Prepare to enter the dark heart of the Metro, as METRO 2039 pre-orders go live with Standard, Deluxe and Collector’s Edition and pre-order bonus details, ahead of its launch on PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox on PC) on February 4th 2027.

Watch the pre-order sizzle trailer HERE.

The METRO 2039 Specialist Pack is available as a universal pre-order bonus. The pack includes three blueprints, delivering early unlocks for three unique, swappable backpack upgrades. Blueprints are a new feature in METRO 2039, encouraging exploration and allowing you to craft upgrades and attachments for weapons and gear. The pre-order bonus provides a head start to The Stranger’s journey into the Metro but choose wisely; you can only equip one upgrade at a time:

• Equipment Specialist Pouch – For gunsmiths who want to focus on crafting advanced weapons and gear more quickly.

  

• Chemtech Specialist Pouch – For explorers who want to brave radioactive areas with more gas mask filters and cleaner, more reliable equipment.

  

• Munitions Specialist Pouch – For marksmen looking to find and use rarer, more powerful ammunition types in their firearms.

Three editions of METRO 2039 are available to pre-order across all platforms – Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition, each including the full game. Both the Standard and Deluxe Editions are available digitally and physically.

Three editions of METRO 2039 are available to pre-order across all platforms – Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition, each including the full game. Both the Standard and Deluxe Editions are available digitally and physically

We’re pleased to confirm that the Deluxe Edition will include METRO 2039’s Story Expansion DLC, available post-launch, with more details to be shared in the future.

More game information is available at METRO2039.com.

Slitherine today announces Assassin’s Mace has been released. Assassin’s Mace is the third major nation-focused campaign DLC for ICBM: Escalation, following Endless October and United States of Annihilation. This time, the focus is China and its transformation from a country emerging from decades of conflict into a global military and technological superpower. Like the previous campaign DLCs, it also introduces a new set of nation-specific unit cosmetics.

ICBM: Escalation – Assassin’s Mace Gameplay Trailer

Gameplay Changes and Approach

Asymmetric warfare is a major part of the campaign, requiring players to find ways to undermine the enemy’s advantages rather than match their strength directly. China begins as the technologically weaker side and must use strategies such as submarines, anti-ship weapons, and commandos to overcome stronger opponents. Its huge manpower reserves allow players to rely on large numbers of troops when technology is lacking. This creates an important balance between quantity and quality when choosing how to fight.

The campaign also removes research during missions, making for faster, more unit-oriented gameplay. Technology is still gained between missions, allowing China to gradually close the technological gap.
Technological improvement, manpower and time management are fundamental elements that adds strategy depth to the existing gameplay features.

A new campaign: a Century of Conflict

The DLC spans 101 years, with each mission taking place at a pivotal moment in China’s rise.

The campaign begins with the Chinese Civil War in 1946, as communist revolutionaries and the nationalist government fight for control of the country. The Korean War puts its newly established power to the test against a technologically superior coalition. Tensions with the Soviet Union eventually bring former allies into direct confrontation in 1969, while the Third Indochina War demonstrates the challenges of projecting Chinese power beyond its borders.

By 1991, the world changes again as the Soviet Union collapses, leaving China to navigate a new international landscape. The conflicts that follow grow increasingly modern and increasingly dangerous, eventually leading to a confrontation across the Pacific in 2022, another war with Japan in 2031 and a global struggle for energy in 2039. And then comes 2047: Judgment Day.

Discover more about this intriguing campaign on Steam, or the Assassin’s Mace official webpage.

Veterans: Napoleonic Wars, a real-time tactical strategy game set during the Napoleonic era, will launch in Steam Early Access on October 28.

Throughout development, community feedback, messages, and wishlists have played an important role in shaping the game. The team would like to thank everyone who has followed the project and supported its development.

Development will continue beyond the Early Access launch. Shortly before release, the team will publish a roadmap outlining future plans for the game, along with more details about the content available in the initial Early Access build.

Try the Demo During Steam Next Fest

Players will have an opportunity to try Veterans: Napoleonic Wars ahead of its Early Access launch, as the demo will be available during Steam Next Fest from October 19 to October 26.

The demo will feature a selection of content from both the Italian and Egyptian campaigns, giving players an early look at the battles and challenges that await them. Players are also encouraged to share their feedback with the development team.

About Veterans: Napoleonic Wars
Experience the ultimate Napoleonic Wars Wargame where every volley matters. Command history and turn the tides of war in this immersive Real-Time Strategy experience. Quick decisions and keen tactical formations are the only things that stand between your troops and victory.

Slitherine has released Battleplan, its innovative RTS game, now available on Steam.

Many players think that battles are won by strength and numbers alone, but without strategy, the win is far and the losses are great.

