Strategy and Wargaming

The final chapter of the “krieg” trilogy is here: after four years of campaigning the battle-tested Wehrmacht will have to face its hardest challenges in Order of Battle: Endsieg.

The Endsieg campaign, the biggest and longest yet, includes 16 unique scenarios. The story begins right after the Battle of Kursk, where the game provides the option to import a core force from either the Panzerkrieg or Sandstorm campaign.

The first five scenarios are based on the historical 1st Soviet offensive in the Donbass in summer 1943, up to the Leningrad–Novgorod strategic offensive in early 1944. A decisive defeat of the Red Army will eventually allow total victory over the Soviet Union, while failure to do so will turn the campaign away from the Eastern Front and into the Battle of Anzio in Italy.

In the second part of the campaign the player’s forces are transferred to the west, where the Allied invasion of Normandy has opened a new front. Initially you’ll be forced on the defensive, and you’ll be tasked to extract other German forces from the Falaise trap, defeat Allied airborne units in Market-Garden, and defend the city of Aachen and the Huertgenwald against heavy attacks. By reaching a decisive victory in the German Ardennes Offensive in December 1944 the tide of the war can finally be turned again, leading to a set of ultimate battles to destroy the Allied armies once and for all.

Covering the final years of the war, Endsieg offers powerful weapons such as Tiger II heavy tanks, Jagdpanther tank destroyers and Me-262 jetfighters as well as several new specializations. But beware, the enemy has brought many deadly new weapons of their own!

Are you ready to change history?

Endsieg is due to release in November.

For more game information please visit the official Order of Battle: Endsieg  product page.

Heralded WWII Strategy Title Gets Eastern Front Expansion with New Faction and Vehicles

1C Entertainment today announced the launch of new Ostfront Veteranen DLC for the celebrated RTS series, Men of War: Assault Squad 2, which is the latest chapter in the award-winning and long-running Men of War strategy game series. The Ostfront Veteranen faction-based DLC, which is now available on PC via Steam for $9.99, expands the game with a brand-new unit selection available for the first time in the franchise—players can now join the battle as a new German faction with more than 10 new vehicles and hardened infantry squads from the brutal Eastern Front.

The Men of War series has a storied and acclaimed history since first launching in 2009. In 2014, Men of War: Assault Squad 2 updated the game with significant tech improvements as well as new skirmish modes that take players from extreme tank combat to deadly sniper stealth missions. Commanders can face off against opponents on multiplayer maps ranging from 1v1 to 8v8 in scope, with a dedicated player community still ready to commence WWII battles on a daily basis.

“Even now, nearly ten years after the game’s initial release and four years after launching Men of War: Assault Squad 2, today’s Ostfront Veteranen DLC release shows the enduring vitality of the Men of War franchise,” said Nikolay Baryshnikov, CEO of 1C Entertainment. “Opening the Eastern Front with new vehicles and battle-hardened infantry is something our community has been looking forward to tackling, and it’s a pleasure to continue supporting this great game.”

The base game, which is required to play the DLC, has been lauded as one of the great masterworks of RTS games, and currently has an 84% positive rating on Steam. The Ostfront Veteranen DLC continues developer Digitalmindsoft’s commitment to providing new and exciting content for the game’s active community with new troops, units, and features based on the Eastern Front.

Ostfront Veteranen DLC Features

• New German faction of veteran Eastern Front troops, which is available for both multiplayer and player vs. AI matches
• More than 10 new vehicles including the Brummbär, StukazuFuß, and Flak37 mounted on SdKfz 8
• Battle-hardened new infantry squads from the Eastern front

Men of War: Assault Squad 2 is developed by Digitalmindsoft and published by 1C Entertainment. The full game is priced at $29.99 on PC via Steam.

Add-on Brings New Missions, New Commanders and Challenging New Environments

Kalypso Media is thrilled to announce the release of Africa – Desert War, the next chapter in the World War 2 strategy title, Sudden Strike 4. Released today for PC and Xbox One (with PlayStation®4 following on 15th October, Europe only), the Africa – Desert War add-on is based on the most notorious desert skirmishes in North Africa during World War 2.

