Hello!

In our recent Road Map 2020 blog post we talked about an exciting new feature coming to Steel Division 2: Rules of Engagement.

Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at what this new mechanic actually entails.

Rules of Engagement will be made available to all Steel Division 2 players in the form of a free Reinforcement Pack. When? We don’t have an exact date yet but in the not too distant future!

What is it?

Rules of Engagement will make your commanding life much easier by giving your units more initiative on the battlefield, reducing the amount of micromanagement needed to control them.

Like the Smart Orders mechanic (detailed in this blog post), Rules of Engagement will have its own options panel which becomes active during a tactical battle. In this screen, you’ll be able to set the various behaviors all your units should follow on the battlefield.

Rules of Engagement will allow your units to do more on their own and adapt to changing conditions much more intelligently.



A bit of background

As you might know, we have been in creating RTS games for a long time, not only with our popular Wargame titles but also with R.U.S.E. (among other games). In the latter example, we set out to provide the units with more adaptive behavior beyond the default orders commonly found in the genre (move, fight, etc.). For example, in R.U.S.E., the standard travel order was a road travel order and the unit would automatically stop when spotting an enemy and then engage them.

In Steel Division and Wargame, the default orders are just that - very straight forward. If you click Move, and a unit spots an enemy while moving either off-road or on a paved track, it will not stop to engage. This gives players more control but is also more challenging because the level of micromanagement increases significantly.

When you think of it, these basic orders and commands don’t fit the high degree of realism we are trying to accomplish with Steel Division 2 - an authentic World War 2 game. We have also come to the conclusion that it didn’t make much sense to have a default move order that most of the experienced players ignored, as the far more efficient option would be to use Hunt instead.

Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that we want to allow for very high levels of micromanagement for our veteran Steel Division 2 players, but at the same time open up to first-comers and new players so that they can enjoy the game in a more relaxed manner.




How does it work?

In designing Rules of Engagement, we wanted to make sure it would work well in concert with the Smart Orders. You can see both mechanics as being partner-in-crime features, giving the player the flexibility to set their unit’s automatic behavior on the battlefield while decreasing the burden of complex micromanagement.

Please note that the feature is still in development, so some of the naming and orders might change.



Rules of Engagement orders

Advance: Hunt or normal Move. Makes sense, right?
Motorised Pathfind: Fast or Short. In this case, the road is to be used if it is calculated to be faster. Watch out, though. Fast can be dangerous because the algorithm that calculates the optimal route can sometimes make the units pass through contested places. Short makes the unit follow the shortest, straightest way: we don’t allow units to travel on any road.
On Foot Pathfind: Also known as walking. Cover or Short. Set the unit to either take cover whenever possible (while taking into account not to deviate too far from the original route). Or simply move straight ahead.
Idle: Sets the behavior when a unit is doing nothing. Either Nothing, Cover or Hold Position. The first speaks for itself. The second option allows a unit to find cover in a small radius of its current position. The third position will switch a unit’s stance to Smart Orders.
Shot on Target: In Steel Division 2, units automatically shoot at the maximum range (2 kilometers). This creates two “issues”: the unit is revealed, and the maximum range is a far cry from effective range, the point where you can actually do damage. This order toggles between Efficient (only shoot when a gun can penetrate an enemy unit’s armor) or Max Range, which is the default stance.

If you are a veteran Steel Division 2 player, the Rules of Engagement will be initially configured as a blank slate - you should not notice any difference. You can set your own unit’s behavior as you see fit.

If you are new to Steel Division 2 after the Rules of Engagement feature rolls out, it will be configured in a way that we feel is most appropriate to new players.

To make clear each unit’s action, we have added the option - as a small button in the new panel - to display all the current orders of each unit. Each order is represented by an arrow of a different color.

Conclusion

We want to know what you think about the Rules of Engagement. If there are any other orders or behaviors that would be of interest, we are more than happy to take it into consideration!

We actively listen to your feedback, be it in the Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter). Don’t hesitate to leave us your thoughts.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello, commander. Guess who’s back!

You might be wondering what the Eugen team has been up to these last couple of weeks, and we can tell you - quite a lot! In today’s post, we want to take some time to talk about the near future and all the cool things you can expect for Steel Division 2.

Trust us, there is some exciting news for you today. Read on!

What’s coming up

As you might know, behind the scenes, we are always hard at work at making Steel Division 2 a more kick-ass experience for all of you. Not only that, there is a ton of new features and content being created as we speak, not in the least our next History DLC.

But that’s not all. We can lift a veil on the Reinforcement Packs that are coming your way as well. Previous Packs contained new maps, or for instance, the Smart Order mechanic. The new ones will deliver even more goodies and enhanced gameplay. Like what?

Rules of Engagement

First off is the Rules of Engagement Reinforcement Pack. We’ll dive deeper into the finer details in a later blog post, but very much in the same vein as its partner mechanic, the Smart Orders, this new feature will enhance the way you can control your units while decreasing the amount of micromanagement.