Victory belongs to those who look at the map and can think beyond the next hill, shaping the course of an entire campaign. Gone are the days when commanders concerned themselves with a single squad, a single tank, or a single firefight. Warfare is fought across vast fronts, through chains of command, over weeks of relentless operations.

Battleplan Gameplay Trailer

Draw battle plans directly onto the map and orchestrate multi-stage offensives. Establish defensive belts, execute fighting withdrawals, coordinate counterattacks, and unleash bombardments. Divide your forces to seize multiple objectives simultaneously, or concentrate overwhelming strength at a decisive point.

Every division is modeled in detail, from headquarters down to individual companies. Infantry, armor, engineers, artillery, reconnaissance units, anti-tank formations, and support elements operate autonomously under the command structure you create. Your officers interpret and execute your intent, adapting to battlefield conditions as the situation evolves. Each mission is simulated second-by-second, allowing you to pause, play in real-time or fast-forward at will. Mission lengths range from one week to a month. Create your strategy, draw, execute.

Plan at scale, command at depth. Can your plan survive contact with the enemy?

BULKHEAD and team17 today announced that Season 2 of WARDOGS will launch on October 15, bringing a substantial update to the 100-player tactical FPS following its successful Steam Early Access launch in September.

Throughout Season 2, BULKHEAD will introduce four new weapons, four new vehicles, three new buildables, a new weather preset and an experimental in-game wager system, alongside extensive changes to combat, building, progression and faction balance. The update marks the next step in BULKHEAD’s ongoing development of WARDOGS, building on player feedback and gameplay data gathered since launch.

WARDOGS Road to Season 02 Trailer

Players will have access to four new weapons, including the TCX-SPR Assault Rifle, M14 DMR, PP-19 Bizon SMG and Evo-3 Ultra LMG, supported by a range of new attachments. The vehicle roster also expands with the introduction of the Wolf-110, its armed assault variant, the T-72B3 main battle tank and the Flakpanzer Gepard anti-air vehicle. Three new buildable options, including an MG Nest, Large Shelter and Wooden Step, offer additional ways for players to fortify positions and defend key objectives.

Season 2 also introduces a new rain weather preset, bringing changing battlefield conditions that affect both visibility, engagement ranges and sound. Rain interacts with the environment, including damaged and destroyed structures, while thunder is synchronised across the server and can temporarily mask footsteps, creating new tactical opportunities during combat.

WARDOGS Season 2 launches October 15 on Steam, with further updates planned throughout Early Access.

As part of the Triple-I Initiative, Firefly Studios is excited to announce that Stronghold 4, the highly anticipated prequel to the original 2001 classic ‘castle sim’, launches into Steam on December 7th!

Alongside this, a brand new demo featuring Free Build on our largest ever map, a powerful new late-game unit called The Captain, a new defensive tool in the form of moats, as well as wool and weaving production chains is now available for all to play!

Stronghold 4 – Castle Customization & Economy/Release Date Reveal Trailer

Stronghold 4 – Skirmish Trailer

Build glorious fortresses to stand the test of time or tear your enemies’ defences apart before their eyes – the choice is yours!

Get the latest demo now and Wishlist the game on Steam!

Relic Entertainment is proud to announce the Company of Heroes 3: 3.0 Update, which will launch on November 5th on PC. As part of the ongoing celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Company of Heroes, this will be the most significant update to Company of Heroes 3 since its launch.

Company of Heroes 3: 3.0 Update Teaser Trailer

Designed to enhance nearly every aspect of the game, the 3.0 Update introduces extensive visual and environmental upgrades, major audio improvements, smarter AI, gameplay and balance refinements, new and refreshed maps, campaign enhancements, and new content for Final Stand. Together, these changes elevate the battlefield experience for both new and returning players while reinforcing Relic’s ongoing commitment to Company of Heroes 3.

Visual & Environmental Enhancements

The 3.0 Update introduces extensive visual and environmental upgrades, including new snow and rain weather effects, enhanced fog and atmospheric effects, improved soldier lighting, dynamic terrain wetness, updated animation systems, new and expanded environmental art sets, and new industrial, winter, and autumn-themed battlefields. Together, these improvements bring greater immersion, variety, and battlefield atmosphere to every match.

Audio Improvements

Battlefields will sound better than ever with new and improved weapon firing sounds, enhanced impact and explosion effects, and upgraded vehicle destruction audio. Players will also be able to enjoy an expanded music selection featuring classic tracks from both Company of Heroes and Company of Heroes 2, bringing iconic music from across the franchise into Company of Heroes 3.

Gameplay, AI & Balance Improvements

The 3.0 Update introduces important gameplay refinements designed to improve the moment-to-moment experience. AI has been upgraded through improvements to late-game performance and a new Combat Rating calculation that enables smarter battlefield decision-making and retreat behavior. Additional balance changes build upon previous updates to encourage more diverse strategic playstyles while continuing efforts to address dominant strategies.

