Strategy and Wargaming

Matrix Games today announced that update v1.07 for Command: Modern Operations is now live. In addition to a mountain of bugfixes, tweaks, and scenario updates – there are a few key new features to mention. First off is true altitude/pin-cushion view. Aerospace units can displayed at their true altitude on the map. This is by default off but can be turned on by going to “Game Options –> Map Display –> Draw units at true altitude”. This will hopefully help players visualize just where their aircraft are relative to one-another.

They have also revised the HTML-rendering backend using Microsoft’s new WebView2 rendering engine, added contrails and wakes to aircraft and submarines, and added new fuel flow rate restrictions in air-to-air refueling.

These features are covered in more detail in the changelog HERE, so give that a good read if any of these new options and game rules strike your fancy.

Source: Blue’s News

Unity of Command II – Berlin is now available on Steam, adding new content to Unity of Command II, the World War II strategy game for Windows and macOS. As the title suggests, this recreates the final assault on the German capital which preceded the end of the war in Europe. Here are some details on this chance to relive this bit of history:

In early 1944, the Soviets squeezed German forces in the Korsun Pocket, a brutal winter encirclement battle and a major victory that chipped away at German strength. They also finally lifted the long Siege of Leningrad in January.

The summer of 1944 saw the massive Operation Bagration, a surprise attack that shattered German Army Group Center. By the fall, Soviet forces were on the offensive all along the Eastern Front, setting the stage for the final push into Germany in 1945. By February, the Soviets stood on the Oder River, just east of Berlin.

Wandering Nobles Adds New Lifestyles and Travel Events

Roam the highways and hidden paths of the medieval world in Wandering Nobles, a new Event Pack for Crusader Kings III. This pack adds new events and lifestyles centered on the theme of travel, with new ways to engage in the game’s travel system. Wandering Nobles is scheduled for release on November 4.

Inspect your realm, see famous sites or simply explore the great outdoors for health and glory. After all, no one can achieve true wisdom locked up in a castle keep.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Wandering Nobles include:

New Wandering Lifestyle with three new branches:

New Activities designed for the new Lifestyle branches:

New Events connected to travel, the new lifestyles and the associated activities.

Crusader Kings III: Wandering Nobles will be available on 04 November 2024 for the suggested retail price of $4.99/£4.29GBP/€4.99. It is also a part of the Crusader Kings III Chapter III bundle.

More game information is available on the official Crusader Kings III website, or via Steam.

Hello wargame fans. We have some great news about Gary Grigsby’s Eagle Day to Bombing the Reich, a big new update is out!

You can download the update HERE.

We would like to thank community devs Richard Simonitch and Keith Butterley for all their hard work. It is thanks to their contributions, and other community developers like them, that enable classic wargaming titles like this to be enjoyed decades after their initial release.

EDBTR version 1.06.83 fixes what we believe to be the last remaining bugs since the introduction of the original base game and adds some additional minor improvements to the user interface (UI).

We have also added a new feature for the Allied Typhoon fighter-bomber that allows the player to switch between bombs and rockets during strike planning. Rockets are far more effective against AFV’s than bombs, but much reduced effect against other targets within the ground units in the game.

The patch represents the culmination of over 15 years of development by the Matrix team on this unique and remarkable game system, including significant improvements to the UI, improved AI, historical orders of battle, and new documentation for PBEM, Aircraft production, and Electronic Warfare development.

Gary Grigsby’s Eagle Day to Bombing the Reich is currently on sale. At 81% off this week, it’s a real bargain to pick up this classic title.

The full changelog is available HERE.

Slitherine is thrilled to announce that Scramble: Battle of Britain will be released in Early Access on October 29th. The game will feature a brand-new “Squadron Leader” game mode, where you will manage a persistent roster of pilots, each with unique traits, and engage in a battle for survival against overwhelming odds.

A “Skirmish” mode is also available, allowing customizable quick matches where you can play as either the RAF or the Luftwaffe.

The game will be launched in Early Access because it introduces a highly innovative gameplay system, and Slitherine believes that it will benefit massively from player feedback. This approach will allow to refine the game through continuous iteration and upgrades, ensuring a truly engaging and polished experience for the full release.

Prepare to master a whole new level of tactical dogfighting, pilots.

Click here for more game information.