Sudden Strike 4: Africa – Desert War features two new mini campaigns with six new singleplayer missions from the North African campaign of World War 2. In the Axis campaign, start the Italian advance on Egypt to take the city of Sidi Barrani, besiege the city of Tobruk and take over its harbour, as well as break through the Kasserine Pass in Tunisia. In the Allied campaign, take part in Operation Compass and retake the village of Sidi Barrani, relive the watershed of the Western Desert Campaign, the Second Battle of El Alamein, and break through the German defensive line in the Battle of Mareth. Fight in an unforgiving and harsh desert setting with sandstorms to challenge your tactical wits.

As well as the new campaigns, players can choose from five new doctrine commanders to lead their troops into battle. On the side of the Axis, armchair generals can choose from the highly decorated German general Erwin Rommel, as well as three additional Italian commanders, including renowned field marshal Giovanni Messe. On the Allies, play as legendary armoured division general Sir Richard O’Connor.

As the war heads into new territory, Africa – Desert War introduces over 30 new vehicles including an all-new medical truck, the Marder II Tank Destroyer, the British Bishop SPG, as well as the Italian Semovente da 105/25 Assault Gun.

To celebrate the release, Kalypso has prepared a new trailer showcasing the new DLC in all its glory.

The time has come. Moscow and Tokyo seem to have discharged every further diplomatic effort to solve the rising crisis over the Kuril Islands.

Claimed by Japan but occupied buy Russia after the end of the Second World War, these small islands have been turned in a symbol of Nationalism for both the governments.

Now, a strong Russian contingent is being dispatched to strengthen their positions. Will the JSDF attack the convoy and risk an-all-out war with its old enemy?

Command LIVE: Kuril Sunrise the ninth installment in the Command LIVE series, has been released! This new episode explores a scenario in which two powerful Navies must face each other having an impressive array of sea denial weapons.

Which one shall prove to be superior?

DLC’s Features:

• Playable as Russia or Japan.
• 21st Century convoy warfare. Using advanced aircraft, ships, and submarines, face the challenge of either escorting or attacking a convoy of civilian ferries. Which previous tactics will work and which ones will not in a new era?
• Control advanced submarines. The nuclear vs. diesel dispute is on as the Yasen and Akula II submarines on the Russian side face the Soryu and Oyashio SSKs on the Japanese side. The strengths and weaknesses of both types are on display.
• Fight the air battle with upgraded F-15s and Su-27s alongside classics like the F-4 and MiG-29.
• Plan carefully. Each side has its own technological or logistical weakness the other can exploit.

Source: Blue’s News

A new official trailer for Armored Brigade seeks to raise interest in this upcoming real-time tactics game set during the Cold War. The clip comes along with the following details:

In our world, the Cold War, fortunately, has remained “cold” and (at least for now) the Third World War has not broken out. In the world of Armored Brigade, however, history goes differently: the USSR, still at the height of its military power, invades Central Europe together with its allies of the Warsaw Pact. NATO can do nothing but deploy the US, German and British divisions to stem the Red Tide.

Set between 1965 and 1991, Armored Brigade is a tactical RTS in which you will take control of either the NATO command or the Warsaw Pact. You can select your army not only by choosing the nationality (USA, West Germany and United Kingdom for NATO, USSR, Poland and East Germany for the Pact), but also the type of deployment – infantry, motorised or tank battalion.

The battlefield is set on three maps: the centre of Germany, the Fulda Gap, where NATO expected the salient of the USSR attack in case of war, and the south of Finland, present in the game as a neutral faction. You choose any portion of these maps to fight your battle.

Get more information about Armored Brigade from its official website.

The Strategic Command WWII franchise expands and this time the entire globe will be your battlefield!

In Strategic Command WWII: World at War, you’ll have the chance to test the ultimate limits of your strategic skills. Building up your War Machine and leading it into battle won’t be enough. Underestimating the benefits of a well-balanced alliance or forgetting to keep the production running will be the perfect recipe for disaster.

Fight all over the globe in a detailed top-down hex-based map by taking command of the Axis or the Allies, and discover what leadership truly means.

