Distant Worlds 2 has launched, offering a second installment in this pausable, real-time, 4X strategy series. This can be picked up on the Epic Games Store, GOG.com, and Steam in addition to the Slitherine Store, where it is "Distant Worlds Week." It's also available on GeForce now if you want to play in the cloud (or nebula, since it's a space game). Here's the launch trailer with a look, and here are more details:

With the first installment setting the standard for the sci-fi 4X genre as fans have come to know it today, Distant Worlds 2 builds on this by launching players into a living galaxy in constant evolution. No two adventures will be alike as the game generates events that happen independently of one another within the game world. Galaxies can feature up to 2,000 star systems including tens of thousands of planets, moons, and asteroids, providing a deeply immersive experience that will be different every single time.

Distant Worlds 2 is all about player choice and the freedom to explore the game world and play the way you want. Automate the various tasks in your empire, so that you can focus on the areas that you enjoy most. Play only as an explorer without worrying about economics and trade, or manage the home planet, leaving your faction's AI to exploration and defensive duties. The powerful AI engine has been created so that you can also play as Ship Designer only, if you choose, with the rest of the galaxy evolving and living independently in the background.

Every faction in Distant Worlds 2 has its own story arc and dedicated faction missions. Explore the vastness of space, find valuable resources, discover potential colonies for your empire and make contact with other empires, discussing treaties, making trade offers and forging alliances. Defend the outlying areas of your empire to protect it from raiding pirates, or even dangerous space monsters. Develop new technologies for building your own unique ships and star bases. Design your own starships, mixing designs and elements such as weapons, engines and sensors. The possibilities are endless, play your own way and map out your own adventure across the galaxy.