Strategy and Wargaming

A somber new chapter in one of strategy gaming’s most acclaimed series

Ardennes, the latest expansion for the award-winning strategy series Unity of Command II, is OUT NOW on Steam.

Praised for its elegance, precision, and deep operational gameplay, Unity of Command II has continued the legacy of a franchise critics have called “the perfect gateway into computer war games.”

With more than 100,000 players worldwide and a dedicated community of wargamers and historians, the series stands as one of the most respected names in the genre.

Now, the next chapter arrives—and it is a bleak one.

A Desperate Offensive. A War Already Lost.

Ardennes drops players into December 1944, as the Third Reich, encircled on all fronts, launches one final, catastrophic gamble: a surprise winter offensive through the Ardennes meant to split Allied lines and turn the tide of the war. This is the campaign known also as The Battle of the Bulge or Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein.

Players will command the German forces in the frozen forests of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Eastern Front during the final months of WWII.

For those willing to stray from history, a full alt-history campaign branch explores a speculative, almost unbelievable “what-if” scenario – a version of the winter of ’44-45 worthy of its own documentary.

KEY FEATURES

● 14 Challenging Scenarios

A dual-path campaign:

7 historical scenarios covering the real Ardennes offensive and final battles against the Red Army.

7 alt-history scenarios exploring a wildly speculative, high-stakes alternate timeline.

● Two Highly Detailed New Maps

A sweeping Ardennes offensive map capturing the scale and tempo of the German winter push.

A tightly focused map tracing the dramatic route of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

● New Units

Including winter-camouflage Panthers, and rare Axis contingents such as Swiss, Portuguese, Spanish, and more.

● Unique “Red” Specialists

Late-war German specialist units -one-of-a-kind, powerful, and limited. Examples include the infamous Panzer Brigade 150, Sturmmöser Kompanie 1000, and other exotic formations.

Matrix Games are pleased to announce Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War has received its first update, v. 3.0.1.10236 focusing on bug fixes. It addresses several scenario issues, improves unit pathfinding, SOP propagation to unit orders, fixes artillery counter-battery behavior, along with a number of other miscellaneous fixes and updates.

You can download the patch here. View the changelog here.

Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War is out now on Steam.

Slitherine today has announced Panzer Corps 2 – Allied Operations: Italy Vol. 1, the first chapter of a new grand Allied trilogy covering the liberation of Italy from the invasion of Sicily to final victory.

In Allied Operations: Italy Vol. 1, you will command the British Eighth Army and the US Seventh Army during Operation Husky, the massive amphibious assault that opened the road into Europe’s southern flank. Fight across Sicily’s rugged terrain, break through Axis defensive lines, and push both armies toward a converging offensive against the retreating German and Italian forces.

This DLC features two parallel campaign paths that eventually merge into a unified Allied advance. Build and carry over your veteran core forces, use historical heroes, earn Commendation Points for unique rewards, and deploy new obstacles and fortifications such as hedgehogs, barbed wire, pillboxes, and machine-gun nests.

Begin the Allied liberation of Italy and shape the opening phase of a campaign that will continue across the entire Italian front.

More information is available on the official webpage or you can wishlist it on Steam.

Slitherine and Frag Games have announced Bolt Action, a turn-based WWII strategy game inspired by the acclaimed tabletop system from Warlord Games. The game brings the miniature battlefield to life in a fully 3D environment, featuring realistic line of sight, terrain, and morale mechanics.

Bolt Action Announcement Trailer

Bolt Action offers a dynamic single-player campaign set during D-Day and the battles of Normandy, alongside multiplayer modes. Players must make careful tactical decisions, positioning troops, timing attacks, and issuing orders to achieve victory.

The game is currently in development and is set to release in 2026, with more updates coming in the months ahead.

Find our more about Bolt Action on the games official webpage or add to your wishlist on Steam.

“September, 1940. I lead an RAF squadron of twelve pilots. Our chances of holding the Channel depend on the cooperation of every squadron in Fighter Command….”

Scramble: Battle of Britain Campaign Trailer

Unlike traditional flight campaigns, the Channel Defense Campaign isn’t about re-living history. It focuses on a personal corner of WWII, telling the story of each player’s squadron—a tale of leadership, survival, and humanity amidst overwhelming odds.

Every choice matters as you step into the role of a Squadron Leader: who flies, who rests, and who leads. Manage morale, stamina, and readiness while facing mounting attrition against the Luftwaffe’s relentless raids. Each pilot develops over time, gaining experience, injuries, or scars—both physical and emotional. Some will rise as celebrated aces, while others may never return.

The Channel Defense Campaign will be available with Scramble: Battle of Britain v1.0, launching in Spring 2026—the biggest milestone after its Early Access journey.