Rules of Engagement work twofold: on the one hand, it allows you to set unit behavior, on the other, it introduces enhanced unit intelligence, allowing troops and vehicles to be more adaptive to threats and the environment.

Much like the Smart Orders, the Rules of Engagement will make it easier for new players and hardened veterans alike to control their units. Players will be able to interact with the Rules of Engagement through a new, dedicated screen in the tactical user interface.



Destruction Mode

Blowing things up and getting points for it has never been as much fun as it was with the Destruction mode found in our Wargame titles and Steel Division: Normandy. And yes, this fan-requested mode will make its glorious comeback in Steel Division 2 in one of our upcoming Reinforcement Packs.

Much like the version found in the original Wargame titles, Destruction mode grants a player points for - you guessed it - the destruction of enemy units, troops, planes, and vehicles. Every kill nets you points, while the number of flags you control determines the requisition points earned per minute.



When the points total runs out, you win (or lose) the game! Destroying a King Tiger 2 will really get to hurt your opponents right in their meow-meow!

Army General Multiplayer

Now, this is a big one and has been high on our list ever since we started working on the Army General campaigns: multiplayer integration. In one of our future Reinforcement Packs, we’ll introduce the option to play an Army General campaign with or against other human players. This will open up a completely new experience and make each of these dynamic strategic campaigns truly challenging and unique.



The new History DLC

We can’t say much about the upcoming DLC yet, apart from the fact that it will contain three new divisions each for the Axis and Allies, feature a massive new Army General campaign, and will bring new Historical Battles as well.

What, where, how long? Hold on to your seats, ready your keyboards, because before the year’s done, you’ll get to know all the juicy details of our new History DLC.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

If you didn’t have it yet, be sure to grab yourself the History Pass for Steel Division 2. With it, you’ll get access to all the three History DLC’s planned for our game. All the DLC’s will be released in the 12 months after the official launch of Steel Division 2, and the first one, highlighting the battles in Poland during Operation Bagration, the very aptly named “Death on the Vistula”, is available now.

Conclusion

We care deeply about Steel Division 2 and you, the player. We couldn’t have made it so far without your fantastic support and feedback, and we’d like to keep it this way going forward.

One other thing we want to do is to communicate more often with our community - either through these posts or through our social media channels.

So, keep an eye out on our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You’ll hear from us soon!

Hello commander!

We have some exciting news to share with our players. Much requested by you, the community, we will be releasing a full set of modding tools for Steel Division 2 today! With these new tools, you’ll be able to modify, add or otherwise alter a host of different core features of our game: from vehicles to infantry weapons, divisions, sounds, skins and 3D models, and much more.

Let’s take a look at what to expect!

The new modding tools

The modding tools is a feature set asked for by you, the Steel Division 2 community, for some time. After releasing our game, our first goal was to improve the core experience of Steel Division 2, to make sure that both newcomers and veterans alike would love it from the moment they jumped in. As you know, it included new features such as the Smart Orders, the tutorials, new maps, new divisions and a whole slew of other interesting new mechanics. The results you have been able to play with since the release of our Death on the Vistula History DLC.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

Modding tools have always been on our to-do list, and in the recent weeks and months, we have finally been able to devote the necessary attention and energy to make this extensive new feature set a reality.

What can you do?

A better question is: what can’t you do with these new tools? We have opened up the inner vaults of Steel Division 2 for you to play with. Together with the modding tools, we have also released an in-depth manual for you to use as a guide in creating new models and skins, files, tweaks, total conversions, you name it.

You can find the Modding Manual here.

The things you can change, upgrade, alter and modify in Steel Division 2:

• Skins and Models. You can change existing skins and create new textures for your models. You can also alter existing Steel Division 2 3D models and their meshes. The famous Pink Panther is finally within reach!
  
• User Interface. You can change and move around parts of the user interface, including the menus, loading screens, the tactical interface, the pre- and post-match screens.
  
• Weapons and Units. You can modify all the existing statistical properties for all the weapons and units in the game, from nitty-gritty details such as the ROF of machine guns to the armor distribution of vehicles, the rotation speed of turrets, and more.
  
• Divisions. Of course, you can also modify existing divisions and battlegroups, and add your own! Among other things, Activation Points for each category can be changed, as well as the individual costs for units.
  
• Gameplay. Do you want Phase A to last 2 minutes? Or instead 30 minutes? You can change that! All the variables and settings involving a Steel Division 2 game can be tweaked.
  
• AI. You can modify the AI settings and strategies. Updating existing profiles across various modes is possible, allowing you to create the most cunning of foes, for instance, in single-player Skirmish, online or Historical Battles.
  
• Sounds. You can add your own sounds and music to Steel Division 2. You can also modify existing sounds. Get ready to hear some more oomph in your Flak 36 88 mm boom!

