Humankind 2 Announced With 2027 Release Window and Climate Change Mechanics

Developer Amplitude Studios has officially announced Humankind 2 during the Gamescom Opening Night Live pre-show. The sequel to the 2021 historical 4X strategy game aims to deliver a fresh take on historical strategy, incorporating extensive player feedback and studio experience to introduce exciting new progression systems, enhanced visuals, and a modernized user interface.

According to Amplitude, the sequel continues the core premise of mixing and matching different cultures across various eras, allowing players to adopt specific cultures that deepen their civilization's identity and unlock exclusive customs through rich cultural progression trees. Players can choose to follow historical paths or diverge from them entirely. Newly highlighted cultures slated for inclusion feature the Saqqaq, Etruscans, and Scythians, alongside many additional societies from around the world.

A major new addition to Humankind 2 is the introduction of a dynamic climate change system. Powerful climate changes will transform the strategic map across the ages, forcing players to adapt their cities and economies to shifting biomes, protect vital resources, and balance short-term growth against long-term consequences that can span generations.

While the announcement trailer primarily featured a narrative mood piece from the perspective of a newborn experiencing various historical eras—including brief snippets of gameplay at the very end—further details have emerged via its official Steam page. Humankind 2 is scheduled to launch for PC in 2027. Ahead of the official launch, the developer plans to let players test and offer feedback on the game in some capacity through their community programs, with more details expected in the coming weeks.