Wargaming, developer and publisher of the historically inspired naval battle MMO World of Warships: Legends has launched its May update. Headlining this is the full PC launch onto Steam, Xbox on PC and new benefits coming with Xbox Game Pass bringing the action to even more players around the world. May’s update also includes a special “Blooming Mountain” campaign, plenty of themed content to celebrate Golden Week, and the return of the Roman Empire to the game. Rounding out May’s update is the reappearance of the “Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova-” collaboration, featuring fan-favourite ships, skins and Commanders.

Through Mountains and Eras – New Update in World of Warships: Legends Trailer

Blooming Mountain campaign introduces Premium Japanese battleship Inamura
A new four-week “Blooming Mountain” campaign makes waves, with 80 milestones available for players to complete, unlocking rewards like camouflages and crates. For those who complete the campaign with active Admiralty Backing, new Japanese Tier VII Premium battleship Inamura is available. In addition to being one of the faster and more agile ships in her class, perfect for evading danger, Inamura sports fast-reloading 410 mm guns that spray with armour piercing and high-explosion shells to deal damage to surrounding enemies.

Golden Week festivities arrive to Legendary waters
Golden Week has arrived for 2026, alongside plenty of themed content. Five new battle-ready skins arrive for Aoba, Kagerō, Musashi, Fubuki, and Akatsuki, joined by a new three-week calendar “Spirits in the Wind”. Packed with rewards, this calendar features a new Commander guise, Kaede Kawashiro, who crafts magical Japanese carp streamers known as koinobori. The event also brings Golden Week ‘26 crates, which contain themed skins and the chance at returning ships like Hyūga and Musashi.

The Roman Empire rises again in World of Warships: Legends
Making a triumphant return back to the game, players can look forward to new Roman Empire themed content, including unique, new Tier VIII Italian Premium cruiser Legate. Taranto Port returns as well, reimagined with stylised decorations and a Crafting Station, where players can combine resources to unlock thematic rewards. Amongst these are a Centurion Commander guise, and new Tier VII Italian Premium battleship Marcantonio Colonna, with precise main guns and long-range secondary firepower to strike down enemies.

“Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova-” returns to Legends
“Arpeggio of Blue Steel -Ars Nova-” makes waves in World of Warships: Legends, as the collaboration returns to the game. Bringing back all previously released content, players can have their fan-favourite characters take the helm battle, and explore a variety of ships to expand their fleets, including ARP Musashi, ARP Nachi, and ARP Kirishima. On top of this, additional themed content is available in-game, including a special skin for Yamato, and a special set of missions to claim Japanese camouflages and Arpeggio crates.

Full details on the May update can be found in the patch notes.

Find out more about World of Warships: Legends on its official website.

Fulqrum Publishing has officially announced Theatre of War: Rearmed for PC, bringing the complete Theatre of War series together in one definitive package, unified on the latest version of its original engine, created by a solo developer. The game’s first public playtest will begin on May 7 during Steam’s World War 2 Sale, a themed event focused on WWII games.

Theatre of War Rearmed – Announcement and Playtest Teaser

Theatre of War: Rearmed combines the full legacy of the series into a single experience, including Theatre of War with LEHR and Liberation Belarus, Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 with Centauro, Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943 with Battle for Caen and Theatre of War 3: Korea.

The war, rearmed
With Theatre of War: Rearmed, Fulqrum Publishing is bringing the entire series onto the latest version of its original engine, creating a shared technical foundation across gameplay, controls and interface. Almost every game mechanic has been revised and improved, with better performance and stability, refreshed visuals and effects, redesigned high-resolution UI support and refined controls and camera behavior for modern systems.

Rather than replacing the original identity of the series, Theatre of War: Rearmed preserves its tactical depth while refining it into a more cohesive modern package. The core experience remains focused on realistic battlefield systems, including detailed ballistics, armor penetration, damage simulation, terrain-influenced vehicle behavior and infantry reacting dynamically to combat conditions.

A complete battlefield experience
Spanning Europe, North Africa, and Korea, Theatre of War: Rearmed presents the full scope of the franchise as one connected experience. The game includes over 100 missions across multiple campaigns and a dynamic strategic mode, giving players the freedom to approach the battlefield through long-form operations or shorter tactical engagements based on their preferred style of play.

The game also preserves and expands the systems that made the series enduringly replayable, including multiplayer, mission editing, modding support and open resources. Steam achievements are also part of the updated package, adding another layer of progression for returning players and newcomers alike.

Playtest invitation
The first public playtest for Theatre of War: Rearmed begins on May 7 during Steam’s World War 2 Sale. Players are invited to visit the game’s Steam page and request access to the playtest to be among the first to experience the rebirth of classic tactical strategy series.

The playtest version offers a focused slice of the full game, including 11 missions across three campaigns, 2 standalone scenarios and 9 tutorial missions introducing the core systems and mechanics. Multiplayer will also be available, with 11 maps designed for both competitive and cooperative tactical battles. This setup gives players an early chance to experience the updated controls, technical improvements and battlefield systems ahead of release.