As you know, Eugen Systems is based in France. Our baguette language interpretation of English can be seen in the internal labels used in the modding tools. Don’t let our Frenglish discourage you from using them. We are always around to help (and explain what might have been lost in translation).



Conclusion

Steel Division 2 is a complex game with many different interconnected parts; it is something that we are very proud of having created. We know Steel Division 2 can be a hardcore game that is a challenge to master. We hope that with our new modding tools there will be an even wider breadth of complexity, of historical accuracy, of interesting new experimental game concepts - created by our players, for our players.

We can’t wait to see what our community will come up with.

Now, we need to get back in making Steel Division 2 an even better game. We can’t tell you exactly what, but lots of tasty, good things are cooking in Eugen’s kitchen. Keep an eye out on our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

See you on the battlefield, commander!

The first DLC for Steel Division 2 - Death on the Vistula, is now available for download!

Taking place on the last days of Operation Bagration, Steel Division 2 - Death on the Vistula expands the original game with tons of new content in solo, coop and multiplayer, including a new massive Army General turn-based strategic campaign, 4 new Divisions, 200+ new units, 4 new historical battles and 2 exclusives aces! All the content of this gorgeous first DLC is detailed on this page!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/
Download it now on this page or get the History Pass, which contains Death on the Vistula, as well as the two upcoming History DLC!



And that's not all! New free Reinforcement Packs, including 3 new tactical maps, the brand-new Smart Orders, and some new gorgeous soundtracks are also available now for everyone!

Last but not least, the game is now updated with the latest patch, featuring tutorials for Army General and Skirmish as well as dozens of fixes and balancing. Here's the complete patchlog:

• Added Tutorials for Army General and Skirmish.
  
• Added Siedlce 1v1 to Quick play.
  
• Improved performance on 5700XT cards.
  
• Improved stability in the deck builder.

• Fixed aircraft's armory portrait.
  
• Fixed specific bug while ordering an AA or armed vehicles to attack a unit.
  
• Fixed a neverending machinegun sound.
  
• Fixed a rare bug causing Stuka not droping its bombs during a nose dive.
  
• Fixed a rare bug happening during an "attack" order, making some units hard to select.

Generic

• Rehauled MLRS's supply cost.
  
• Rehauled MLRS's reload time.
  
• Increased Artillery leader’s price from 20 to 30.
  
• Decreased Supply truck's availability from 2 / 6 / 10 to 2 / 4 / 6
  
• Moved Military Police’s unit from INFANTRY to SUPPORT.
  
• Soviet LPO flamethrower renamed ROKS-3 ... since the LPo didn't saw service before 1953! All units including this name replaced it with ROKS.
  
• Set all open-top tank destroyers to Good optics (see below which are concerned).
  
• Set all enclosed tank destroyers to Normal optics (see below which are concerned).
  
• Bombers and multirole aircrafts, after dropping their ordnance, will increase speed to match their unloaded versions.
  
• Set all HMG's hit points at 6.
  
• Increased all nation’s assault engineers squad’s explosive loadout from 2 to 3.

Allies

• Decreased ANDRYUSHA's price from 150 to 135.
  
• Increased OSNAZ SNAYPERI’s price from 25 to 30.
  
• Decreased SNIPER’s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decreased SNAPEYRI SHANINA’s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decreased SNAYPERI’s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decreased KAZ. RAZVEDKA’s price from 35 to 30.
  
• Increased OSNAZ SAPERI’s price from 20 to 25.
  
• Decreased RAZVEDKA’s price from 35 to 30.
  
• Decreased WC 52 DOUSHKA's price from 20 to 10.
  
• Decrease KAZAKI's price from 25 to 20.
  
• Decrease GVARDYIA's price from 25 to 20.
  
• Decrease GVARDYIA (DP)'s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decrease STRELKI's price from 25 to 20.
  
• Increase ZiS-3 (all nations)'s optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increase 61-K 37mm' (all nations)'s optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increase SU-76' (TD variants only)'s optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increase ISU-122's optics from Very Low to Normal.
  
• Increase SU-85's optics from Very Low to Normal.
  
• Decreased KAZ. RAZVEDKA’s price from 35 to 30.
  
• Increased GVARDYIA’s RPG-43 ammunition from 3 to 4.
  
• Increased STRELKI’s RPG-43 ammunition from 3 to 4.
  
• Increased SAPERI KOMROTI’s Panzerfaust 60 ammunition from 2 to 3.
  
• Increased TANKODESANTNIKI’s RDG Smoke ammunition from 2 to 3.
  
• Switched Pe-2-83's type from Ground Attack to Heavy fighter
  
• British 4,2-in. MORTAR's availability standardized with others of its kind.
  
• 3rd Gds. Mech. - Switched Ace Averin (Su-76M) from Artillery to Anti-Tank category.
  