Campaign Improvements

The 3.0 Update delivers improvements across the Company of Heroes 3 campaign experience. Addressing progression-blocking issues, implementing extensive bug fixes, and introducing a host of gameplay and presentation improvements. The Italian Dynamic Campaign Map has had a visuals update to match the quality of the 3.0 visual effort, while improvements to map clarity and readability make commanding your forces and navigating the campaign more intuitive than ever.

Combine this with an ongoing refinement to in mission gameplay and visuals, and overall mission flow, these campaign updates provide a stronger and more polished single-player experience for both new and returning players.

New & Refreshed Maps

The 3.0 Update expands Company of Heroes 3′s multiplayer offerings with a collection of brand-new battlefields alongside refreshed community favorites. In addition to the new maps, every multiplayer map in Company of Heroes 3 has received improvements as part of the 3.0 Update, including visual, environmental, lighting, weather, atmosphere, and gameplay refinements designed to improve immersion, readability, and variety across the entire multiplayer experience. The maps highlighted below received the most significant additions and refresh work.

Company of Heroes 3 is available now on Steam.

Command history’s greatest armour as skill-based tank warfare storms onto Steam in full force

Independent developer Armative Studios today announced that Steel Aces, the free-to-play tank MMO focused on skill-based, historically authentic armoured warfare, will launch in full on Steam on October 30th, 2026. The news follows a successful Open Play Weekend held from September 25th to 28th, giving players an early look at the game ahead of its full release.

During the Open Play Weekend, players took to the battlefield getting the full Steel Aces experience, with every core feature unlocked and no monetisation enabled. Everything players earned during the event was kept and that progress will carry forward into the October 36th launch.

Steel Aces puts skill over spending, with fair tank-on-tank combat where tactics and player ability decide the outcome of each battle. There are no player-controlled artillery or aircraft, keeping the focus firmly on direct ground combat. With no premium ammunition, pay-to-win mechanics or unfair RNG, players can rely on their own decisions rather than paid advantages or random outcomes. At launch, Steel Aces features a genuine ballistics simulation and component-based damage system, where shots can damage individual parts rather than simply depleting a health bar and shot placement matters far more than in similar games.

Key Features:

No Pay to Win – Every vehicle is earned through play. Monetisation is cosmetic-only, keeping battles decided by skill, not spending

Pure Line-of-Sight Combat – No artillery, no aircraft – just tanks, terrain and tactics

Genuine Ballistics Simulation – A component-based damage system means shot placement and vehicle knowledge matter more than in comparable tank games

100+ Years of Armoured History – Over 150 historically authentic vehicles spanning the Interwar Period, World War II, and the early Cold War

Museum-Informed Authenticity – Developed in partnership with military museums and hands-on tank experts

Rank-Based Progression – 19 ranks and fair, skill-matched battles for new and veteran commanders alike

Matrix Games today announced that the landmark v1.10 Real-Time Multiplayer (RTMP) Update for Command: Modern Operations is now live on Steam!

For the very first time in CMO history, you can step out of solo scenario execution and experience high-stakes modern military operations alongside—or against—fellow human commanders in real time.

Key Highlights of the RTMP Update

Head-to-Head & Co-op Warfare:
• Test your operational plans in live 1v1 tactical engagements or coordinate joint multi-domain operations against AI threats.

Seamless Real-Time Execution:

• Issue orders, adjust Weapon Release Authorities (WRA), and manage radar/emission control (EMCON) on the fly as tactical situations evolve in real time.

Balanced Tactical Scale:

• Optimized for focused, high-intensity scenarios, delivering fluid performance in complex joint-strike operations.

Full Domain Integration:

• Coordinate air packages, naval strike groups, subsurface wolfpacks, and orbital assets in a live multiplayer environment.

How to Play
1. Update your Command: Modern Operations installation to the latest build on Steam.

2. Select Multiplayer from the main menu.

3. Host or join a scenario lobby with your fellow commander and take your place at the command desk.

Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe TODAY announced the worldwide launch of ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE, the first mainline entry in the acclaimed ACE COMBAT flight shooting series in seven years. Developed by Bandai Namco Aces Inc., ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE elevates the franchise to new heights, leveraging Unreal® Engine 5 and proprietary technology to deliver breathtaking visuals, immersive aerial combat and thrilling high-speed action. Players can also experience the series’ biggest multiplayer offering to date, with cross-platform play connecting pilots across the globe. ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is available now on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.

Soar through the skies and rise above every challenge to earn your place among the elite. Engage in intense aerial combat to dominate the battlefield with powerful weapons. Experience a breathtaking campaign filled with high-stakes missions, hard choices, and deep squad connections.

More game information is available on the ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE official website or on Steam.