Götterdämmerung Expansion Transforms German Strategy

Thought crippled by the settlement of the last war, a strong Germany has returned as the axis of power in Central Europe. This strength only heightens the resentment for what is thought to have been a historic injustice. But history is not written in stone. What path will Germany take in your hands? Can you revitalize socialist resistance to the Fascist regime? Will German might take its shape under a revived monarchy? Brace yourself for the gathering storm and write a new history of the world’s most dangerous years in Götterdämmerung, a new expansion for Hearts of Iron IV, coming on November 14.

This addition to Paradox Interactive’s popular strategic wargame focuses on the key player of the Second World War – the Germany Reich. Through new National Focus Trees, people can steer this great power through years of armed struggle against ideological foes. This expansion also revises special research projects – like rocketry and atomic weapons – and offers new combat options.

Watch the Hearts of Iron IV: Götterdämmerung official announcement trailer HERE.

Features of Hearts of Iron IV: Götterdämmerung include:

Revised national focuses and alternate historical paths for one of the most played nations in Hearts of Iron IV. Revised political paths include new monarchist content, a restored democratic Germany and alternate fascist militarist paths. More character driven events add flavor to the war’s central player.

New alternate histories for Austria free of German control, as well as content for surrounding countries that were once part of the Habsburg Empire. There is also a revised historical path for AI controlled Austria.

Rebuild the nation, using technology to overcome manpower shortages. Reform the Austro-Hungarian Empire and forge a powerful, unified faction.

Resist or welcome German supremacy. Draw on the natural wealth of the Congo and build potential for an African government-in-exile.

Build scientific facilities to pursue advanced research in special projects, assigning scientists to further your war effort. Special projects include nuclear physics, advanced aircraft, rocketry, advanced tanks and artillery, naval engineering and electronics.

Attack important enemy targets with carefully planned strikes. Enemy ports, industrial structures, research facilities and special resource collection areas are potential targets for bombing strikes, commando raids or paratroop attacks.

Including, changes to the map art to show new structures, AI players better at planning attacks, changes to the use and effectiveness of atomic warfare, and deeper city combat.

Hearts of Iron IV: Götterdämmerung will be available on 14 November 2024 for the suggested retail price of $24.99/£21.99/€24.99. Götterdämmerung is also available through the Hearts of Iron IV Expansion Pass 1, which includes other game content, including a country pack to be released next year, at a 20% discount for included items.

For more game information please visit the official Hearts of Iron IV website, or via the games Steam page.

Matrix Games has released a new trailer featuring American Vehicles from their upcoming simulation strategy game Armored Brigade II. You can view the trailer and read a short article to help you follow along here.

Building on the success of its acclaimed predecessor, Armored Brigade II elevates the wargaming experience by skillfully blending accessibility with tactical depthall within a new, more immersive 3D graphic landscape. This finely-tuned balance makes it an ideal choice for both newcomers and veterans of military wargames. Engage in a simulator that offers both pausable real-time and turn-based gameplay, where every decision counts. Authentic, detailed gameplay captivates players of all levels, immersing them in a world where strategy and realism converge.

At the heart of the game are the command and control dynamics. Orders and information take time to be received and executed, influenced by factors such as training, doctrine, distance from HQ, and communication within formations. This system creates tense moments, especially when waiting for orders during critical situations. Players have the flexibility to issue orders to formations using a mix of general commands and specific Standard Operating Procedures. Engage in combat under a variety of weather and lighting conditions, each realistically affecting combat capabilities and tactics.

Armored Brigade II is scheduled for release November 15th on the Matrix Store.

Slitherine and Steel Balalaika announce that the release date of Broken Arrow, originally planned for a 2024 launch, had been moved to 2025.

Marco Alessandro Minoli, Director of Publishing, stated: “The game won’t be releasing this year as intended, but we felt it was necessary. This decision is motivated by our desire to fully meet our community’s expectations, to ensure that Broken Arrow is the best game of its kind and that it provides a flawless experience to its players. To achieve this, we needed to run more extensive testing and iterate on improving the code efficiency. We don’t want to underestimate any potential issue and we’d rather wait than risk letting anyone down on day one. The development team has been hard at work and we can’t wait to show you what is new for the game“.

The publisher acknowledged that this will disappoint many players and members of the game community, but there is some good news for them as well: a new multiplayer Open Beta will be available for everyone to play on November 12th. Throughout the entire month of October, Broken Arrow fans can expect weekly developer diaries on the Steam page, which will highlight all the latest updates and showcase the content available in the beta, including new units, specializations, maps, and features.