• 3rd Gds. Mech. - Switched pack of Su-76M from Artillery to Su-76M (PT) Anti-Tank.
  
• 3rd Gds. Mech. - Adjusted deck auto-fill.
  
• 3rd US Armored - Decreased US CMD M5A1's availability from 3/5/7 to 2/4/6.
  
• 3rd US Armored - Increased US M5A1's phase C availability from 22 to 24, to match that of the French 2e DB.
  
• GM Tuyrin - Set SU-85's XP ratio on par with the (more generous) other Soviet divisions.

Axis

• All Panzerfaust-armed variants of similar (non Panzerfaust-armed) units now cost the same price, they just come with a lower availablity.
  
• All MG-42's price set at 30 (same as the MG-34, but with less availability & XP per card).
  
• Decreased NEBELWERFER 42's price from 125 to 115.
  
• Decreased MAULTIER-VIELFACHWERFER's (Unarmored) price from 120 to 100.
  
• Increased R-VIELFACHWERFER's (Armored) price from 120 to 100.
  
• Increased REIHENWERFER's price from 100 to 120.
  
• Decreased JÄGER SCHARFSCHUTZE’s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decreased SNIPER SCOUTS’s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decreased SKI. SCHARFSCHUTZE’s price from 30 to 25.
  
• Decreased SDKFZ. 251/10’s price from 30 to 20.
  
• Decreased U304(f) PAK's price from 25 to 20.
  
• Decreased SDKFZ. 251/7's price from 30 to 25.
  
• Increased FÜSILIER (DP)’s price from 30 to 35.
  
• Increased JÄGER SPÄHTRUPP’s price from 20 to 25.
  
• Increased LVF CHASSEURS’s price from 25 to 30.
  
• Increased SKI. SPÄHTRUPP’s price from 20 to 25.
  
• Decreased SKI. FUSILIER’s price from 35 to 30.
  
• Increased KOSAKEN’s price from 30 to 40.
  
• Increased 28. Jäger’s IG 33’s availability from 2/4/- to 3/6-, on par with other divisions.
  
• Increased PZ.JAGER 35(R)’s RoF from 10 to 15 rpm
  
• Increased PAK 43’s RoF from 5 to 7 rpm
  
• Increased BEGLEIT-GRENADIER’s price from 30 to 35.
  
• Increased SCHÜTZEN’s HHL3 ammunition from 3 to 4.
  
• Decreased JÄGER PION. FÜH.’s Panzerfaust 60 ammunition from 4 to 3.
  
• Increased LVF GRENADIER’s HHL3 ammunition from 3 to 4.
  
• Increased ÁRKÁSZTISZT’s Faustpatrone ammunition from 2 to 3.
  
• Increased HUSZÁROK’s HHL3 ammunition from 3 to 4.
  
• Increased Pak 36 37mm's optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increased Panzerjäger Gazelle's optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increased 36M 40mm' (all nations)'s optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increased Nashorn' (all nations)'s optics from Normal to Good.
  
• Increased Jagdpanzer 38(t)'s optics from Very Low to Normal.
  
• Increased Jagdpanzer IV's optics from Very Low to Normal.
  
• Increased Jagdpanther's optics from Very Low to Normal.
  
• Increased StuG III F's optics from Very Low to Normal.
  
• 1. Lovas - Changed JAGDPANZER 38(t)'s availability from 3/6/9 to 4/8/-.
  
• Korück 559 - Changed LVF MG-34's availability from 4/6/9 to 6//
  
• Korück 559 - Set IG 290 (aka 52-P-353 76,2mm)'s XP ratio on par with the (more generous) Soviet divisions.

Have fun, commander!

Hello commander!

So exciting! The release of our very-first Steel Division 2 History DLC, Death on the Vistula, is just around the corner. This coming Thursday, October 17th, you can get your hands on four new divisions, a gigantic new Army General campaign, four new Historical Battles, two new Aces, and over 200 new units. If you haven’t, get the Death on the Vistula DLC now!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/
As part of this DLC, together with the new units, we’ll also be releasing two new Aces. In today’s article, we’ll take a closer look at these historical figures (and vehicles).

In case you forgot: Aces are unique units that don’t feature any kind of gameplay or statistical advantage. They look badass, but play exactly the same!

Karl Nicolussi-Leck
The new Axis Ace is the tank commander Karl Nicolussi-Leck with his Panther A. He managed to single-handedly break through an enemy encirclement during the battle of Kovel as part of the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking”. Disregarding a direct order to withdraw, Nicolussi-Leck kept up the attack, destroying several Soviet tanks, and ultimately reached the besieged troops. The trapped forces escaped with most of their heavy equipment intact, which later earned Nicolussi-Leck the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions.



