Strategy and Wargaming

Transmission from the Pacific #1

Tora!, Tora!, Tora!

The Theater of War

The Pacific War encompassed the largest area of any episode of World War II. It was full of violent strikes, twists and turns, and the heroism of all the fighting soldiers. It was also a campaign where fleets clashed on one side, and on the other, jungle warfare requiring soldier action took place. Radio Commander Pacific ’41 takes us back to the struggle for islands in the Pacific from 1941 to 1945. The Pacific Theater featured vast distances, the need to capture individual islands, a fierce and often fanatical defense, the need for landings, the use of naval artillery, and more.

Player Role

The player takes on the immersive role of a commander during a conflict in which radio communication was crucial. Using only the radio voice communication, you must understand a situation and build the picture on your own, based solely on what your units are reporting. You don’t have a magic click moving tokens for you. You have to do it yourself. You don’t have automatic graphics and animations to make your work easier, as you might often see in other games. It’s just you, the map, and the radio. Use a radio to be a commander.

And based on the situational awareness you’ve built, you must communicate your intentions to your subordinate units, also via radio. You must independently make calculations, such as losses, the location of your own units, their situation, time to arrival, and ammunition levels. You must anticipate and react to enemy actions.

Create a battle plan, implement it, and act on changing enemy actions. Provide support to your units. All this is done exclusively via voice radio communication. Commands and reports are standardized, allowing for faster communication with your subordinates. You have a range of units at your disposal, from infantry to airplanes.

But the battle plan is in the commander’s head… in your head.

Wishlist the game on Steam and Slitherine.

Four intense missions and new deadly tactical challenges await in the second DLC

Publisher Kalypso Media and in-house developer Claymore Game Studios Today release “No Man Left Behind”, the second DLC for Commandos: Origins, available on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and PlayStation®4|5.

Commandos: Origins – No Man Left Behind Release Trailer

Set in the Auvergne region of occupied France, the DLC expands the main campaign with four new missions. Following the capture of the Green Beret during a failed operation, players take command of Thomas “the Sapper” Hancock, Francis T. “the Sniper” Woolridge, and Rene “the Spy” Duchamp to rescue their comrade.

Players navigate through hostile terrain – spanning night time forest operations and heavily guarded military structures scattered across the mountainous countryside. Beyond simple infiltration, objectives evolve: to sabotage the prototype of a new dangerous German superweapon, the Commandos must uncover crucial information and clues on the ground.

The introduction of the Radio Operator adds a fresh tactical challenge. Enemy communications can escalate situations instantly, forcing players to prioritize disruption over direct confrontation. Cutting signal chains is now essential to maintain control across enemy territory.

Betrayed by former allies to the west and besieged by rising powers to the east, the Byzantine Empire has been reduced to its Greek and Thracian heartlands. Centuries of intrigue and invasion have meant a steady decline in the fortunes of Constantinople. But, under your guidance, the heirs of the Caesars and stalwarts of the Orthodox faith can find their greatness once again. On 06 May 2026, you can determine the Fate of the Phoenix. Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix is the first immersion pack for Paradox Interactive’s best-selling historical grand strategy game about the late medieval and early modern era. Focused on the Byzantine Empire, Fate of the Phoenix adds more historical content to the heirs of Rome, including a new disaster and unique color that brings the challenges of the time to life as you write new histories of this fading giant.

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix Story Trailer

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix includes:

• Byzantine Bureaucracies: Unique content for the new Bureaucracy system designed for larger imperial powers. Choose to keep the old ways in hopes of restoring the empire or take the risk of discarding centuries of ambition to follow a more modest course.
• Latinitas vs Romanismos: A unique Societal Value for the empire, choosing between a reconciliation with the Latin powers of the west or entrenching Roman heritage.
• Fate of the Phoenix Disaster: Work to reverse the crumbling fortunes of the empire before it gets too late to stop the decline. Choose a clear path, expand quickly, and reform so you can stabilize the ship of state.
• More Orthodox Content: Interact with the Ecumenical Patriarchs, restore the Pentarchy to strengthen the Eastern Church, expand Orthodoxy to Rome and Mend the Schism.
• Hellenism: Revive belief in the old pagan gods, seeking their favor through the invocation of omens.
• Latin Culture: Embrace a total return to the old Roman roots, taking up the old ways.
• New Art: New portraits, illustrations, city models and unit models for the Eastern Mediterranean inspired by Byzantine history.
• New Flavor Content: New events, military units, character-related actions, subjects, and more!

Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix will be available on 06 May 2026 for the suggested retail price of $9.99/£8.49/€9.99. It is also available as a part of the Europa Universalis V: Premium Edition.

More information is available on the Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix webpage. You can wishlist the add-on via Steam.

Publisher Kalypso Media and Developer Kite Games are proud to announce the official launch of Sudden Strike 5, marking a triumphant return for the beloved real-time strategy franchise. Sudden Strike 5 sets a new benchmark for tactical WWII gameplay with greater complexity, larger battlefields, and more ways to achieve victory with sandbox gameplay.

The game is out now for PC, Xbox on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation®5 in Standard Edition (€49.99 / $49.99 / £44.99) and Deluxe Edition (€59.99 / $59.99 /£54.99) with a 10% launch discount available for the first 7 days on Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Kalypso Media Store.

Step into the commander’s seat, where every decision shapes the fight in the official Sudden Strike 5 launch trailer.

Sudden Strike 5 unleashes a slew of new features and quality-of-life upgrades over its predecessor, designed to give commanders more control and tactical choice. Players can construct bridges over rivers to open new routes to catch enemy forces by surprise, call-in reinforcements via sea or railroad, and coordinate large-scale maneuvers with improved visibility and streamlined unit management, allowing for the deployment of overwhelming force!

Take control of the battlefield in one of three major factions: the Western Allies, Soviet, or Axis forces, across an expansive 25-mission campaign. From the frozen landscapes of the Eastern Front to the harsh deserts of North Africa, each battlefield presents unique challenges demanding careful planning, adaptability, and tactical mastery.

New Hearts of Iron IV Focus Pack Offers Fresh Challenge

The hungry eyes of autocratic neighbors have turned to a small Central European democracy. Not even 20 years old, the Republic of Czechoslovakia has uncertain alliances in this dangerous world. Can you resist the tides of history and survive the crisis of the late 1930s? In Peace for Our Time, a Focus Pack for Hearts of Iron IV, you will face a new test of your skills as the enemy is close and time is short.

Hearts of Iron IV: Peace For Our Time Official Release Trailer

Available now, Peace for Our Time is designed in collaboration with veteran modders Logan ‘Spicy Alfredo’ Calkins, Abbus Fung and Marijn ‘marijn211’ Vroegh. This pack includes new National Focus Trees and unique mechanics, inspired by the difficult situation of pre-war Czechoslovakia, as it faces external aggression, internal division, and an unpredictable diplomatic climate.

The Hearts of Iron IV: Peace for Our Time Focus Pack is available now on Steam for the suggested retail price of $5.99 / £4.99 / €5.99.

Broken Arrow values its community loyalty, engagement, and continuous feedback. To strengthen this mutual commitment, Slitherine and Steel Balalaika are opening the PTE to the public, giving everyone the opportunity to experience upcoming features early and contribute meaningful input on improvements that are not yet part of the live game. This approach allows us to collaborate more closely with players, using their insights to refine mechanics, balance gameplay, and guide future updates. Community feedback gathered through the PTE will play a direct role in shaping what comes next. On this branch, players will be able to test a wide range of gameplay improvements, balance adjustments and new systems designed to deepen strategy and dynamics before they are implemented into the game.

