14 DAY TRIAL // What we know:
After the cancellation of the real-time strategy Command & Conquer 5, during its closed alpha test, fans of the series were left wondering what would happen to the franchise.
Developer Victory Games pulled the plug on the free-to-play reboot of the Command & Conquer series, stating that the reason for the decision was that the feedback from players was clear, it was not the game they wanted.
The shift toward an economy-based multiplayer experience was what allegedly killed the real-time strategy game before it could take off, and the future of the series seemed uncertain at best.
Electronic Arts, the canceled Command & Conquer game's publisher, then went to inform buyers of the Command & Conquer Ultimate Collection that their early access to the beta will be honored once production of the title will resume, with a new studio doing all the work.
The announcement sparked a new hope in real-time strategy fans, and even more so in long-time fans of the series.
Why it matters:
The fans have repeatedly stated their preference for a classical, proper Command & Conquer title, as opposed to the browser-based Command & Conquer : Tiberium Alliances, and following Command & Conquer 4's unfavorable reception.
The newly introduced changes to Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, the removal of base building and the addition of a population cap, were poorly received by the community, and the now defunct Command & Conquer was supposed to return to the roots, complete with base building and resource collection.
The changes were made in an attempt to improve the gameplay of the real time strategy title, to offer it a breath of fresh air, as fans of the series complained that it was beginning to feel a little stale.
It would be interesting to see if a new installment would be able to revitalize the series without completely changing the way it is played, as was the case with Command & Conquer 4.
It would also be intriguing to see how new publishing paradigms can be applied to real-time strategy titles, or if a classic release for Command & Conquer 5 will garner the same amount of attention its predecessors did.
Softpedia hosts an entire series of Incoming 2014 articles, covering the most anticipated games of the year.