The “Chwat” Jagdpanzer 38(t)
The Allied Ace is not a person but a tank! The “Chwat”, which means “Daredevil” in Polish, was a Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank captured by the Armia Krajowa - the Home Army - during the opening days of the Warsaw Uprising. After some hasty repairs, they used the diminutive tank destroyer against the German forces in the ensuing street battles. It did not survive the war - save for a discarded road wheel - but proved its value for the brief time it served the brave fighting Poles.



The Death on the Vistula DLC will also bring over 200 new units. We want to highlight several of the more unique vehicles you’ll be able to command.

Sturmtiger
The mighty Sturmtiger, a beast of a machine firing 380mm rocket-propelled rounds, was a rare heavy assault gun designed to provide offensive fire support in built-up areas. Only during the Warsaw Uprising was this vehicle actual employed as intended, when a handful of Sturmtiger, including the original prototype, attacked urban fortifications. The Sturmtiger can be found with the new Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”.



Bergepanther
The Bergepanther, an armored recovery vehicle based on the Panther medium tank, was used to retrieve disabled tanks on the battlefield. As the war progressed, the German High Command realized they needed a new vehicle powerful enough to recover the heavy tanks (Tiger, Panther, etc.) still salvageable after a battle. Lacking a turret, the box-topped Bergepanther was equipped with a winch and cable system and had only limited defensive armaments. The Bergepanther can be deployed as a heavy prime mover with the new 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking”.



Fw 190 D-9 "Long Nose"
One of the many variants of the successful Focke-Wulf 190, the “Long Nose” D-9 single-seat fighter was originally designed for attacking high-flying Allied heavy bombers. The realities of the war forced the Luftwaffe to use the D-9, nicknamed “Dora”, as an anti-fighter and in ground-attack missions instead. The capable Fw 190 D-9 Dora is featured with the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking”.



JU 88 G1
The venerable twin-engined Junkers Ju 88 was used by the Luftwaffe from the very beginning of World War 2. This multi-role combat aircraft saw many uses: as a dive bomber, a photo-reconnaissance plane, a night fighter, in a ground-attack role. The JU 88 G1 took on the mantle as a capable heavy fighter, being able to bring a large amount of firepower to bear. The JU 88 G1 is featured with the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”.



Kubus
The scratch-built Kubus was an armored personnel carrier made by the Armia Krajowa during the Warsaw Uprising. A truly unique vehicle (only one was ever made), the improvised Kubus carried a machine-gun and flamethrower spearheaded several assaults. The original armored car survived the war and is now on display. In Steel Division 2, a small number of Kubus fighting vehicles can be found as part of the Armia Krajowa division.



Captured Panthers
During the Warsaw Uprising, the Home Army managed to capture a handful of German vehicles. Among these, two Panther A medium tanks were recovered almost completely intact. They were quickly used with devastating effect against their original owners. The Panther is not the only captured tank that can be deployed by the Armia Krowjawa: they also have access to the Jagdpanzer 38(t), Panzer IV, Tiger, and even an Italian M14/41.



Get ready!
This Thursday, October 17th, we won’t only be releasing the Death on the Vistula DLC but also a number of Reinforcement Packs, which will be available for free to all our Steel Division 2 players. These packs will bring three new maps (read more about them here), the new Smart Orders (read about this new feature here), two new soundtracks, and new in-depth tutorials for the Army General and the tactical game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

You can always check out our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

Alongside the launch of the Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October, we’ll also be releasing free Reinforcement Pack for all our Steel Division 2 players. These packs will individually contain a bunch of shiny new things, foremost the new Smart Orders mechanic, as well as in-depth tutorials for both the Army General and the tactical game and two new soundtracks.



But that’s not all: the Reinforcement Packs will also contain three new maps. They come in different sizes and allow for 1v1, 2v2, and 4v4 player counts (solo, cooperative and online multiplayer). All three take place in the eastern territories of occupied Poland, and will feature in the new Historical Battles of the Death on the Vistula DLC.

In today’s article, we’ll look at the new maps in detail: Brest West, Zbuczy and Gora Kalwaria.

Brest West


As the name implies, this map represents the countryside to the west of Brest, a former Polish city close to the Belarussian border. Most history buffs might recognize Brest as the place where the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk was signed, which signaled the end of Russia’s participation in World War 1. Also well-known is the 19th-century fortress located nearby, which under Soviet control held out against the Wehrmacht for six days at the start of Operation Barbarossa.

Steel Division 2 focuses on the Red Army’s massive strategic campaign, Operation Bagration, which took hold of the region three years later. Brest lay right on the path of the 1st Belorussian front as they advanced towards Warsaw and the Vistula river.



Brest West is a 2v2 map which can also be played in 1v1 mode. A river crosses the battlefield with large plateaus influencing the waterway’s course. There are two distinct environments that will influence a player’s style of fighting. Running the length of the river, a village provides a welcome level of cover for your infantry and allows for some intense close combat assaults. The second environment comprises of various low-level plateaus that rise above several open plains. This terrain supports long-range engagements. The hills provide plenty of cover, obstructing sightlines, and allow a player to sneak up vehicles and tanks using the ridges and hillsides.



