Some PC gamers might prefer Windows XP to Vista but when it comes to real-time strategy Stormrise, Vista's the only option you've got for running the thing. It's the first game to require DirectX 10, which is only available with Vista.

"From day one Stormrise has been designed as a new type of RTS for next generation consoles and PCs. Stormrise has been designed for DirectX 10 and Vista only right from the start," said lead designer Artem Kulakov in an interview with PCGamesHardware. He added in a follow-up to the interview: "Vista only. DX10 only. No fallback option. We have never suggested this or hinted at it, so it shouldn't be a surprise."

Why DX10? Artem states that DX10 "matches capabilities of next generation consoles better than DX9, which is important for us considering that Stormrise is a multi-platform title." Stormrise will also be released on PS3 and Xbox 360 as well so you do actually have a couple fallback options if you're dead-set against Vista.