Carrier Command 2
A modern remake of the 1988 carrier combat strategy game.
Carrier Command 2 is a real-time strategy title from developer Geometa and publisher MicroProse, available on Steam. It is a remake of the 1988 game *Carrier Command*, which was also published by MicroProse. Players, either alone or with others, take command of an aircraft carrier and vie with an opposing carrier for dominance over strategic islands. The game launched in August 2021, bundled with a separate VR edition. A version for consoles is currently in the works.
MicroProse announced the game in 2020, calling it a "modern and ambitious" update of the original. Geometa, based in Godalming, England, developed the sequel; their only other game is *Stormworks: Build and Rescue*. A prior remake, *Carrier Command: Gaea Mission*, came from Bohemia Interactive in 2013. The game released on 10 August 2021 as part of a MicroProse lineup of retro-style simulators. The VR edition was added after player requests, though Geometa had not planned it initially and treated it as a secondary, rushed project due to their inexperience with VR. In August 2026, MicroProse announced ports to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S through a partnership with Atari division Infogrames, with no release date set.
Gameplay follows the original concept: players control an aircraft carrier and compete against an identical enemy carrier for islands. Each island is defended by hostile units; capturing it allows production of weapons, parts, or supplies to capture more islands or attack the enemy. Carriers carry aircraft and amphibious vehicles, which can be controlled manually or automatically. The player operates from a first-person, interactive 3D bridge with monitors for systems like target spotting and supply ordering. This setup applies to both a single-player campaign and multiplayer. Up to nine players can crew a carrier cooperatively or face another team. Campaigns can be customized by adjusting the number of islands, players, and enemy carriers.
The game was praised for reviving the concept and offering freedom of choice, but critics commonly noted it was too demanding for a single player, with tasks that encourage teamwork despite single-player being the default. Unit controls were called frustrating, and the user interface and carrier bridge were difficult to navigate. The VR edition launched poorly on Steam, earning a "mostly negative"
Quick Facts
- Title
- Carrier Command 2
- Developer
- Geometa
- Publisher
- MicroProse / Infogrames (console version)
- Platforms
- Windows, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- Windows / 10 August 2021 / Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S / TBA
- Genre
- Real-time tactics, strategy video game
- Modes
- Single-player, multi-player, co-op
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Carrier Command 2 was announced in 2020 by MicroProse, who described it as a 'modern and ambitious' remake of Carrier Command, a game the company published in 1988. The sequel was developed by Geometa, a Godalming, England-based studio whose only other work is Stormworks: Build and Rescue. A previous remake of the original game was Bohemia Interactive's Carrier Command: Gaea Mission, released in 2013.
The game was released on 10 August 2021 as part of a lineup of retro-themed simulators from MicroProse. A separate VR edition, named Carrier Command 2 VR, was bundled with the base game. Geometa did not initially intend on making a VR game but did so after numerous players requested it. Compared to the base game, the VR mode was rushed as the studio lacked experience in the field and treated it as a secondary project.
On 24 August 2026, MicroProse announced that the game would be ported to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S under a publishing partnership with Atari division Infogrames. A release date was not announced.
Reader's Guide
Carrier Command 2 revives the concept of the original 1988 game, where a player controls an aircraft carrier and competes against an identical enemy carrier for control of islands. Each island is defended by hostile units; capturing it allows production of weapons, replacement parts, or supplies. The carrier is equipped with aircraft and amphibious vehicles that can be manually or automatically controlled. The first-person player operates from an interactable 3D bridge with monitors for targeting and supply orders. The premise supports a single-player campaign and multiplayer, with up to nine players crewing a carrier in co-op or against another team. Campaigns can be customized by changing the number of islands, players, and enemy carriers.
Reception praised the game for revisiting the concept and providing freedom of choice, but common complaints included difficulty managing the game alone, frustrating unit controls, and a difficult-to-navigate user interface and carrier bridge. The VR edition had a 'mostly negative' rating on Steam after a week, largely due to technical issues from lack of testing, many of which were addressed in subsequent patches. The game's significance lies in its faithful yet modernized remake of a classic strategy title, though its complexity and VR shortcomings drew mixed responses.
Did You Know?
- The VR edition was not initially planned but was added after numerous player requests, and was rushed due to the studio's lack of VR experience.
- On 24 August 2026, a console port was announced for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S under a partnership with Atari division Infogrames.
- The game received a 'mostly negative' rating on Steam for its VR edition after a week, due to technical issues from insufficient testing.
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