Battlegroups based on mechanized and armored divisions will find themselves most at ease on Brest West. Infantry needs to watch out - charging across the open terrain on this map is not recommendable!

Zbuczy


The second map carries the name Zbuczyn and will be playable both in 2v2 mode and 1v1. As an asymmetrical map, dense forests and various hills surround a small village at the heart of the battlefield.



While we usually balance a map between the two opposing sides, which frequently results in some kind of mirroring, in the case of Zbuczy we opted to go for something different.



Depending on their deployment, a player will either have the advantage of being closer to the lines of reinforcements off-map or a quicker route to capture the forested plateau and railway station at the center. This gives an unprecedented dynamic as it allows for one side to push the middle of the map, while the other has the opportunity to flank and encircle the enemy player.

To capture the town in the middle of Zbuczyn, infantry and mechanized divisions are best used. However, long-range artillery should be employed to besiege and harass any enemy troops in the vast woodlands that make up most of the environment.

Gora Kalwaria


The Gora Kalwaria map is our special effort in recreating on a 1:1 scale a part of the major Polish river, the Vistula. As you might know, the Vistula was a significant objective of Operation Bagration: establishing bridgeheads on the western banks would significantly help the Red Army liberate Poland. Likewise, crossing the Vistula would be of immense value in any subsequent offensive aimed at Germany itself.



As a large 4v4 map, Gora Kalwaria is also available in 1v1 mode. We designed this map to recreate the violent battles that occurred when the Soviets crossed the Vistula. The battlefield is split into three distinct areas. One sector features two villages that run in parallel to each other, as well as an extensive forest. The second area is swampy, making it difficult for vehicles to maneuver and likely location of long-range engagements. The third is the mighty Vistula itself, a large river that also sees some built-up areas, including factory buildings.



In the 1v1 variant of the map, the Vistula is the centerpiece. There are several shallow river crossings, which are visible thanks to a different shader used. Infantry and amphibious vehicles can use these fords to creep into an opponent's rear and surprise the enemy player with well-placed ambushes.

Any kind of battlegroup, from close combat infantry to hard-hitting armored, can be used on the map the size of Gora Kalwaria.

Death on the Vistula DLC coming soon
The free Reinforcement Packs will launch with the Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October. In total, we’ll release four Reinforcement Packs.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

Don’t forget to get your hands on the Steel Division 2 History Pass. By getting this Pass you’ll receive access to all three History DLC’s, including the upcoming Death on the Vistula. The first History DLC will feature a massive new Army General campaign centered on the Red Army’s advance on the Vistula and Warsaw, four new Historical Battles, over 200 new units, new Aces, and much more!

Keep an eye out on our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

See you soon, commander!

Well, hello there!

Glad to have you back so soon. You might have noticed, but we are dropping these articles hard and fast, and we are not letting up until our first History DLC, Death on the Vistula, launches on October 17th. Hoorah!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

In today’s post, we’ll shine a light on the Army General campaign and the four Historical Battles which will be included in the new DLC.



Get ready to recreate some of the most challenging and nail-bitingly intense battles witnessed on the Eastern Front during Operation Bagration.
But before we continue: a little bit of background information.

The History
It is the end of July 1944. Operation Bagration has already been a resounding success for the Soviets. The Eastern Front is in flux; the German lines have been broken. A whole Army Group has been destroyed, and the Wehrmacht is reeling from the loss of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and countless tanks, artillery, and planes.

An overconfident Red Army, tired but with high morale after their impressive successes in the preceding weeks, crosses the river Bug into occupied Poland. The Soviets prepare to assault Warsaw and to force the Vistula, aiming to establish vital bridgeheads on its western banks - getting them one step closer to the ultimate prize: Berlin.



However, the Wehrmacht is far from defeated. The Germans are finally able to muster enough reinforcements from across the Third Reich to set up a more coherent defensive line. Five elite Panzerdivisions are hurried towards Poland and, seeing the Red Army overextending themselves, are ordered to prepare for an immediate counter-attack.

At the same time, the Polish government-in-exile and the underground Armia Krajowa believe that the moment has come to launch a general uprising. Several towns are liberated, but the insurrection is only partially successful, as bitter fighting erupts in Warsaw. Essential support from the nearby Soviet formations never materializes.

This explosive cocktail of events is the setting for the Death on the Vistula DLC.

The Army General Campaign
Our new Army General campaign centers on the Red Army’s attempt at liberating Warsaw while at the same time establishing a secure foothold on the western banks of the Vistula river. The Germans, freshly reinforced, actually have an opportunity to halt and maybe even inflict severe damage on the Soviets, if they counter-attack in the right place.



