Hello and welcome to what’s probably the shortest Strategy and Wargaming News edition of this year! From the number of emails I have been receiving from developers and publishers, I’m sure most of them are battening down the hatches and waiting for the upcoming Steam Fest to show what they have been working on. I’ll also take advantage of the fact that I’ll be able to get this one done and over with rather quickly to play some demos! Let’s start!
Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition Arrives On October 13
What a coincidence it was that I had a new list ready to go live, going over my favorite Total War titles, the number of which was Total War: Shogun 2, and an updated, enhanced, and complete edition of that same game was announced? Seeing this announcement had me inadvertently smiling from ear to ear. So, what is Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition?
Strange naming conventions aside, this is set to be an updated and enhanced version of the 2011 classic, including:
- Improved visuals with updated lighting, shadows, and textures;
- 1440p and 4K UI Scaling;
- Modernised Controls;
- 50 newly playable minor factions;
- 64-bit upgrade;
- Integrated in-game mod support;
- On Steam, players will also receive the original Total War: Shogun 2 and all its DLC, excluding the Blood Pack due to age ratings.
Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition is launching on PC for Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, and GOG. Existing owners of the original Total War: Shogun 2 are eligible for a time-limited 75% loyalty discount when upgrading to the Complete Edition, so a final price of $7.5 if my accounting is correct. Fair enough.
Battleplan Release Date Announced
After a delay announcement back in July in order to better polish the game, Battleplan is now back with an official release date, with the game set to release on October 12th. According to Slitherine, “that extra time has allowed us to address the issues we wanted to fix, polish the experience, and make sure Battleplan is ready for launch”. Having played the game extensively during one of Steam’s Fests, I was fully on board with this idea from day one, mainly because I really enjoyed the title and want to see it succeed, as I see a massive amount of potential for sequels and DLCs in other theatres of World War 2.
In case you don’t know what Battleplan is, the best way to describe it would be: A game built from the idea of taking the frontline planning tools from Hearts of Iron IV and massively expanding on the concept, and bringing the game’s scale down to the company level.
Endless Legend 2 Out Now
After cooking for exactly a full year in Early Access, the sequel to one of the most legendary 4X games of all time has gone golden and is receiving wholehearted recommendations from players, proving that once again Amplitude Studios managed to nail the hammer right on the head. Endless Legend 2 1.0 update added 3 new playable factions and two minor ones: The expansionists Sandshapers, the rogues of the Order of Zelavas and Severed Claws, and the Mangrove of Harmony. Going forward, the team will continue working on and updating the game.
Age of Empires II – The Viking Sagas Out September 22
The best real-time strategy game of all time is getting a new DLC on September 22 with the release of The Viking Sagas DLC. This expansion will add the nations of the Danes, the Saxons, and the Varangians, alongside 6 new units. If you enjoy single-player campaigns, the DLC won’t be letting you down, as you’ll be able to explore 3 interconnected campaigns covering the saga of Harald Hardrada, from being cast out of Norway to his invasion of England. The Viking Sagas will cost you $19.99 with a release-date discount of 15%.
Wargame Design Studio Game of the Week
Right now, for only $29.95, you can pick one of my favorite games from the Wargame Design Studio catalogue! The Battles of Normandy is a massive and one of the best wargames set during the titular campaign, and it includes 93 scenarios, playable from both the Allies and Axis sides, on a monster map of nearly 400,000 hexes, and an Order of Battle comprised of well over 21,200 units from all sides involved in one of the war’s most iconic turning points and brutal battles. The game’s chronological goalposts stretch from June 6th all the way until the destruction of the German forces at the Falaise pocket. Battles of Normandy plays on a very unique scale, between the tactical level and the fully operational, so you can imagine it as a middle ground between the Squad Battles and the Panzer Campaigns titles.
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