Editing Real-time strategy (section)

=== 2012–present: Expansion and adaptation to various gaming formats ===
The popularization of the [[smartphone]] in the 2010s led to a new market for [[video game]]s to expand to and develop. Innovation on the traditional RTS format accelerated throughout the early 2010s as RTS games were released for [[mobile device]]s. With a new format specific to [[mobile device]]s, mobile RTS games were often simpler than their desktop counterparts. The simplification of the RTS formula coupled with the adoption of the smartphone during this period allowed for mobile RTS games to be more accessible than traditional RTS games. ''[[Clash of Clans]]'' (2012), a mobile game published by [[Supercell (video game company)|Supercell]], is a good example of a game which modified the RTS format into a simpler mobile experience. While often classified in the broader [[Strategy game]] genre, ''Clash of Clans'' still possesses many of the classic RTS elements, such as a "perspective of god", control over buildings and mobile units, and resource management. It also introduces and simplifies specific elements of an RTS to fit the mobile format with "idle" resource gathering and defenses, as well as reducing the number of resource types, unit types, and building types to make the game more accessible to new users. In an interview between game journalist Bryant Francis and ''Clash of Clans'' developer Stuart McGaw, McGaw attributed ''Clash of Clan''{{'}}s design to "a focus on simplicity and accessibility", something that "anyone could pick up and play", while also retaining "the strategy DNA", that gives players "lots of options" while remaining "clear to understand".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Francis |date=2022-08-22 |title=Game Developer {{!}} Game Industry News, Deep Dives, and Developer Blogs |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref>  Multiple other mobile games, such as ''[[Boom Beach]]'' (2014), ''[[Plague Inc.]]'' (2012), the ''[[Bloons Tower Defense]]'' series (2007-2021), and more have (varyingly) adapted the RTS format in the same manner as ''Clash of Clans'', and in turn developed a style of RTS unique to the mobile game industry.

Beginning in the early-mid 2010s, the expansion of the [[Indie game]] market on game developer [[Valve Corporation]]'s gaming distribution service, [[Steam (service)|Steam]], allowed RTS game developers to produce smaller-scale and increasingly accessible Indie-RTS games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bea |first=Robin |date=2023-09-21 |title=20 Years Ago, Valve Changed How We Play PC Games Forever |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/steam-20th-anniversary |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Inverse |language=en}}</ref> These RTS games often are more true to the traditional RTS formula, with the player having the "perspective of god" and managing units and resources. Such Indie-RTS Games released in this period were often subject to [[Porting]], and often made it to mobile devices. A few of these Indie-RTS games are ''[[Ultimate Epic Battle Simulator]]'' (2017), the ''[[Machines at War]]'' series (2007-2012), and ''[[Bad North]]'' (2018).

Oftentimes, modern RTS games attempt to capture the "nostalgia" of classic RTS games. ''Rusted Warfare'' (2017), is an indie-mobile release which is a good example of a traditional-style RTS which utilizes assets from the unreleased ''Hard Vacuum'' (1993) to create a "revived" RTS experience. ''Hard Vacuum'' was intended to include "resource gathering from mineral deposits", "base building", and "a wide range of fighting with units".<ref>{{Cite web |last=fgasking |date=2022-12-28 |title=Hard Vacuum (PC) |url=https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2022/12/hard-vacuum/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Games That Weren't |language=en-GB}}</ref> ''Rusted Warfare'' and other traditional RTS titles utilized the element of classic PC-gaming nostalgia in order to drive the game-playing experience.

Traditional RTS games released in the late 2010s - early 2020s were developed with a focus on coupling the traditional-style gameplay with uniquely styled, or hyper-realistic graphics. These RTS games are often Indie-RTS games, but released on a multitude of platforms. Some RTS releases like ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' (2017), ''[[Steel Division 2]]'' (2019), ''[[Company of Heroes 3]]'' (2023), and [[Last Train Home (video game)|''Last Train Home'']] (2023) are examples of modern RTS games that are focused on providing a traditional RTS experience.