New features, new theaters, new units, and new Decision Events will help you to find your own path to victory!

Building on the success of Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe, Strategic Command WWII: World at War is taking the game series even further forwards!

Get more information about the game from its official product page!

Evil Twin Artworks confirms the release date, price and launch discount for their new RTS

‘Evil Twin Artworks’, the award winning indie team behind, ‘Victory At Sea’ can confirm their upcoming Open World RTS, Victory At Sea Pacific, will launch on the 14th of September. Priced at $39.99 USD, the game will launch with a 10% discount for one week.

“The scariest part of the launch is hoping people will like it,” said James Carroll, Director at Evil Twin Artworks. “You spend so long making a game, you lose track as to whether it’s any good or not! Thankfully the early feedback from press and YouTubers is overwhelming positive, they seem to get how big the game really is. ”

Based on the tabeltop game by Mongoose Publishing, Victory At Sea Pacific brings an epic approach to real time strategy war gaming, players develop their own story within a vast, open world, sandbox in a desperate attempt to win World War 2.

The new Steam page for Victory At Sea Pacific can be found HERE. Get more game info on the Victory At Sea Pacific  official website.

Rajas and Riches are Ready: EU4 Dharma is Here

In 1488, the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, discovering a sea route to India and opening up the Indian Ocean for European trade. Over the succeeding centuries, merchants and adventurers would follow this route to lands rich in spice and silk. Diamonds as big as your fist decorated the thrones of dozens of princes ruling over millions subjects. The foreign traders would make themselves masters of this land. Will you?

Paradox Development Studio is happy to announce the release of Europa Universalis IV: Dharma, the latest expansion to its celebrated grand strategy game of exploration and high politics in the early modern era. Dharma brings a host of new systems and game options to EU4, with a focus on the Indian subcontinent. It is available now for $19.99 on Steam and the Paradox Store.

Watch the Europa Universalis IV: Dharma Release Trailer HERE.

A new Content Pack is also available, adding new Indian army models including war elephants, dozens of new advisor portraits and over ten minutes of new original music.

Dharma’s release coincides with the Mughals update, free for all Europa Universalis IV players. This update includes a more detailed map of the Indian region, a renewed Estate system, and a new approach to Policies.

Royal Marines, the first expansion for Afghanistan ’11, is now out on PC and iOS!

Afghanistan ’11, just like its prequel Vietnam ’65, revolutionized the wargame genre by representing counter-insurgency warfare with an original formula. Your goal isn’t to destroy enemy units on the battlefield: by organizing logistics, intelligence, controlling territory, building infrastructure and training Afghan national forces you will be able to engage in nation building and stabilize Afghanistan. But you will succeed only if you’ll manage to win the Hearts & Minds of the locals.

With Royal Marines the co-in formula is back!

With a new faction (the UK Army), plenty of new units and vehicles, a brand new campaign featuring the length of British involvement in Afghanistan, new mechanics such as civilian vehicles, car bombs, roadblocks, Afghan national police, Royal Marines is sure to entertain you and give you dozens of hours of additional fun.

It is a must-have for every Afghanistan ’11 players, so get it now! If you are new to Afghanistan ’11 this is your chance to get the base game, too, which will be discounted at 40% off for one week at the Matrix Games Store, or via Steam. Don’t miss this opportunity!

An almost forgotten conflict is on the brink of erupting dramatically. The dispute over the Kuril Islands, claimed by the Japanese but held by Moscow since the end of WWII, is turning hot again thanks to an increased presence of nationalists and populists on both governments.

The JGSDF has traditionally been concentrated in Hokkaido already, but airborne and amphibious units have moved there, ostensibly for exercises.

The Russians, familiar with that excuse to concentrate forces, have become more suspicious than ever. Not helping the situation is raucous demonstrators on both sides sailing towards either the Kuriles or Hokkaido in small boats. Several have been killed and dozens more detained.

The situation is getting critical hour after hour.

Read the analysis HERE (.pdf) to get prepared for what is coming!

Get more information about Command LIVE: Kuril Sunrise from its official Product Page.