vox Ludicus, scoreless.
With a polished user interface, stellar soundtrack and enough artwork pieces depicting planets, creatures and events to open an art gallery, Stellaris strides into the space-strategy scene not as the most complex or deep game, but as a polished, relatively easy to grasp experience with a handful of innovative mechanics that make it unique and give it personality by the ton. I can’t recall a game that’s made exploring space as pretty as Stellaris has, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not eager to see where the game will be taken in the future.
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