Furthermore, fans can expect an important reveal of Broken Arrow in December, which would also be the occasion for a very special announcement.

Slitherine, the publisher, and Steel Balalaika, the developer team, promise to players that their patience will be rewarded: “We think we have an amazing game on our hands and we are certain that you won’t be disappointed“.

What is Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow is a large-scale real-time modern warfare tactics game. A unique army building system and deep units customization tools allow for endless replayability. With 200+ realistic military units and technologies, each battle is more immersive than ever before.

Click here for more game information.

The wait is over. The first DLC for Headquarters: World War II—the Market Garden expansion—is out now. This is your chance to dive back into the action and experience one of World War II’s most daring offensives from the front lines.

In the Market Garden DLC, you’ll pick up right where the base game left off, following the Normandy landings of 1944. Get ready to command British land forces as they embark on a critical mission to relieve Allied paratroopers trapped in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden. With eight new, intricately designed battles, you’ll be tackling fierce German resistance and navigating complex tactical challenges to save the surrounded paratroopers.

You can find out more details about Headquarters: World War II HERE.

The beloved 2007 classic Commander: Europe at War is back and better than ever. With a full remake set to release soon, the game is poised to serve as a perfect entry point for both veterans of the genre and newcomers to hex-based wargames. Developed by Fury Software, the same team behind the Strategic Command series, this remake delivers enhanced 3D graphics, smarter AI, and modernized gameplay that bring the experience of World War II strategy into the modern era.

Players can take command of history by leading either the Axis or Allies in six immersive campaigns beginning in 1939, spanning the European and African theaters of the war. With a 3D hex-based map and fully rendered units, the game lets players control vast armies, air forces, and naval fleets in their fight for dominance or survival. From managing resources to researching advanced technologies and deploying commanders to key fronts, every decision can shift the balance of power on the battlefield.

Key Features

Six Epic Campaigns
Players can relive the entire scope of World War II across six detailed campaigns, ranging from the early Blitzkrieg in Poland to the final battles for Berlin. The game’s wide-reaching map takes you from the Atlantic to North Africa and as far as the Urals, providing players with a comprehensive view of the conflict.

Enhanced 3D Graphics
The remake features a fully upgraded 3D map and unit graphics, allowing for greater detail and control in strategic planning. The more immersive visuals make it easier for players to navigate the battlefield and engage in complex operations.

Smarter AI
The AI has been overhauled to present a more dynamic and reactive opponent. Players can expect greater challenge, as the AI adapts to their tactics and forces them to rethink their strategies.

Intuitive Interface and Enhanced Gameplay
A streamlined and modernized UI makes the game more accessible while still offering the depth fans of the genre expect. Whether you’re a veteran or new to the world of wargames, Commander: Europe at War balances tactical complexity with easy-to-learn mechanics, making it ideal for newcomers.

Total Control
Players must not only focus on tactical battles but also manage key aspects like technological research, resource distribution, and diplomatic decisions. Commanders can be strategically placed on crucial fronts to maximize their impact, offering an additional layer of strategy.

Multiplayer Options
For those seeking to test their strategic skills against other players, the remake offers both Play by Email (PBEM++) and hotseat multiplayer modes. This allows for endless replayability and the opportunity to face off against friends or foes.

Optimized for Modern Systems
The game has been optimized for a variety of display setups, supporting HD, Full HD, 2K, and 4K resolutions. Whether you prefer playing in full-screen or windowed mode, the game offers flexibility for different devices and preferences.

A Classic Revived
As a remake of one of the most accessible and beloved WWII strategy games, Commander: Europe at War will appeal to wargame enthusiasts, history buffs, and casual gamers alike. Fury Software’s efforts to enhance the game while maintaining its core appeal ensure that this remake will be a fresh and exciting experience for anyone looking to relive the grand strategies of World War II.

Whether you’re strategizing massive offensives or holding out in a last-ditch defense, this remake of Commander: Europe at War promises to immerse players in a conflict that shaped the world. Get ready to command history and reshape the course of war when this iconic title makes its return.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the ultimate WWII strategy game. Add Commander: Europe at War to your wishlist on Steam today and be among the first to lead your forces to victory when it launches.