Distant Worlds 2: Shadows Rising – New Gameplay from the Pirate Expansion

Pirates are all the rage these days, even in space: Shadows Rising, the second major expansion for Distant Worlds 2, is set to launch soon. A new, narrated gameplay trailer now reveals what fans of this space strategy game can expect.

Slitherine has released a new gameplay trailer for the upcoming expansion Distant Worlds 2: Shadows Rising as part of the Slitherine Next event. Shadows Rising will introduce a new pirate faction in Distant Worlds 2, while the second major feature add-on for Distant Worlds 2 takes place in the aftermath of the “Cataclysm” that ended the last great war, introducing entirely new ways to play.

Players can now operate as a dedicated pirate faction or start out as a lone pirate with just one ship and work their way up to legendary status or even build their own pirate empire. Raiding, smuggling, extortion, mercenary contracts, and trade are all available, as is the establishment of smuggling networks, hidden bases, and zones of influence. The trailer also highlights the new “Age of Shadows” era and the new Shadowports as trade hubs.

Slitherine has set October 7, 2026, as the release date for Distant Worlds 2: Shadows Rising.