Strategy and Wargaming

Legends of Crusader Kings III Introduces People to Lifestyles with Character

Paradox Interactive’s award-winning medieval grand-strategy game Crusader Kings III has long been a favorite of newcomers to the Paradox stable of dynamic historical games. Its deft mix of deep strategy, period flavor, and character-centered role-playing appeals to a wide range of game-playing styles. Today, the Crusader Kings III team is launching a month-long activation on their channels aimed at making the game even more welcoming to curious people – with a free update coming in May. No need to be intimidated by the map, the numbers, or the sea of scowling faces.

Over the next month, Crusader Kings III will reintroduce a few familiar characters from one of the game’s most popular starting bookmarks. This campaign is designed to highlight the diversity of play options and story-telling possibilities available in the game. Even the most warlike of players must deal, from time to time, with other role-playing approaches if they want to get the most out of their experience.

Watch the announcement trailer HERE.

“At Paradox, we’re not under any illusions that our grand strategy games are immediately approachable, but we’ve always been proud that Crusader Kings III has been able to attract a wide range of types of players,” says Crusader Kings III Game Director, Alex Oltner. “Its ‘story generator’ qualities have proven very effective at getting a certain type of player into the larger themes that typify our largest titles. Legends of Crusader Kings III is intended to further lower the barriers by putting the different playstyles up front, showcasing the potential variety to curious people intimidated by taking that first step into historical grand strategy.”

Legends of Crusader Kings III takes advantage of the game’s most distinctive feature – rich character personalities and biographies that encourage different play styles. In Crusader Kings III, a warrior-king is encouraged to pursue different goals with different advantages than a ruler adept at managing money or scheming against their foes. Legends of Crusader Kings III revises the popular 1066 “Rags to Riches” game start by highlighting five rulers as exemplars of the five key traits of Crusader Kings III characters.

Each leader is recontextualized with greater emphasis on their different playstyles, including a few new events for some of these characters to deepen immersion. They will have updated appearances and biographies, setting them apart from the hundreds of other possible characters to choose from.

The Legends of Crusader Kings III update will be available in May to everyone who owns the game. Meanwhile, visit the website to discover the five legends and their stories, or forge your own!

Slitherine Games has released the Scramble: Battle of Britain – Flight School, Episode #3 (part 2) video.

Watch Flight School, Episode #3 “”Physics Class” (part 2) HERE.

Read the full article HERE.

Scramble Battle of Britain is a turn-based tactical dogfighting game that puts you at the heart of the action. Lead your squadron of pilots in a desperate battle for air supremacy. Fully-simulated flight physics and powerful camera tools let you plan and execute your attacks with perfect precision.

Scramble: Battle of Britain breaks the chaos of a dogfight into short, thrilling chunks of action. Set in a dynamic 3D airspace, this simultaneous turn-based dogfighting game minimizes time and reflex demands while retaining the intricate details of aerodynamics and physics-based simulation unique to the piloting experience. Players strategically plan the maneuvers of their aircraft during simultaneous turns and witness the outcomes in real-time.

Engage in intense aerial battles as Luftwaffe and RAF fighter squadrons clash over the English Channel. Plan your flight paths, execute breathtaking maneuvers, rewind time to evaluate battle damage, and outsmart your opponents with strategic brilliance and captivating aerobatics. Get ready to take control of the skies!

Welcome back to Flight School, our dev diary series unveiling the details of Scramble: Battle of Britain.

The third episode will introduce you to the flight physics that are involved in the game development to fully simulate all the airplanes, bullets and damage.

Watch Flight School, Episode #3 “”Physics Class” (part 1) HERE.

Scramble Battle of Britain is a turn-based tactical dogfighting game that puts you at the heart of the action. Lead your squadron of pilots in a desperate battle for air supremacy. Fully-simulated flight physics and powerful camera tools let you plan and execute your attacks with perfect precision.

Click here for more game information.

Matrix Games has announced a new update for War in the East 2 is now live.

The Morale update adds a new optional rule about, well… morale. Introduced with 01.03.09 is a new optional rule that rebalances retreat attrition. When enabled, routing units will suffer less retreat attrition than normal. The default is for this to be off. With this option enabled you are under far greater pressure to actually encircle enemy formations to destroy them, rather than purely by pursuit.