Key features

• Complete Theatre of War series unified on the latest version of its original engine
• Over 100 missions across multiple campaigns and a dynamic strategic mode
• Realistic tactical combat with advanced ballistics and damage systems
• Improved AI across infantry, vehicles, artillery and aircraft
• Expanded gameplay systems including engineering, towing and repairs
• 64-bit upgrade with major performance and stability improvements
• Enhanced 3D models, textures, visuals, lighting, shaders and effects
• Redesigned UI with full high-resolution support
• New and updated sound effects. New music
• Large multiplayer component with maps for up to 8 players
• Mission generator for additional replayability
• Full modding support with editor and open resources
• Steam achievements

Join the playtest and wishlist the game on Steam.

The wait is almost over for fans of deep, realistic naval simulations.

Matrix Games today announced that Modern Naval Warfare will be released on May 18, bringing one of the most ambitious submarine warfare experiences ever created to players worldwide.

Modern Naval Warfare – Release Date Announcement Trailer

The game delivers an incredibly detailed experience, spanning from the crushing depths of the ocean to tense geopolitical hotspots such as the South China Sea.

Built on real-world GIS data, it features physically based rendering and dynamic environmental systems, including realistic ocean waves, and a fully simulated day-night cycle. Players can also explore meticulously recreated submarine interiors, such as the Virginia-class Combat Information Center, with interactive control stations.

From solo operations to coordinated strike group missions, the world is your theater of war. With a full campaign set in the South China Sea, several mission types, and a mission editor for custom scenarios, Modern Naval Warfare aims to set a new benchmark for naval combat simulations.

Wishlist the game today on Steam!

Transmission from the Pacific #1

Tora!, Tora!, Tora!

The Theater of War

The Pacific War encompassed the largest area of any episode of World War II. It was full of violent strikes, twists and turns, and the heroism of all the fighting soldiers. It was also a campaign where fleets clashed on one side, and on the other, jungle warfare requiring soldier action took place. Radio Commander Pacific ’41 takes us back to the struggle for islands in the Pacific from 1941 to 1945. The Pacific Theater featured vast distances, the need to capture individual islands, a fierce and often fanatical defense, the need for landings, the use of naval artillery, and more.

Player Role

The player takes on the immersive role of a commander during a conflict in which radio communication was crucial. Using only the radio voice communication, you must understand a situation and build the picture on your own, based solely on what your units are reporting. You don’t have a magic click moving tokens for you. You have to do it yourself. You don’t have automatic graphics and animations to make your work easier, as you might often see in other games. It’s just you, the map, and the radio. Use a radio to be a commander.

And based on the situational awareness you’ve built, you must communicate your intentions to your subordinate units, also via radio. You must independently make calculations, such as losses, the location of your own units, their situation, time to arrival, and ammunition levels. You must anticipate and react to enemy actions.

Create a battle plan, implement it, and act on changing enemy actions. Provide support to your units. All this is done exclusively via voice radio communication. Commands and reports are standardized, allowing for faster communication with your subordinates. You have a range of units at your disposal, from infantry to airplanes.

But the battle plan is in the commander’s head… in your head.

Wishlist the game on Steam and Slitherine.

Four intense missions and new deadly tactical challenges await in the second DLC

Publisher Kalypso Media and in-house developer Claymore Game Studios Today release “No Man Left Behind”, the second DLC for Commandos: Origins, available on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and PlayStation®4|5.

Commandos: Origins – No Man Left Behind Release Trailer

Set in the Auvergne region of occupied France, the DLC expands the main campaign with four new missions. Following the capture of the Green Beret during a failed operation, players take command of Thomas “the Sapper” Hancock, Francis T. “the Sniper” Woolridge, and Rene “the Spy” Duchamp to rescue their comrade.

Players navigate through hostile terrain – spanning night time forest operations and heavily guarded military structures scattered across the mountainous countryside. Beyond simple infiltration, objectives evolve: to sabotage the prototype of a new dangerous German superweapon, the Commandos must uncover crucial information and clues on the ground.

The introduction of the Radio Operator adds a fresh tactical challenge. Enemy communications can escalate situations instantly, forcing players to prioritize disruption over direct confrontation. Cutting signal chains is now essential to maintain control across enemy territory.

Betrayed by former allies to the west and besieged by rising powers to the east, the Byzantine Empire has been reduced to its Greek and Thracian heartlands. Centuries of intrigue and invasion have meant a steady decline in the fortunes of Constantinople. But, under your guidance, the heirs of the Caesars and stalwarts of the Orthodox faith can find their greatness once again. On 06 May 2026, you can determine the Fate of the Phoenix. Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix is the first immersion pack for Paradox Interactive’s best-selling historical grand strategy game about the late medieval and early modern era. Focused on the Byzantine Empire, Fate of the Phoenix adds more historical content to the heirs of Rome, including a new disaster and unique color that brings the challenges of the time to life as you write new histories of this fading giant.

