Strategy and Wargaming

Fall in, Soldiers! Fulqrum Publishing and Ukrainian studio Best Way are delighted to announce that the latest update to their popular real-time strategy game Men of War II, the Steel Rain update, is finally available for all players!

This update includes a host of new units, new gameplay mechanics and general improvements – but perhaps most excitingly, the long-awaited Offline Mode is finally here, allowing players to experience Men of War II without an internet connection.

Watch the Men of War II Steel Rain Update Trailer HERE.

Thanks to the Steel Rain update, there’s more to enjoy in Men of War II than ever before! Here’s just a quick taster of the new features to join the game today…

Offline Mode

Men of War II’s Offline Mode is the flagship feature of this update and has been heavily requested by the game’s community since its launch. Players can now switch between playing the game online (default setting) and offline, and of course, if they start the game without an Internet connection, it will run in offline mode automatically. Just move the cursor to the cog wheel “Settings” icon in the upper-left corner, where players will find an indicator telling them which version they are playing at the moment – green for online, red for offline.

The Offline Mode features any single-player mission or campaign (including Conquest and Raid), and players can set up a “multiplayer” lobby to play custom matches with AI bots. Currently, progress made in a campaign while playing offline cannot carry over to the online mode (and vice versa). Players have voted in a community poll to release the update in this state, while the developers continue to work on enabling the progress to be shared.

New Content and Gameplay Mechanics

But that’s not all! A whole host of new content has been added to the game – including 8 new units, all focused on rockets and missile launchers. To make the best use of the new units, each nation has received a new battalion: the 3rd Mortar Regiment. These have zero logistic timers for mortars and Rocket artillery, and -50% Battle rank Modifier for Mortar units, and -25% for Rocket Artillery units.

Another addition to Men of War II is the ability to control the game’s speed in a single-player. This feature is available in any game where the player is alone. Including in Conquest, Raids, and even a custom lobby with bots.

There has also been the addition of a “turbo mode” in single-player games, in which the game world will be calculated as quickly as the computer’s performance allows, significantly improving the quality of simulation, especially on powerful PCs.

And, of course, that still isn’t all – with this update bringing a range of multiplayer and match-making improvements, visual and audio improvements, and more! For the full list of updates, check out the game’s news hub on Steam.

Men of War II, the new chapter in the evolution of the top-rated RTS franchise, brings you an unprecedented number of units with different specializations to command, unyielding attention to historical fidelity, new levels of visual and audio excellence, as well as advanced enemy AI. Lead your troops in intense real-time battles on the Western and Eastern Fronts and overwhelm your opponents in epic narrative single-player campaigns and skirmish modes before diving deep into the multiplayer action.

Men of War II is available to purchase via Steam and the Epic Games Store – at the special price of 25% off starting 10AM PT/5PM GMT/6PM CET October 28th.

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.