Such as:

• Game Mode Changes: A new Conquest mode has been introduced with multiple score thresholds (500, 1000, 1500). Points are gained or lost based on zone control, with a fixed tick rate per objective. Destruction points remain unchanged, and phase-based WP compensation has been removed.
• Income Changes: Income is now calculated non-linearly based on the number of deployed units, with a cap of 1500 pts. The system is designed to improve early-game dynamics, encourage smaller and lighter armies (including air playstyles) and the ability to extend an army.
• General Changes: A new anti-overkill system has been added. Infantry transport vehicles now carry supply crates as an ability that can resupply and heal infantry. Ground units have custom respawn timers visible in their stats. Damage for automatic weapons in the unit info panel is now displayed as damage per second. New map layouts have been introduced, and infantry now inherit stress from destroyed transports.
• Recon Units, Infantry, Vehicles, Support Units, Anti-Air, Helicopters, Aircraft and much more….

To access PTE go on the Steam Page at 5 P.M. CEST and click on the last news: players can find there clear instructions.

This year, Crusader Kings III will add new threads to the rich medieval tapestry players can weave. Today’s launch of Chapter V reveals the upcoming plans for Paradox Interactive’s celebrated grand-strategy role-playing game, including two expansions that highlight major new playstyle options and greater depth and historical flavor as well as a music pack and cosmetic pack that are available Today. Today, Crusader Kings III is also getting a major free update, adding new ways to find information about your game, with an improved ledger and other stat tracking, as well as more shortcuts, changes to the interface, new sound cues and more.

Crusader Kings III Chapter V Reveal Trailer

The two upcoming expansions, By God Alone and Silk & Silver, focus on aspects of the medieval world that the wider Crusader Kings community has wanted to see explored in more depth. By God Alone deepens the religious themes of the game, with more attention to the evolution of Christianity in Europe and how medieval secular rulers competed with the religious orders for power and wealth. Silk & Silver opens up merchant republics for play, letting you take the position of a medieval merchant rising to power through shrewd trading, political office, or noble patronage.

Crusader Kings III: Chapter V is available now, and it includes:

• Symbols of Authority: This clothing pack offers new crowns and headwear for European characters, including crowns inspired by some of the most glamorous heads of history. Available Today, this pack is instantly unlocked upon purchase of Chapter V.
• Songs of the Realm: Out now, this new Crusader Kings III Music Pack offers a wide variety of musical accompaniment to your empire-building and dynastic scheming. Songs of the Realm offers thirteen songs, a mix between remasters of Crusader Kings classics and adaptations of traditional European music. This Music Pack is the perfect soundtrack to while away the hours as you plot your next big move to secure your family’s hold on destiny.
• By God Alone: This Core Expansion for Crusader Kings III focuses on the religious life of your characters, with a special emphasis on new systems for Christian characters. Guide your dynasty through religious developments as the tenets of the faith evolve over the centuries, avoid or embrace heresies, navigate Schisms and Synods and watch your characters struggle with the demands of their religion. Coming later this year.
• Silk & Silver: This Major Expansion for Crusader Kings III focuses on medieval trade and the merchant families that ruled or financed great empires. Play as a merchant family with a mansion to maintain, earning gold through the trade of exotic goods. Compete for power in a merchant republic, where gold is more important than blood, or set up shop in a landed kingdom and finance its expansion. Push rival families out of the most valuable markets, establishing monopolies on important routes. Coming later this year.

Crusader Kings III: Chapter V is available now on for the suggested retail price of $43.99/ ￡36.99/€43.99. More information about Crusader Kings III is available on the official Crusader Kings III website or on the games Steam page.

Relic Entertainment is excited to announce Company of Heroes 3: Dare & Destroy, a new Battlegroup DLC launching May 14, 2026, on PC via Steam for $24.99 USD £19.49 GBP | €22.99 EUR. The DLC introduces four new Battlegroups, alongside new cosmetics and a general game update, expanding Multiplayer and Co-Op/Skirmish vs A.I. gameplay with new tactical options, powerful units, and distinct playstyles.

Company of Heroes 3: Dare & Destroy Announce Trailer

Each Battlegroup introduces new ways to approach the battlefield, offering players greater strategic depth through specialized units, unique abilities, and all-new playstyles. Building on the series’ legacy systems, Battlegroups act as supplemental forces that enhance your army and open up new tactical possibilities in every match.