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix Story Trailer

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix includes:

• Byzantine Bureaucracies: Unique content for the new Bureaucracy system designed for larger imperial powers. Choose to keep the old ways in hopes of restoring the empire or take the risk of discarding centuries of ambition to follow a more modest course.
• Latinitas vs Romanismos: A unique Societal Value for the empire, choosing between a reconciliation with the Latin powers of the west or entrenching Roman heritage.
• Fate of the Phoenix Disaster: Work to reverse the crumbling fortunes of the empire before it gets too late to stop the decline. Choose a clear path, expand quickly, and reform so you can stabilize the ship of state.
• More Orthodox Content: Interact with the Ecumenical Patriarchs, restore the Pentarchy to strengthen the Eastern Church, expand Orthodoxy to Rome and Mend the Schism.
• Hellenism: Revive belief in the old pagan gods, seeking their favor through the invocation of omens.
• Latin Culture: Embrace a total return to the old Roman roots, taking up the old ways.
• New Art: New portraits, illustrations, city models and unit models for the Eastern Mediterranean inspired by Byzantine history.
• New Flavor Content: New events, military units, character-related actions, subjects, and more!

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix will be available on 06 May 2026 for the suggested retail price of $9.99/£8.49/€9.99. It is also available as a part of the Europa Universalis V: Premium Edition.

More information is available on the Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix webpage. You can wishlist the add-on via Steam.

Blue Dot Games are proud to announce that their 40v40 squad-based tactical first-person shooter ‘83 is now available in Steam Early Access for $29.99 / €28.99 / £24.99 with a launch week discount of 10%. Set in an alternate 1983 where the Cold War erupts into full-scale conflict, ‘83 delivers large-scale, team-driven combat inspired by classic tactical shooters, while introducing a modern take on accessibility and realism.

’83 – Early Access Launch Trailer

“Our vision for ‘83 has always been to deliver a large-scale tactical shooter that feels authentic to its Cold War setting, while remaining approachable for a wide range of players. From the weapons and uniforms to the pacing of combat, every detail is designed to ground the experience in realism without sacrificing playability. Launching into Early Access is a major milestone for us, as it allows players to step in, experience that vision firsthand, and help shape the game as it evolves,” said Tony Gillham, CEO at Blue Dot Games.

‘83 is available now in Steam Early Access, bringing players into large-scale Cold War combat with a strong focus on teamwork, coordination, and tactical decision-making.

Publisher Kalypso Media and Developer Kite Games are proud to announce the official launch of Sudden Strike 5, marking a triumphant return for the beloved real-time strategy franchise. Sudden Strike 5 sets a new benchmark for tactical WWII gameplay with greater complexity, larger battlefields, and more ways to achieve victory with sandbox gameplay.

The game is out now for PC, Xbox on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation®5 in Standard Edition (€49.99 / $49.99 / £44.99) and Deluxe Edition (€59.99 / $59.99 /£54.99) with a 10% launch discount available for the first 7 days on Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Kalypso Media Store.

Step into the commander’s seat, where every decision shapes the fight in the official Sudden Strike 5 launch trailer.

Sudden Strike 5 unleashes a slew of new features and quality-of-life upgrades over its predecessor, designed to give commanders more control and tactical choice. Players can construct bridges over rivers to open new routes to catch enemy forces by surprise, call-in reinforcements via sea or railroad, and coordinate large-scale maneuvers with improved visibility and streamlined unit management, allowing for the deployment of overwhelming force!

Take control of the battlefield in one of three major factions: the Western Allies, Soviet, or Axis forces, across an expansive 25-mission campaign. From the frozen landscapes of the Eastern Front to the harsh deserts of North Africa, each battlefield presents unique challenges demanding careful planning, adaptability, and tactical mastery.

Bandai Namco has released ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE | Strangereal Evolution Episode 2. Players can take a look at the previous title with Ace Combat 7 and how it differs from the new installment with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, being made in Unreal Engine 5 to offer unprecedented visuals and fidelity.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve – Strangereal Evolution Episode 2

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is coming to PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam® in 2026. For more information, visit the games official website, or via Steam.

New Hearts of Iron IV Focus Pack Offers Fresh Challenge

The hungry eyes of autocratic neighbors have turned to a small Central European democracy. Not even 20 years old, the Republic of Czechoslovakia has uncertain alliances in this dangerous world. Can you resist the tides of history and survive the crisis of the late 1930s? In Peace for Our Time, a Focus Pack for Hearts of Iron IV, you will face a new test of your skills as the enemy is close and time is short.

Hearts of Iron IV: Peace For Our Time Official Release Trailer

Available now, Peace for Our Time is designed in collaboration with veteran modders Logan ‘Spicy Alfredo’ Calkins, Abbus Fung and Marijn ‘marijn211’ Vroegh. This pack includes new National Focus Trees and unique mechanics, inspired by the difficult situation of pre-war Czechoslovakia, as it faces external aggression, internal division, and an unpredictable diplomatic climate.

The Hearts of Iron IV: Peace for Our Time Focus Pack is available now on Steam for the suggested retail price of $5.99 / £4.99 / €5.99.