Legendary composer Frank Klepacki says the RTS genre isn’t dead, but he would like to see devs get a little more creative with it
Frank Klepacki, legendary video game composer known for his work on Eye of the Beholder 2 and numerous real-time strategy titles, has pushed back against claims that the RTS genre is dead. Speaking to Edge magazine, Klepacki acknowledges that the genre is significantly diminished compared to its golden age in the 1990s, when iconic games like Command & Conquer, Warcraft, and Dune 2 dominated the gaming landscape and defined the genre for a generation.
While Klepacki recognizes the decline in RTS prominence and commercial success, he maintains that the genre still has potential for revival. The composer argues that what’s needed is greater creativity from developers in approaching real-time strategy design. Rather than iterating on established formulas, he suggests that fresh ideas and experimental approaches could help the genre regain relevance with modern audiences.
Klepacki’s perspective carries weight given his extensive experience composing music for numerous RTS titles throughout his career. His comments reflect broader industry discussions about genre evolution and whether certain types of games can be revitalized or if they’ve simply run their creative course.