1.03.10 rebalanced air/ground attacks. The number of requested bomber aircraft for Ground Attack Air Directives must now be set to at least 10 (or set to 0 for Automatic). This update also saw improvements to the multiplayer UI, making it easier to report and log any errors you may encounter.

The update will be available for download either automatically via Steam or directly from here.

Evil Twin Artworks is delighted to announce the official launch date of Victory At Sea Atlantic, scheduled for April 5th, 2024, on the Steam and GOG platforms.

After years of development and community engagement, Victory At Sea Atlantic invites players to experience the thrill of World War II naval warfare in the Atlantic theater. Commanders will embark on a strategic journey through historically accurate battles, dynamically changing weather conditions, and immersive gameplay mechanics.

Key Features in Focus:

Historical Authenticity: Victory At Sea Atlantic faithfully recreates World War II’s naval theater, with realistic ship models, historical campaigns, and dynamic weather conditions.
Strategic Depth: Commanders must make critical decisions, from ship selection to tactical choices, as they navigate the challenges of wartime naval operations.

Find out more about Victory At Sea Atlantic on Steam.

Unfolding during the epic Battle of the Bulge, this latest DLC expansion kickstarts an all-new chapter for the World War II strategy game.

Strategy fans can relive one of the deadliest single battles in American history, as Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines – Bulge is out now on Steam. Set against the backdrop of the last major German offensive on the Western Front in World War II, this latest expansion enables players to experience a full campaign from the Allied perspective for the first time.

The Bulge DLC is the first expansion within Panzer Corps 2’s all-new Frontlines chapter. This thrilling new saga will feature short, but intense, scenarios that showcase some of World War II’s most pivotal battles in greater detail. This approach grants players can unprecedented level of detail, allowing them to vividly relive key moments of history.

Starting a few days before the fateful date of 16th December 1944, the Bulge DLC begins with a smaller-scale US attack on the border between Belgium and Germany. This introductory battle serves as a manageable, yet thrilling experience, allowing players to acclimate to the game’s mechanics and storyline. As the campaign progresses, it sets the stage for a dramatic turn of events—a surprise German offensive that adds layers of complexity and excitement to the gameplay.

Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines – Bulge introduces a new layer of challenges. In the early stages of the German offensive, players will be outgunned and outnumbered. Additionally, the adverse weather conditions limit the main Allied strength – airpower. To ensure an enjoyable and balanced gaming experience, players can earn rewards, including heroes and extra units, and select from different scenarios three times during the campaign, enabling them to choose between different areas of the battle.

Watch the Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines – Bulge 2 minutes gameplay trailer HERE.

Slitherine has released the second flight school video for its turn-based tactical dogfighting game Scramble: Battle of Britain.

Watch Flight School, Episode #2 “Gameplay Phases” HERE.

Dogfights are by their very nature chaotic and unpredictable. Pilots are competing for advantage with their lives at stake. They must execute complex maneuvers with split-second timing to gain a tactical advantage over deadly opponents. Aircraft fly at high speed in close proximity and an understanding of the entire airpace is essential – one wrong move could be fatal.

Scramble simplifies the chaos of a dogfight into short, digestible chunks of action. Maneuvers that can be disorienting in a real-time flight game progress at a pace you can understand. The turn-based design of Scramble ensures you will never lose sight of a target and that you always have a chance to check your six; Scramble helps with the Observe and Orient steps of the OODA loop, and aces will be made of the tacticians who Decide and Act with the most proficiency.

Read more about Flight School Episode #2 HERE.

A new chapter of Strategic Command is on its way. Matrix Games are thrilled to complete Fury Software’s WWII trilogy games with Strategic Command WWII: War in the Pacific. Get ready to re-fight the great land and naval campaigns of this amazing theater.

Our flagship campaign begins with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on the 7th December 1941 and the rapid expansion of Japan’s Empire into South East Asia and the Pacific. Will victory be won in India, Australia, Hawaii, or battling for islands throughout the Pacific Ocean? This is your chance to re-fight the 20th century’s greatest conflict in the Pacific!

