**Sins of a Solar Empire 2: Anticipation for the Times of War DLC and Harbinger Expansion**

When *Sins of a Solar Empire* 2 launched from early access in September 2024, its premium edition and content pass promised a groundbreaking addition: a single-player campaign, something unoffered in previous titles of the series. This was set to be highlighted by the *Times of War* DLC, which introduces an authored narrative and a unique set of missions tailored for each faction. Planned for a release in “Fall 2025,” many long-time fans—some waiting nearly two decades—remain in suspense as the release date approached but ultimately yielded nothing; there have been no updates on the DLC or the *Harbinger* expansion, which aims to introduce a fourth playable race.

Development lead Brian Clair confirmed in a recent interview that both expansions are still on the roadmap but have undergone schedule adjustments. “They’re definitely still on the road map,” Clair noted, stating that while the focus on the upcoming 1.5 update, which overhauls the AI of NPC factions and adds new diplomacy tools, remains crucial, the timeline for *Harbinger* and *Times of War* has shifted.

Originally, the plan was to develop the campaign first. However, the team concluded that adding the fourth faction first would provide a more coherent campaign experience. “We want to have the fourth faction in the campaign, and it would be hard to realize that without the assets,” Clair explained. As it stands, *Harbinger* is now expected to launch in late 2026, while *Times of War* is slated for 2027. This extended wait raises concerns among players who have invested in the premium edition, as they could be waiting up to three years for beloved content.

Despite delays, Stardock has shown progress through the *Paths to Power* DLC released in March this year, which introduced mission-driven scenarios. These scenarios include specific objectives and win conditions, marking a first for the series. “That was actually the foundation for the campaign,” Clair remarked, indicating that these systems are integral for the forthcoming campaign.

Further complicating development, creating new scenarios remains a time-consuming process, often requiring developers to manually code in JSON. “As a developer, I can do it, but it really slows it down,” Clair noted. The process is even more challenging for modders. In 2025, Stardock plans to develop user-friendly tools to streamline scenario creation for both internal use and for the modding community.

Upon the release of *Times of War*, Stardock intends to provide modders with tools capable of constructing intricate narratives beyond the limitations of single scenarios. “What they’re going to be getting when we tackle the campaign in full is the ability to bring all those together into a coherent whole and add in more to it, cinematics, custom victory conditions depending on your story path,” Clair explained.

The *Sins of a Solar Empire* franchise boasts a robust modding community that has creatively reimagined its real-time strategy gameplay, allowing for innovative and often whimsical modifications. While the long wait for the next content feels daunting, the potential of empowering modders through new tools ignites excitement for the future of the game.

In summary, *Sins of a Solar Empire* 2 is in a transformative period marked by significant content promises paired with delays. Fans keenly anticipate the moments when the new expansions will not only add new factions and storytelling elements but also extend the creative possibilities available to modders. As development continues, the community’s patience and enthusiasm hold the promise for a more expansive and engaging game landscape.