Supreme Commander 2 takes place 25 years after the events of Supreme Commander . The three opposing sides - the Cybran Nation, the Illuminates and the United Earth Federation - are still fighting in the Infinite War all across the galaxy, spreading chaos and unrest with the player right in the middle as the Supreme Commander.
The game features a single-player campaign where the player takes control of the armies of each faction. The campaign is divided into three parts, each with a different commander: Dominic "Migraine" Maddox for the UEF, Thalia Kael for the Illuminates, and Ivan Brackman for the Cybran Nation.
The gameplay is similar to Total Annihilation , with an insane amount of units on the battlefield at the same time. The player can zoom out to a strategic map or zoom in until they're up close with their avatar, the mighty ACU. The ACU can construct buildings faster and has access to powerful weapons.
The resource-management system has been overhauled, requiring players to have the necessary resources before building units or structures. This changes from the previous game where resources were lost over time while construction was in progress.
Each structure can now be upgraded with add-ons, such as shields, to increase their defensive abilities. Five tech-trees are available to unlock upgrades for units, buildings, and the ACU, which is visible on the battlefield with a shimmering aura around it.
The game also features skirmish-mode against AI opponents with different victory conditions, including destruction of the enemy's ACU or total destruction of their base. These modes are also available in multiplayer mode for up to eight players.