Strategic Command: WWII: War in the Pacific and its flagship 1941 Day of Infamy campaign comes with an impressive 36,000 hex map, providing you with the opportunity to wage war from India and Burma in the west, via the Dutch East Indies, Malaya, the Philippines, Guadalcanal, the Kokoda Trail, Iwo Jima, Tarawa and Midway to the west coast of North America, at an approximately 80km/50mi scale.

Do you want to be among the first to play the game? Please join the beta and let us know what you think about it.

The horrors of war seem an ocean away, but no major threat can be contained in a shrinking world. The influences of foreign ideologies and international pressure may force distant nations to take an active part in the global struggle against tyranny. Decide the fate of South America in Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance, available now.

This content pack for Paradox Interactive’s best-selling grand strategy wargame, players can write new histories of the major nations of South America in years around World War II. You can try to resist the pressure to join a costly conflict overseas, or take your chances with a major power bloc for help in pursuing your own goals.

Watch the official release trailer HERE.

Features of Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance include:

National Focus Tree for Brazil: Challenged by a decade of internal strife and constitutional crises, Brazil can follow the historical path as a late but valuable member of the Allied cause. Alternately, seek continental hegemony under a new government with new priorities.
National Focus Tree for Argentina: Rife with corruption, revolts and worker unrest, Argentina presents a difficult political challenge. Once you’ve settled the problems at home, you can contribute more on the world stage and help this nation reach its full potential.
National Focus Tree for Chile: Chile is a vigorous republic with a radical tradition that must face domestic fascist parties, the embers of ethnic unrest and the imposing influence of the United States. Chart a course of equality and renewal, pick up the banner of uniting the continent under one flag.
Paraguay and Uruguay: Minor content as well as several new releasable nations.
New Art: New 3D unit sprites for the Brazilian army, as well as new unique 2D art for National Focus trees and units
New Music: Six new songs, with two each for the major nations in the pack.
New Voiceovers: Voiceovers in Brazilian Portuguese, Argentinian Spanish and Chilean Spanish.

Hearts of Iron IV: Trial of Allegiance is available for the suggested retail price of $14.99/￡12.79/€14.99 on Steam.

Absolutely Games and Team17 Digital have today launched WWII-based strategy epic Classified: France ‘44 on PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S. An original take on the turn-based tactics genre, Classified: France ’44 authentically captures the challenges of World War II firefights, shining a light on a lesser known story. Players will take charge of the Jedburghs: a group of special forces dropped deep in the heart of Nazi-occupied France, working with the Resistance to disrupt and sabotage enemy forces in the lead up to D-Day.

Watch the Classified: France ’44 launch trailer HERE.

Key Features

Unique morale system: Every shot counts. Even if it misses, fire wears down enemy forces’ morale and can turn the tide in the heat of battle
Tactical stealth action: Infiltrate enemy positions; set up ambushes, and choose your overwatch targets wisely. Friendly fire can shape the battlefield, so position your squad and pick your marks carefully
Engaging and replayable campaign: Define the success of the historic ‘D-Day’ battle with a replayable campaign with 15 different endings. Form a specialist team, court the Resistance factions and aid them in building their strength, and make decisions that lead to game-changing outcomes.
Historically authentic gameplay: Mirroring real-world military tactics, missions are a thrilling, varied experience. Use your tactical toolbox of stealth, ambush, morale and flanking to outwit the enemy and aid the Resistance.
The Classified System: Built on the ‘Classified System’ players can access in-game tools to create their own missions to share with the community.

Arming players for victory, the Deluxe and Overlord editions of Classified: France ’44 come fully equipped for war. Available to purchase for £39.99/$39.99/€39.99, the Deluxe edition includes the base game and the first DLC, while the Overlord Edition, available for £49.99/$49.99/€49.99, includes the base game and the full season pass, granting players access to all four upcoming DLC’s. The standard edition is available to purchase for £34.99/$34.99/€34.99.

For more information on Classified: France ’44, visit the official website. PC users can download the demo, and also purchase the game via Steam.