Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV will launch for PlayStation 4 and PC on January 16, 2020 in Japan, publisher Koei Tecmo announced during a Tokyo Game Show 2019 stage event. A price was not announced.

In the west, Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV is still planned for release in early 2020.

Here are the latest details on the game, via its official website:

■ Domestic System

Devise your very own strategies with “Ruler Play” with boundless possibilities.

Administration

Your “Administration” is an integral part of your force, and depending on how you assign posts to your subordinate officers, a variety of commands and effects will become available. Your “Administration” consist of 5 types of posts – “Battle”, “Support”, “Schemes”, “Domestics”, and “Personnel”. Depending on your ruler’s “Doctrine”, their organization chart will differ – some will be better suited for military affairs, while others will be suited for domestics, personnel, or other posts. In addition, “doctrines” have levels, so the scope of your “administration” will expand as it develops.

By assigning your officers to various posts within your administration, the effects of the “policies” that they possess will be added to your force. Some officer “policies” are only available to certain officers, and they have powerful effects that affect the entire battlefield, such as increasing the effects of specific formations, granting the ability to construct traps, and more. Devising your own strategies, raising your “doctrine” level, and assigning your subordinate officers to the appropriate posts will be the keys to expanding your force.

—Cao Cao’s doctrine is “Might”. Strong Battle and Support give him an advantage in battle.

—Sun Quan’s doctrine is “Local”. He excels in Domestics and Personnel.

—Liu Bei’s doctrine is “Noble”. All posts are balanced on his organizational chart.

Officer Policies (Partial Listing)

Post Name Effect Battle Strengthen Fish Scale The effectiveness of Fish Scale formations is increased. Strengthen Siege Weapons The effectiveness of Siege Tower, Battering Ram, and Catapult formations are increased. Strengthen Armed Forces Produce the effects of all battle policies. (Only possessed by certain officers.) Support Reorganize Military Morale limits for cities and units are increased. Reorganize Supply Route Provision consumption of units is decreased. Schemes Research Burn Burn effects are increased, and fire traps are able to be constructed depending on level. Trickery The amount of gold and provisions requested during foreign negotiations is decreased. Domestics Prepare Register The rising force of troops due to recruit officials is increased. Expand Castle Walls Durability limit of cities is increased. Personnel Thorough Government Orders are increased. Reform Expenditures The costs required for regional, training, and recruit officials are decreased.

■ Battle System

Dominate the entire continent with your army’s colors.

Expand Your Battle Lines

The lands ruled over by various forces are denoted with colors, so you can confirm battle lines at a glance.

Battles typically consist of invading enemy territories to conquer new land and expand your battle lines.

The amount of land units can be conquered depends on the number of troops and the formation.

Sets of land units are called “Regions”. Forces manage land as “Regional Units”.

By conquering the “Prefecture” that manages a region, not only do you acquire the authority to rule over that region, but you will also receive income from the region, and your marching troops can receive supportive effects.

How your battle situation develops will greatly depend on what land you invade and which regions you seize.

—1. Liu Bei’s army advances toward Xuchang.

—2. Invade enemy land and expand your battle lines.

—3. Conquer “Prefectures” and expand your area of rule.

—4. Seize all of the areas surrounding Xuchang, and place the enemy’s city under siege.

Cut Off the Enemy’s Supply Route

By maintaining a “Supply Route”, marching units can enjoy the full benefits of the city from which they have deployed, as well as the natural advantages of the land. As such, if any land along a unit’s marching route is taken and they are cut off from their supply route, they might suffer a drop in morale, be inflicted by status ailments, or become weakened by other influences.

When battling with enemy units, you can even enjoy tactics such as halting enemy units on one front while sending another unit to their rear to cut off their supply route.

—1. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s units draw in enemy units.

—2. Liu Bei’s unit circles back to attack the enemy unit’s rear.

—3. Seize land between an enemy unit’s marching source and marching target to cut off their supply route.

■ Characters

Cao Cao

King of Wei. Proved his ability as a commander of cavalry in the suppression of the Yellow Turbans. After Dong Zhou’s death, wandered the land to help build the foundations of the Wei kingdom. Posthumously named Emperor Wei Wu.

Xiahou Dun

Officer of Wei and relative of Cao Cao. Lost his left eye to one of Cao Xing’s arrows in the battle with Lu Bu, but afterward went on to lead armies throughout the land. As though to follow his lord,he died of illness shortly after Cao Cao’s death.

Sun Quan

First emperor of Wu and second son of Sun Jian. Ascended to the throne after his older brother’s untimely death. Defeated a large army of Cao Cao’s at the battle of Chibi. Declared himself emperor in the year 229 and established the kingdom of Wu. Renamed Emperor Wu Da.

Zhou Yu

Officer of Wu and sworn brother of Sun Ce. Accepted Sun Ce’s dying request to assist Sun Quan. Commanded the navy as viceroy at the battle of Chibi, defeating Cao Cao’s army. Called “Handsome Young Zhou” for his good looks.

Sun Ce

Oldest son of Sun Jian. Raised an army by borrowing 3,000 men from Yuan Shu. Quickly subdued China’s eastern region, earning him the name “Little Conqueror.” Died young from a wound he received while hunting, when he was ambushed by an enemy.

Liu Bei

First Emperor of Shu. Said to be a descendant of Liu Sheng, prince of Zhong Shan in early Han. First raised an army to help suppress the Yellow Turbans and eventually founded one of the three kingdoms of the period. Renamed as Emperor Zhao Lie.

Zhuge Liang

Prime minister of Shu, also known as Sleeping Dragon. Agreed to serve Liu Bei after Liu Bei visited him three times. Showed brilliance in diplomacy and domestic policy. Campaigned north five times, ultimately falling at the Wuzhangyuan.

Guan Yu

Head of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. Swore brotherhood with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. Exceptionally strong, he was said to be the equal of 10,000 men. He protected Jing after Liu Bei conquered Shu, but was caught and killed by the Wu forces.

Zhang Fei

One of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. Swore brotherhood with Liu Bei and Guan Yu. Held off Cao Cao’s entire army all by himself at a bridge during the battle of Changban.

Diao Chan

A young songstress unequaled in beauty as well as song and dance. Having been raised by Wang Yun as his own daughter, she agreed to participate in his plan to divide Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu. She managed to get close to both of them, and succeeded in tearing their relationship apart, with Lu Bu later killing Dong Zhuo.

Lu Bu

Officer in the late Han. Remembered in the phrase, “Among men, Lu Bu; among horses, Red Hare.” His acts of betrayal agitated the land, but he met a pitiful end when he, too, was betrayed.

Dong Zhuo

Protector of Bing in late Han. Entered the capital in answer to a plea for help from He Jin, only to take advantage of the situation and seize power. A cruel ruler who replaced the Emperor and moved the capital, he was eventually killed by Wang Yun and Lu Bu.

Yuan Shao

Son of the prestigious Yuan family who led the coalition against Dong Zhou. Afterwards fought for domination of the Central Plains with Cao Cao, but was ultimately ruined by his indecisiveness. Suffered a great loss in the battle of Guandu.

■ Gameplay Data Collection Version

In Japan, a “Gameplay Data Collection Version” of the game will be released digitally, which will allow players to experience the game’s front line battles as they unfold on a single map. This feedback gathered from users will be used to brush up the artificial intelligence for the final release. A release date was not announced.

■ Key Visual