However, the pressure is on for both sides: the Germans cannot let Warsaw fall, not only as one of Hitler’s symbolical “last stand” cities but also as it serves as a major logistical hub. The Soviets aim to defeat a still capable Wehrmacht, and while the Polish capital is a critical objective, encircling enemy troops to the east of Warsaw and establishing a foothold on the other side of the Vistula to the west, are deemed equally important.

As always, all the military formations in this Army General campaign, down to the last soldier and tank, are historically correct. On the Axis side, you’ll be able to play with well-known divisions such as the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”, 3. SS-Panzerdivision “Totenkopf” and the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking”, as well as elements from 4. and 19. Panzerdivision.



On the Soviet side, you get your hands on the 8th Guards Tank Corps, 3rd Tank Corps and 16th Tank Corps (all part of the 2nd Tank Army), 2nd Guards Corps and
11th Tank Corps (both from the Mobile Group), and the Poles of the 1st Infantry Division “Tadeusza Kościuszki” (Polish People’s Army).

The occupied Polish capital is the centerpiece on the new Army General map and will allow you to recreate some of the actual major battles fought during this time: Praga (eastern suburbs of Warsaw), Siedlce, and of course the massive armored confrontation at Radzymin.

The Historical Battles
The Death on the Vistula DLC also contains four new Historical Battles, each covering a different engagement. They will be playable up to 3v3, either solo or cooperatively.

• MEMENTO MORI This Historical Battle sees a small battlegroup from the 3. SS-Panzerdivision “Totenkopf” trying to beat back a ferocious attempt of the Soviet 11th Tank Corps to encircle the German garrison at Siedlce.
  
• ESCAPE FROM BREST An ad-hoc Kampfgruppe tries to break out of the “Fortress Brest-Litovsk” and in the process is left stranded behind enemy lines. This Historical Battle has a special rule that to make the Soviets lose, the German side needs to control ALL the flags on the map.
  
• FIGHTING RETREAT The Siedlce pocket is in danger of being overrun, and while the Germans try to cover the withdrawal, the Soviets try to stop the escape at any cost. Both sides will depend on cavalry troops to achieve their goals in this Historical Battle.
  
• RIVER OF BLOODCrossing the Vistula and establishing a bridgehead on the other bank is the key objective in this scenario. Taking place a couple of kilometers south of Warsaw, the Soviet-controlled Polish People’s Army will have to breach tough defenses in order to reach the other side of the river.

What’s Next?
If you thought that was all - you are dead wrong! We have plenty of new Death on the Vistula content to highlight in the coming days. So, keep on holding tight and watch out for the next post - which should come in the not too distant future.

Don’t forget to get your hands on the History Pass Season. With this pass, you’ll receive access to all three History DLC’s, with Death on the Vistula being the first, which are planned for Steel Division 2. These will be released in the 12 months after the launch of the game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

You can always check out our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

See you soon, commander!

Hello there! In today’s post, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the four new divisions which will launch with the first History Pack, the Death on the Vistula DLC, on October 17th.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

On the Axis side, let’s welcome to the stage the veteran foreign volunteers of the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking” and the experienced Luftwaffe soldiers of the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”.



On the Allied side, we have the brave fighting Poles of the Armia Krajowa, the clandestine military army in occupied Poland, as well as the Soviet-controlled 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division.



The two Axis and two Allied divisions are unlike anything you’ve seen in Steel Division 2 so far, bringing over 200 new units to the battlefield.

The 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking”
A powerful armored formation, the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking” was one of the first major reinforcements to arrive on the Polish front. It lacks the state-of-the-art tanks (Tiger E’s and Panther G’s) from its Heer counterpart, the 5. Panzer, but makes up this disadvantage by the large amount of infantry and a substantial number of medium tanks at the player’s disposal, including StuG IV’s and Beute T-34/85’s.



An interesting new unit available to the “Wiking” is the Bergepanther, which can be deployed on the battlefield as a heavy prime mover. The division also features one of the newest variants of the Fw 190 fighter: the capable, long-nosed Fw 190 D-9.



The 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking” allows you to create a very resilient battlegroup, with enough offensive power to lead on the attack, while being equally effective in defensive situations.

Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”
As a military formation, the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring” occupied a rather unusual place, being an armored paratroop division of the aerial warfare branch, the Luftwaffe. This elite division fought well on various fronts before being ordered with haste to reestablish a coherent frontline around Warsaw. Once in Poland, the “Hermann Göring” took control of various subordinate formations and troops already present. This is represented in Steel Division 2 by the division’s ability to deploy some rather special units.



For instance, while lacking newer tanks, the “Hermann Göring” fields not only a large number of armored personnel carriers compared to a regular German division, but also features a sizable number of anti-aircraft guns, either stationary or self-propelled. Some more peculiar vehicles available in this division are the prototype Sturmtiger, the 600mm off-map artillery, and the Walküre.



