Humankind 2 Announced for 2027, Adds Climate Change and Sparks AI Controversy

Amplitude Studios has officially announced Humankind 2, a sequel to its Civilization-style 4X strategy game, during the Gamescom Opening Night Live pre-show. The game is slated for a 2027 release and promises "a new take on historical strategy," expanding on the original's choice-based cultural progression systems with new features including climate change mechanics. The announcement builds on what made the first game distinctive: drawing from real-world history to let players craft their own historical narratives by mixing and matching cultures across the ages.

The reveal did not go entirely smoothly, however. The accompanying live-action trailer was almost immediately accused by viewers of being "AI slop," with many pointing to its uncanny visual quality as evidence of artificial intelligence generation. Developer Amplitude pushed back firmly, stating that the trailer was made with real actors, practical sets, and custom-made props. The footage, which follows the perspective of infants through different moments in space and time, has an intentionally surreal and stylized look that apparently triggered widespread skepticism, highlighting just how sensitized the gaming community has become to AI-generated content in marketing materials.

Sources