Get ready to defend the skies when the campaign begins.

Download Scramble: Battle of Britain in Early Access now.

During Slitherine Next, we officially announced Headquarters: Cold War, the next entry in the Headquarters series.

Set in a fictional 1984 conflict between NATO and the USSR, the game brings the Headquarters formula into a new era of modern warfare, expanded tactical options, and updated battlefield technology.

Headquarters: Cold War Gameplay Trailer

One of the key additions is the introduction of Utility and Attack Helicopters. These aircraft can fly at low altitude, land to pick up or deploy infantry, and provide new offensive and reconnaissance capabilities. The update also expands the HQ skill trees, introduces new officer abilities, and adjusts overall game balance to better reflect Cold War–era military developments.

A new range of environments, 3D assets, unit models, and UI elements further distinguishes this entry from its World War II predecessor while maintaining the core structure of the Headquarters system.

Join the Beta now.

Find out more about Headquarters: Cold War on the games official webpage.

Update version v2.10.20 for Campaign Series: Vietnam and update v3.10.20 Campaign Series: Middle East are now available. These new patches improve stability, usability, and overall gameplay experience for both titles.

Update Highlights:

Both updates are available for download.

Download Campaign Series: Vietnam Update here.

Download Campaign Series: Middle East Update here.

Read the full list of changes here.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Matrix Games, and such occasion deserves something special.

To celebrate, we are glad to announce that two brand-new scenarios are now free for everyone who owns Combat Mission Fortress Italy.

Here are the details:

Il Serpente:

Central Italy, South of Rome, Frosinone Province, September 13, 1943

After the Italian Armistice of Sept 3, German High Command implemented Operation Achse: to disarm the Italian military and secure strategic, Italian territory throughout the country. 29th Panzer Grenadier Division, is tasked with removing the Italian 136th Armored ‘Centauro’ Division from key points along the Latina Valley.

Conditions: Overcast, Cool, Dry ground

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot:

Northeast Sicily, Carone Mountains, August 13, 1943

Northeast of Randozzo, the U.S. 9th Inf. Div. clashes with rearguard elements of the German 15th Infantry Division attempting to slow the drive on Messina. German and Italian units are putting up fierce resistance in order to buy time for the evacuation of Axis forces to the mainland.

Conditions: Haze, Warm, Dry ground

Combat Mission Fortress Italy is available on the games official webpage for $29.99.

Relic Entertainment is proud to announce that Company of Heroes 3: Endure & Defy, the latest Battlegroup DLC, is now available on PC via Steam for $24.99 USD | £19.49 GBP | €22.99 EUR. This expansion introduces four new Battlegroup, one for each faction, designed for Multiplayer and Co-Op/Skirmish vs A.I modes. Players can take advantage of a 10% discount for two weeks, and new players can join the fight with a 60% Black Friday discount on the Company of Heroes 3 base game.

Each Battlegroup introduces a new playstyle for its faction, delivering powerful new units, iconic franchise favorites, and innovative abilities that bring all new gameplay mechanics to the battlefield.

Company of Heroes 3: Endure & Defy Launch Trailer

Four New Battlegroups

Launching alongside the DLC, the Scarlet Bison update delivers a significant set of gameplay refinements, multiplayer quality, and fresh content for the community. This update focuses heavily on core gameplay improvements, including upgrades to tank riding mechanics, vehicle and building garrison functionality, and pathfinding behavior. Scarlett Bison also introduces multiplayer quality-of-life improvements and over 2,000 new voiceover lines for new and existing characters.

Scarlet Bison represents another major step in Relic’s ongoing commitment to refining and expanding the Company of Heroes 3 experience.

Download Endure & Defy on Steam and experience new ways to adapt, strategize, and dominate the battlefield.

United States of Annihilation is officially out now for $6.99 on Steam. The United States of Annihilation DLC for ICBM: Escalation drills into the core tenets that define the ICBM experience: the cold logic of nuclear supremacy, the reckless disregard for consequence, and the sheer, unrelenting spectacle of global destruction.

Set in an alternate history where the United States emerged from World War II with more than victory, this expansion’s campaign imagines a nation unchecked by opposition. There’s no Korean War. No arms race. No balance of power. Instead, the United States has poured limitless resources into its nuclear program, creating a war machine unmatched by no rival.

Armed with a monopoly on nuclear weapons and driven by an insatiable thirst for control, America rises as a self-proclaimed guardian of freedom whose democracy serves as a cover for ruthless domination.

ICBM: Escalation – Endless October & United States of Annihilation Gameplay Trailer

Launching alongside the DLC is the massive Update 1.1.1, bringing major improvements, refinements, fixes, and enhancements across the entire game. Read the changelog HERE.