Eugen Systems' successful World War II strategy game, R.U.S.E., is available again. The game originally released in 2010, then quietly disappeared from stores in 2015.

The return was announced in this Steam post.

Background

This RTS was developed by one of the big names in strategy genre, Eugen Systems, and published by Ubisoft in the fall of 2010.

At release, it received positive reviews from both players and critics.

Alongside its then relatively rare, fully fluid zoom system that let you seamlessly move from a full strategic overview down to unit-level detail, the other major innovation was the introduction of so-called “ruses” or deceptions.

Infamous World War II intelligence and espionage tactics, diversionary guerrilla actions, makeshift bases built from plywood and papier-mâché, and even entire fake armies all play a role in the game. These tricks can be deployed as cards using points, adding a whole new layer to direct head-on engagements.

Platforms

In a somewhat unusual move for the time, the game didn't just release on PC, but also on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, giving console players a chance to try themselves in the largest conflict in human history.

The delisting

In 2015, citing the expiration of third-party licenses, Ubisoft began removing the game from both digital and physical store shelves. As usual, players who already owned R.U.S.E. could still install and play it, but it was no longer available through official channels.

As a result, prices went wild on eBay and in grey and black market key stores. A game that once sold for around €10 would often go for €100-200, and naturally, piracy also picked up.

The fact that people were willing to pay these kinds of prices says a lot about how unique the game is. A small but dedicated player base is still fighting large battles on virtual battlefields even nearly 16 years after release. Not many strategy games can say that.

The return

In May 2026, Eugen Systems decided to bring the game back, this time self-published.

And they didn't just relist it on Steam, they launched it with a massive 2.3 GB patch. This fixes a number of long-standing issues and also adds official Steam Deck support. Since the game already had controller support, it's likely one of the more playable RTS titles on Valve's handheld.

The €30 launch price might raise a few eyebrows, but this is very much a classic. There's no official word yet, but based on Eugen's other titles, it will probably see solid discounts during sales.

Closing thoughts

This is a rare and genuinely refreshing bit of news in the gaming world. Comebacks like this don't happen often, but hopefully other games will follow R.U.S.E.'s example.

Many games released after 2010 were distributed only digitally and protected by always-online DRM. When publishers pulled them, they were effectively lost, surviving only in memories and old gameplay videos.

While the Stop Killing Games movement is trying to push for better preservation, it doesn't apply retroactively. The fate of older games still largely depends on the goodwill of developers and publishers. Hopefully more will follow Eugen's lead, and we'll still be playing our favorites decades from now.

Links

• Wikipedia page of the game
• Fan wiki with tips and guides
• SteamDB page
• R.U.S.E. subreddit
• Relisting megathread on Reddit

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