Tempest Rising v1.7.3 is a significant update for the modern real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Slipgate Ironworks and 2B Games. Released on March 10, 2026, this patch focuses on extensive balance changes, quality-of-life improvements, and bug fixes to refine the experience of its asymmetrical factions: the Global Defense Forces (GDF) and the Tempest Dynasty (DYN). Major Gameplay Balance Changes
The v1.7.3 update aims to diversify strategic options by adjusting unit costs and combat effectiveness.
GDF Queller Overhaul: The Queller received a range increase to 2100 and its cost was reduced to 1200 Credits (from 1300) to make it more viable in competitive play. Its laser weapon will no longer target infantry.
Dynasty Expansion Buffs: Movement speed for Harvester Wheels increased to 350 to aid expansion, though their health was slightly reduced to 270 to allow for better harassment counterplay.
Haywire Turret Utility: Switched its cost from Intel to 1200 Credits and added a "Marking" effect to its attack, increasing its tactical role in base defense.
Hammerhand Viability: Increased sight range to 5000 and weapon damage to 70 to ensure it remains a staple of Dynasty attack forces. Quality-of-Life (QoL) Enhancements
Several new features were introduced to streamline management and improve the user interface.
Global Production Queue: New sorting and pinning buttons allow players to manage large-scale unit production more effectively. Tempest Rising v1.7.3
Unit Response Rate: A new slider in the audio settings lets players control how frequently units play voice lines when receiving orders.
Improved Selection UI: Units are now grouped by type in the selection tray, making it easier to manage mixed-army compositions at a glance.
Codex Updates: Added Doctrine and Armory pages for both factions to provide deeper lore and technical data. Technical Fixes and Performance
The patch addresses several critical bugs that affected competitive and campaign play.
Matchmaking Adjustments: The minimum rating for a win was increased to +8 (from 0), addressing player frustration with low point gains in ranked modes.
Pathing Fixes: Vehicles no longer get stuck behind infantry when moving as part of a grouped selection.
Visual and Audio Polish: Fixed issues where air unit models would disappear if their selection shape was off-screen and added an "Out of Focus Audio" setting for players who alt-tab during matches. Tempest Rising v1
As a modern "love letter" to the 90s RTS era, Tempest Rising continues to evolve through community feedback, with v1.7.3 serving as a cornerstone for its ongoing support. Save 25% on Tempest Rising on Steam
The following write-up for Tempest Rising v1.7.3 (as of April 2026) outlines the state of this modern RTS hit, focusing on the refined gameplay mechanics, faction balance, and community-driven optimizations that have defined this version. Version Overview: v1.7.3
Version 1.7.3 represents a significant polish phase for the game, building on its successful 2025 launch. Following the
report of its initial success with over 9,000 concurrent players, this update focuses on stabilizing the competitive meta between the Global Defense Force (GDF) Tempest Dynasty Core Gameplay & Mechanics Macro & Micro Management
: Players must balance high-stakes micro-management with traditional base building. As noted by Digital Foundry
, the game ramps up in difficulty significantly, requiring precise control of unit abilities alongside efficient economy scaling. The "Tempest" Resource
: The alternate-history 1997 setting centers on the "Tempest" vine, a post-nuclear botanical resource. Effective harvesting is the backbone of any winning strategy, particularly for the Tempest Dynasty Faster, cleaner matches: Economy and unit-cost tweaks lower
whose "Plans" can drastically shift manufacturing efficiency. Unit Selection Efficiency : For optimal play, users on
recommend double or triple-clicking units to instantly select all of that type, a critical skill for managing large-scale skirmishes. Faction Dynamics & Strategies
The current v1.7.3 meta heavily emphasizes specialized build orders for ranked play: Primary Focus Key Units/Structures Peacekeeping & Intel Specialists in information warfare and surveillance Tempest Dynasty Aggressive Expansion Tempest Rigs for rapid resource processing and for early harvester harassment Popular Build Order: The "Eco Boom" (Dynasty) According to the Tempest Rising Wiki , a standard Dynasty opening includes: Logistics Plan first for faster construction. Machine Shop facing the nearest Tempest field. Queue 5 Tempest Rigs immediately to maximize early-game income. placement outward to expand the buildable area. Campaign & Performance : The dual campaigns (GDF and Dynasty) offer approximately
of total content, with each side taking about 6-7 hours depending on player skill System Requirements : The game remains accessible for mid-range PCs. lists the minimum processor as an Intel Core i5-8600 AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Quality of Life
: v1.7.3 continues to support community-suggested tweaks, such as methods to skip long intro logos via file adjustments for faster main menu access Steam Community step-by-step build order for a particular faction?
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Patch Type: Gameplay & Balance Update / Playtest Iteration
Focus: Unit responsiveness, economy tuning, faction rebalancing (Tempest vs. Dynasty), and bug fixing.