“If Steel Division’s tactical cleverness and smart phase structure work as well as this initial demo suggests they might, this’ll be a winner,” our Adam said after seeing Steel Division: Normandy 44 [official site]. Oh, because he’s so special he deserves an early look at the new RTS from Wargame and R.U.S.E. devs Eugen Systems. Tch! No matter. We plebs don’t have too long to wait to achieve equality with Adam, as publishers Paradox have announced that Normandy 44 will launch on May 23rd. Then we’ll see who’s so flipping special.

So! It’s War. With the World. Again. Players take control of specific, specialised divisions — including the American 101st Airborne, German 12th SS Panzer, and 3rd Canadian — rather than broader ideas of countries. Battles will unfold across three phases, with players’ income and available units increasing at both the ten and twenty-minute marks. As Adam (pah!) said:

“Thanks to the three phase system, which is an abstraction of the wider logistics that allow units to reach the battle, light tanks will have their uses, helping to clear out infantry or the spotter units that allow artillery to operate (all artillery units are off-screen, the spotters being their physical representatives). If heavier tanks arrive in phase three, it might be wise to pull lighter vehicles out of their path, sacrificing some parts of the front to concentrate your efforts elsewhere. Because the frontline changes shape dynamically, reflecting the course of the battle, you can see where reinforcements are needed, the points where the line is buckling, even if you don’t have direct line of sight to get the full picture.”

Along with a singleplayer campaign, Normandy 44 will support multiplayer battles up to 10v10.

Steel Division: Normandy 44 will cost £34.99/39,99€/$39.99. May 23rd.

Adam also chatted with Eugen about Normandy 44 during EGX Rezzed. Through the magic of technology, even though it’s no longer March and we’re not in Tobacco Dock, we can re-watch that right now:



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