"The independent Trader Worlds must unite to defend themselves against the return of their exiled brethren - 'The Advent' and the arrival of the desperate remnants of the ancient Vasari Empire."

With formidable fleets of starships, players will explore and conquer nearby planets and distant solar systems by applying brute force, cunning strategy, elegant diplomacy, economic mastery, and researched technology. Battle hardened capital ships advance in level, improving their core offensive and defensive systems, and unlocking their unique abilities. From research facilities to weapons platforms, planetary structures built on land and in orbit add to their planet's strategic and economic value.

Gamers who missed the first phase of the Sins of a Solar Empire beta test will soon get another chance to play Stardock and Ironclad’s strategy game ahead of its release. Beta 2 launches on June 21 for anyone who has pre-ordered Sins of a Solar Empire via TotalGaming.net, and includes a ton of new features that will be included in the final game, as well as tweaks and fixes based on feedback from beta testers.

Sins of a Solar Empire is an epic RT4X strategy game, providing grand-scale strategic gameplay in a real-time environment. Beta 2 once again allows would-be galactic commanders to play through single-player sandbox games as the Trader Emergency Coalition (TEC), acting as high-level strategists to conquer new planets and to manage diplomatic relations, then seamlessly moving to the role of battle commander — directing individual ships to attack priority targets — via Sins’ breakthrough 3D game engine.

In Beta 2, Ironclad Games has implemented an upgraded Bounty system including Marauding Pirates, an improved interface including the new Event Tracking System, an expanded combat and tactical-counter model, improved planetary management, a new Capital Planet system, an expanded tech tree, upgraded strategic and tactical AI, even more strategic options, a refined economic system, improved graphics and much more. New players don’t need to worry about getting lost in the new features, as Beta 2 also includes two new advanced tutorials and enhancements to existing tutorials to introduce new gameplay concepts.

Powered by Ironclad's proprietary Iron Engine and the Forge Tool Suite, a galaxy of intriguing aliens, powerful starships, and colossal planets comes to life with stunning 3D graphics, unparalleled sense of scale, and a cinematic musical score. Up to ten players can battle for galactic supremacy on IroncladOnline, the company's upcoming matchmaking, player ranking and statistics tracking service.

Sins of a Solar Empire is currently scheduled for a February 2008 release.