With version 1.0, the long Early Access phase comes to an end. Here’s everything you need to know about the release, platforms, factions, and what makes this sci-fi strategy game so unique.
With version 1.0, the sci-fi grand strategy game Terra Invicta will officially leave Early Access in early 2026. Developed by Pavonis Interactive and published by Hooded Horse, the game blends global geopolitics with space colonization and confronts players with a fundamental question: how should humanity respond to an alien threat? Here’s a complete overview of the release, the story, and the game’s defining gameplay systems.
When does Terra Invicta version 1.0 release?
Terra Invicta originally launched in Early Access on September 26, 2022, and will officially leave Early Access on January 5, 2026, with version 1.0. The full release introduces several notable additions, including a new “2026” starting scenario with an updated geopolitical situation, a revised interface with an improved tutorial, and additional language options such as Italian, Russian, Korean, Czech, and Ukrainian. The price at launch is set at $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99 / ¥4,980.
Which platforms is Terra Invicta releasing on?
The game is launching exclusively on Windows PC and will be available via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store. A native console version for PlayStation or Xbox has not been confirmed.
Is Terra Invicta included with Game Pass?
Yes. The game has been available on PC Game Pass since March 26, 2024, and will remain part of the service after the 1.0 release on January 5, 2026. A Game Pass version for Xbox consoles has not been announced so far.
Are there different editions?
No. Terra Invicta is only available as a standard edition. There are currently no Deluxe Editions, Collector’s Editions, or Season Passes available or announced.
Terra Invicta: Story & gameplay
An alien probe is discovered on a trajectory toward Earth. Humanity reacts in a fractured manner, forming seven ideologically driven factions with radically different goals—ranging from armed resistance and cooperation to outright surrender or fleeing into space. The narrative unfolds dynamically through faction decisions, global events, and interconnected game systems.
How does it play?
Terra Invicta operates across multiple strategic layers. On Earth, agents seize control points in real-world nations, influence governments, destabilize regions, or orchestrate coups. Global research contributes to shared technological progress, while individual factions gain access to specialized technologies for spaceflight, military power, and political control. In space, more than 300 celestial bodies across the solar system can be colonized and economically exploited, making resource management and orbital mechanics central to success. Space combat plays out in pausable real time and emphasizes realistic physics. Fleet construction, weapon systems, and maneuvering all follow a hard-science approach.
Which factions are there?
Each faction represents a distinct vision of humanity’s future:
- Resistance: defending Earth
- Humanity First: exterminating the aliens
- Servants: collaboration
- Academy: coexistence and progress
- Initiative: profiting from chaos
- Exodus: escaping the solar system
- Protectorate: surrender to save Earth
Who is Terra Invicta for?
Terra Invicta is aimed at fans of complex strategy games such as Europa Universalis or Crusader Kings 3 who appreciate a strong scientific foundation. If you’re interested in global politics as much as spaceflight and alien-contact scenarios, this offers a deep, systemic experience with no microtransactions — ideal for players who find games like Stellaris, XCOM, or Civilization not complex enough.