Four New Battlegroups

US Forces – Free French Battlegroup:

Establish a resilient defensive line and stall enemy advances before unleashing a decisive counterattack.

French Rifle Sections, Bastions, and Tourelle defenses anchor your position, while Railway Artillery and the Char B1 Heavy Tank turn the tide and force a breakthrough.

Wehrmacht – Siege Breaker Battlegroup:

Break through fortified enemy positions with siege tactics and overwhelming firepower.

Flame Halftracks and enhanced infantry weaponry pressure enemy lines, while Siege Specialists and the Sturmtiger Heavy Tank shatter even the most entrenched defenses.

British Forces – Special Services Battlegroup:

Disrupt and weaken the enemy through precision strikes and resource denial.

Commandos, Snipers, and fast raiding vehicles harass from unexpected angles, while Scorched Earth tactics punish overextension and drain enemy resources.

Deutsches Afrikakorps – Elite Forces Battlegroup:

Field a highly advanced and experienced force designed to outmaneuver and overpower opponents.

Veteran infantry and vehicles, led by the Command 8Rad Armored Car, combine with Ace Stuka air support and the Tiger Ace Heavy Tank to deliver decisive battlefield dominance.

Sudden Strike 5, the highly anticipated Real-Time Strategy WWII game and latest instalment in the Sudden Strike series, is available once again as a playable demo on Steam. The development team has addressed player feedback received during the initial demo earlier this February, resulting in a range of performance and gameplay improvements prior to its full launch on April 23.

Watch the Sudden Strike 5 demo trailer HERE.

In this demo, command forces from the Soviet and Western Allied factions in two missions, “Attack on Monte Cassino” (Western Allies) and “Defense of Sevastopol” (Soviets). These reworked missions deliver feedback-specific game improvements including higher and more stable framerate, reduced frame drops during combat, reduced stuttering and improved frame pacing, improved pathfinding, and improved responsiveness of AI patrol units. At launch, Sudden Strike 5 will feature a massive 25 mission campaign, multiplayer modes, along with additional balancing, and final refinements.

Nestled in the heart of Europe, Czechoslovakia is a democratic bulwark, surrounded by autocratic neighbors. Rich in resources, industry and population, it is also an early target for aggression. Chart a new course for Czechoslovakia in the face of these threats in Peace for Our Time, a new Focus Pack for Hearts of Iron IV, Paradox Interactive’s grand strategic wargame about the conflict and politics of the Second World War. Created in collaboration with veteran modders Logan ‘Spicy Alfredo’ Calkins, Abbus Fung and Marijn ‘marijn211’ Vroegh, Peace for Our Time is the first Focus Pack to include new National Focus Trees and unique mechanics, presenting a new challenge to experienced desktop generals. It will be released next week, on 22 April.

Highlights of the Focus Pack Peace for Our Time include:

• Democratic National Focus Path: Surrounded by non-democratic nations, safeguard Czechoslovakia’s freedom by forging your own faction, leading a government in exile or pursuing independence as Slovakia.
• Communist National Focus Path: Spark a socialist revolution to replace the failed middle path, joining the Comintern or uniting the region under your own federation; whether through radical struggle or moderate reform.
• Monarchist and Fascist National Focus Paths: Rally nationalist forces to establish a new kingdom of Bohemia or embrace military dictatorship, expand your influence through allies or subjects, and decide whether to entrench authoritarianism or return to democracy once the crisis has passed.
• Manage your arms industry, become an industrial powerhouse, and shape conflicts across the globe by exporting weapons abroad.
• Engage with the Divided Nation mechanic to solve the challenges of governing a divided democracy.
• Army Readiness Balance of Power forces you to ensure you have the support of the military.
• New Art and Music, including two new music tracks, 3D depictions of the historical Prague Castle and Bojnice Castle, new equipment graphics and new focus icons and character portraits.

The Hearts of Iron IV: Peace for Our Time Focus Pack will be available on 22 April 2026 on Steam for the suggested retail price of $5.99 / £4.99 /€5.99.