Strategy and Wargaming

Meet the Tanks and Vehicles of World War II in a New Developer Diary Video

Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today released a new developer diary video for Hearts of Iron IV, the upcoming World War II strategy game for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs. The video features a visit to the “Arsenalen” museum of military vehicles in Sweden, where Hearts of Iron IV’s Project Lead, Dan Lind, invites eager commanders to join him on a tour of how different tanks were used to turn the tide of war – and how different nations pursued tactics of quality vs. quantity.

This tour is connected to new game discussion and in-game footage as details about industry, war experience and vehicle production are revealed.

Click here to watch the new video.

Hearts of Iron IV challenges players to face the brutal conflict of World War II in a multifaceted grand strategy game, where history can be fully relived or rewritten from the perspective of a global superpower attempting to change the world – or a small nation simply trying to survive. Players will have to involve themselves in every facet of wargaming, from diplomacy with authentic historical figures to production and resources, along with battles on land, sea, and air. The most authentic real-time World War II simulation is scheduled to release next year for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs.

The “Rush to the Front” reward campaign for Hearts of Iron IV is still going strong, and ambitious generals who would like to obtain rewards for signing up, including the chance to participate in the Hearts of Iron IV beta ahead of the game’s launch, can still do so by visiting www.heartsofiron4.com.

Battlefront.com has released the 3.11 patch for Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy for both PC and Mac! The patch is NOT compatible with the 1.0 or 2.0 branches of the game. You need to have the 3.0 Upgrade installed in order to be able to use this patch. The patch updates the base game and any modules or packs you may have installed automatically.

Click here for patch features list and to download.

Revisit the Battle of the Bulge in this all-new standalone content for Company of Heroes 2!

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe, Ltd. are pleased to announce that Relic Entertainment’s Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is available to purchase online and in stores today with an RRP of £29.99/$39.99/€39.99. Based around the Battle of the Bulge, which Churchill called “arguably the most important victory in American military history,” players will take on 18 all-new single player scenarios as they attempt to drive the advancing German forces out of the Ardennes region and lead their heroes on a path to glory.

SEGA also released a brand new live action trailer to celebrate the launch of Ardennes Assault.

For more information regarding Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault, visit the games official website.

Battlefront.com has announced that the long awaited v1.01 patch for Combat Mission: Red Thunder has been released. It provides a number of important improvements and fixes, including improved stability of internet play, improved building entry for some systems, a mouse text targeting feature indicating range, improved TacAI logic, and much more.

The v1.01 patch is available for PC and Mac. The list of changes can be found HERE.

Click here to jump to the download page.

Developer promises more free updates, with extra features and content currently in development

Firefly Studios has released a new update (1.0.19574) for Stronghold Crusader 2, the recently released ‘castle sim’ sequel. The update, which is now live on Steam, introduces a new skirmish map, unit stats, map balancing and bug fixes. Click here for full changelist.

In a new blog post on the official Stronghold Crusader 2 website, Firefly revealed that the majority of post-release content for the game will be made available for free. “We really are just getting started and, after we have finished working on fixes and optimisation, the team will be adding more features and content. Extra AI characters will come in the form of paid-for DLC, but the majority of this post-release content will be free and automatically downloaded through Steam.”

Stronghold Crusader 2 is out now on Steam.

For the very first time in the Company of Heroes franchise, players will be able to choose between three different Companies, all with their own unique abilities, to forge their path to glory. Customers who pre-order will gain access to a fourth company; “Fox” Company, led by Captain Monte Durante.

This video details some of the many exciting new options that Fox Company will bring to the game including, their devastating M83 Cluster Bombs, Pinpoint Accurate Artillery and their main weapon, the Fox Company Elite Infantry who will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Pre-order Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault today to receive Fox Company free of charge and then look forward to the game’s release on November 18th, 2014.

For more information on Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault, log on to www.companyofheroes.com.

“And I saw, and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” – Revelation 6:2

As the world descends into the mists of the Dark Ages, civilization begins to crumble. Early Christians of Western Europe clamor to repent, stricken by looming omens of a divine apocalypse. In this climate of turmoil, the Eastern Roman Empire stands at a crossroads.

Secure behind the impenetrable walls of Constantinople, there are opportunities for fresh conquest. But with the warlike Visigoths to the North, the heathen Sassanids to the East, and their closest ally to the west stretched thin and tearing itself apart in its greed, is now truly the time to ride out and expand the Empire? And who will rightfully wear the crown?

Click here to watch the Total War: ATTILA – The White Horse Trailer.

Total War: ATTILA is due for release in 2015. More game information is available at the Total War: ATTILA website.

Battlefront.com today announced its newest modern ground warfare simulation Combat Mission: Black Sea, depicting a fictional 2017 conflict between NATO and Russia in Ukraine! Combat Mission: Black Sea is a military simulation depicting a fictional 2017 conflict between NATO and Russia in Ukraine. Following the events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine in 2014, the Kiev government and Russia continue to clash over the status of the contested regions. This culminates several years later in a dramatic announcement by Ukraine that they will be joining NATO and the EU. Tensions explode as Russia perceives a direct threat to Russian citizens and deploy troops to the Ukrainian border again, while Western governments, welcoming a chance to expand NATO and EU influence eastward, mobilize as well. The escalation continues until the summer of 2017, when a large firefight erupts between Ukrainian and Russian troops in the Donetsk region. The next day fighting flares up on the border, and on a dark early morning in June 2017, pre-positioned Russian and NATO forces roll forward into Ukraine.

Click here to preorder Combat Mission: Black Sea.

Click here to visit the official Combat Mission: Black Sea webpage for all the game details!

Live now, the latest free update for Rome II adds the festival of Lemuria to the game and a new seasonal challenge, Nightmare Mode!

Lemuria was an ancient feast during which restless spirits were exorcised from the home with the alternate offering of beans and then clashing of cooking pots. Perhaps an early Roman version of Trick or Treat?

Nightmare Mode can be toggled on from the game options menu, causing your troops to suffer horrifying visions in battle. Harpies descend from the skies as a terrifying atmosphere envelopes your forces. Assailed by such apparitions it is no surprise that your soldiers will find the enemy extremely frightening!

Any generals skilled enough to complete a Campaign battle in Nightmare Mode will earn a new Steam achievement and the adoration of their peers. May the gods help you if you try to complete a whole campaign…

More details on this update and exclusive new detail about the recently announced Total War: ATTILA can be found in this month’s Rally point.

Total War: Rome II Emperor Edition is Available Now, see www.totalwar.com for details.

You Gotta Have Faith to Conquer the Most Detailed Map Ever

Paradox Interactive has released “Art of War,” a new expansion for the award-winning grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV, for Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs. In what could be the largest expansion DLC in Paradox history, Art of War includes a broad selection of updates and features for Europa Universalis IV starring the most detailed and historically accurate map in Paradox’s strategic titles to date. Hundreds of new provinces dot the globe as the masters of grand strategy cast their eye on new nations and history beyond Europe’s shores.

Marvel at the size of Art of War by viewing the launch trailer.

Alongside the release of Art of War, a massive, free patch with loads of new content has also been issued that all players of Europa Universalis IV can download and use. Details on what is available in patch 1.8 can be found HERE.

To learn more about Europa Universalis IV, visit the games official website.