Beyond the core abilities tied with each faction, you'll have research options available. Each faction possesses three vectors of research divided into three tiers. As you work your way through the campaign or proceed in a multiplayer match, you'll open up a new level that you can assign to a vector. You can hold up to a maximum of six research levels. Whether you max out two tiers or spread them evenly between all three is up to you.

Universe at War clearly shows a lot of promise; there is always the big question of faction balance when a company tries to include wildly different groups, which is without a doubt the case here. This is going to be the challenge for Petroglyph; if the company can strike the right balancing note with the three factions, Universe at War could be a huge hit. We’ll find out this fall if it reaches its lofty potential.