Stardock has made their promised fantasy strategy game announcement, unveiling Sorcerer King. which they say offers a twist on the 4X genre with its introduction of asymmetrical victory conditions. In another twist, the just-announced game is already available through early access on Steam with a full release planned for spring 2015. The Sorcerer King website is live, and offers a gameplay trailer along with more details. "Sorcerer King is a new model for 4X games," says Derek Paxton, VP of Stardock Entertainment. "Instead of competing against equal players, you’re behind the eight ball trying to stop the Sorcerer King and his minions from destroying the world. It’s strategy gaming under a guillotine." Here's word on the game and why it may include top six lists about pop culture tropes:

The Sorcerer King beta is available now at http://store.steampowered.com/app/241990 for $39.99 (discounted 15% to $34.00 for a limited time). Players are able to explore a vast and detailed world, finding treasure and adventure throughout the monster-infested wilderness. Overcome tough but often amusing dilemmas in hundreds of quests written by Cracked.com's Chris Bucholz, and command your armies in tactical battles against the Sorcerer King's monstrous hordes. You must defeat the Sorcerer King's terrifying lieutenants to unlock the Shadow Gate and eventually battle the dark demigod himself or all will be lost. Again.

A sophisticated "Game Master" AI controls the Sorcerer King's unscripted assaults. Unlike traditional 4X games where evenly matched rival factions race toward diverse victory conditions, Sorcerer King has the player and his enemy playing by an entirely different set of rules. The Sorcerer King doesn’t need to crush your empire, he just needs to destroy the magical shards in order to enact his doomsday plan. Defending the shards, not careful plotting toward economic victory, is the only way to save the world.