Transformers: Battlegrounds Is Leaving Steam
If you have ever wanted a kid friendly XCOM style game set in the Transformers universe, there is some time sensitive news you should know. Transformers: Battlegrounds is being delisted from Steam at the end of the month due to its licensing agreement coming to an end.
Once a licensed game loses its rights, it can no longer be sold on digital stores. That is exactly what is happening here. The upside is that the game is heavily discounted before it disappears. On Steam it is currently 90 percent off until it is removed on December 31.
For PC gamers this is the last chance to easily grab a legitimate copy on Valve’s platform. After delisting you will still be able to download and play it if you already own it, but new purchases will not be possible on Steam.
What Kind of Game Is Transformers: Battlegrounds
Transformers: Battlegrounds is best described as a simplified XCOM for younger players and fans of the newer Transformers cartoons, especially Cyberverse. The game borrows a lot of tactical ideas from classic turn based strategy but packages them in bright, colorful visuals and easy to understand mechanics.
You control a squad of Autobots in grid based battles. Levels are built around the familiar systems that PC tactics fans already know:
- Turn based movement where each character has a limited range per turn
- Cover symbols that clearly show whether you are protected from enemy fire
- Action points that you spend on moving, attacking, and using abilities
The characters use their iconic transformations in a neat mechanical way. If you spend extra actions on movement, a Transformer will switch into vehicle mode to cover more distance. It is a small detail but it helps the game feel true to the source material while still staying accessible.
Each character also has an Energon meter that fills as you act in combat. When it is full you can unleash an ultimate ability for big damage or powerful support effects. This gives battles a simple but satisfying rhythm: position your Autobots in cover, manage your action points, build up Energon, and then drop a flashy ultimate at the right moment.
The cast pulls heavily from recent shows. You get evergreen versions of classics like Bumblebee and Shockwave alongside newer characters like Windblade. Designs are bright and blocky instead of gritty or hyper realistic which suits the game’s more approachable tone. Voice acting and character designs are shared with the cartoons which helps it feel like an interactive episode for fans.
There is also local multiplayer, so you can play on the same PC with a friend or family member. That makes it a decent pick if you are looking for something tactical but not too intense to enjoy with younger gamers.
Who Is This Game For and Should You Buy It
Transformers: Battlegrounds is not trying to compete with the depth of hardcore PC tactics titles. If you go in expecting something as complex as fighting the Chosen in XCOM 2, you will be disappointed. The systems here are streamlined, the campaign is more straightforward, and the difficulty is tuned so younger players can keep up.
Where it shines is as an entry level strategy game for:
- Kids who love Transformers and want something more thoughtful than basic action games
- Parents or older siblings who enjoy XCOM but want a simpler game to share
- Transformers fans who like the idea of tactical combat with their favorite bots
- PC players who are curious about tactical games but feel intimidated by deeper titles
If you are an experienced strategy fan, you might treat it as a light snack rather than a main course. The core ideas of providing cover, using overwatch style reactions, and timing ultimates are there, just without layers of complicated systems. It can still be entertaining to see recognizable characters like Bumblebee drop overwatch shots on Decepticons such as Starscream, especially if you are a fan of the franchise.
One notable point for PC players is modding. Some people have recreated Transformers style experiences by modding other tactics games like XCOM. That route gives more depth but also takes more effort. Transformers: Battlegrounds is the opposite approach: no mods, no setup, just a simple out of the box tactics game wrapped in an official Transformers license.
Because the game is about to be removed from Steam and is currently 90 percent off, the value proposition is fairly strong. At full price the simplicity might be harder to justify for hardcore PC strategy fans, but at a deep discount it becomes a low risk way to sample a Transformers tactics game or to add a kid friendly title to a Steam library.
If any of this sounds appealing, the key detail is timing. The game is only available on Steam until December 31. After that you will not be able to purchase it there anymore due to the license expiring. Existing owners can still download and play, but the store page will be effectively gone.
So if you have ever thought that XCOM would be perfect with Autobots and Decepticons, or you know a younger gamer who would be thrilled to command Bumblebee in grid based battles, now is the moment to decide. Transformers: Battlegrounds may not be a genre defining tactics game, but as a light, approachable PC strategy title for fans of the robots in disguise, it is worth a look before it rolls out of the Steam store for good.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/theres-a-transformers-xcom-like-on-steam-and-its-on-sale-for-90-percent-off-before-it-gets-delisted/