Any battlegroup made with the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring” benefits from the variety and flexibility of the support, artillery and AA units on offer. This makes it an adaptable division in both offensive and defensive situations.

Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa, also known as the Home Army, was the underground military branch of the Polish government-in-exile that, after many years of hit-and-run attacks, sprung fully into action during the Warsaw Uprising. In Steel Division 2, the Armia Krajowa is an unconventional division, fielding a broad array of weapons including a handful of captured German tanks. You will have access to Panzer IV’s, Hetzer’s, Panthers, and even Tiger heavy tanks, but as an infantry-centric force, the Armia Krajowa is best used in close combat situations.



It excels in these types of up-close-and-personal battles, even against armored opponents, and is very reliable when used on the defense. It fares less well on the attack, and a battlegroup formed from the Armia Krajowa division depends on friendly support to accomplish an offensive mission.

1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Division
The second Polish fighting force including in the Death on the Vistula DLC is the 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division. This Soviet-controlled formation was formed from Polish exiles, POWs and civilians from liberated territories. Being part of the Red Army, it was kept in reserve until combat moved to Poland and the liberation of Warsaw seemed imminent.



Modeled after a typical Soviet rifle division means that the 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division is able to field a lot of infantry and is well supported by tanks and armored reconnaissance troops. The Polish soldiers of this formation were known to use scavenged German weapons, so plenty of MG-42 machine guns and Panzerfäuste can be found within its ranks.

The 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” provides a strong backbone to any battlegroup, thanks to the various powerful units the division can deploy, and allowing it to hold its own in any combat situation.

What’s next?
The launch of the Death on the Vistula DLC is just around the corner, releasing on October 17th. With the four new divisions, you’ll be able to get your hands on 200+ new units, experience new Historical Battles and one massive new Army General Campaign, use new Aces, and play with much more exciting Steel Division 2 good stuff.

Alongside the DLC, we’ll also be launching the free Reinforcement Packs to everyone who owns Steel Division 2, and which will come with a host of improvements and new features, including Smart Orders, three new maps, tutorials, and more!

Until then, don’t forget to check out our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

Welcome back! Today we will be diving deep into an exciting new Steel Division 2 feature the Eugen team has been working on during the summer: Smart Orders.

Smart Orders will be made available to all players and launch alongside the upcoming Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

Smart Orders is a new tactical player tool in Steel Division 2 which offloads certain aspects of unit micromanagement to the computer. It means that you can select a group of units, give them a Smart Order, and watch as the AI takes over and, while taking into account various tactical elements, execute the order. A neat new feature, no?

Of course, there is a whole lot more to it. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at what Smart Orders are, and how they can help you command your troops more efficiently on the battlefield.

How does it work?
Smart Orders come as a new information panel in the tactical interface, above the standard unit controls. They are essentially automated commands you can give to a group of units, such as “take this hill” or “defend this position”, which they will then try to follow on their own initiative. Smart Orders can be used (or not) in perfect harmony with the more detailed and precise unit controls already available in Steel Division 2.



It is an excellent way to have the computer take control over a part of the battlefield, such as a flank or providing counter-battery fire, while you are concentrating on more important sectors of the frontline.

You pick the units, give them a Smart Order, and let the AI do the rest. The computer will carry out the command, stringing together various tactical considerations into one overarching automated order that is continuously updated until the objective is reached. For instance, the AI will take into account the group’s composition and number of units, the surrounding terrain, the cover available, if there are roads which can be used for fast movement, visible enemy units, their relative strength, and more. You can check which orders a unit is following by selecting them and holding Shift.



The units under a Smart Order will be highlighted in a different color. If you want, at any moment, you can take back control of a unit under a Smart Order by giving it another order.

Different types of Smart Orders
We were not happy with designing just a general offensive or defensive order; we wanted to make sure to reflect the realities of Steel Division 2 combat in the best possible way. This means you can give different types of automated orders to your units, which they will try to follow on their own initiative.

Which Smart Orders can you give?

• SEIZE: Give the “Seize” order to a selected group of units and they will automatically try to capture the targeted location, engaging any enemy near their objective. Having dealt with their threats, the selected units will automatically switch to the “Hold Position” stance.
  
• HOLD POSITION: Give the “Hold Position” order to a selected group of units and they will defend their current position to the best of their abilities, using the surrounding environment and available cover. They will relocate depending on the tactical situation, for instance, move around to face an enemy flanking attack.
  
• FIRE AT WILL: The “Fire at Will” order gives a selected group of units the freedom to target and engage any spotted enemy within their range of fire.
  
• COUNTER BATTERY: Give the “Counter Battery” to a selected group of artillery units, and on their own initiative will fire at enemy artillery pieces - but strictly in a counter-battery role. This means that your artillery units, mortars and howitzers will only target known or detected enemy artillery positions. No more idle time for your howitzers and mortar crews!
  
• DEFENSIVE FIRE:The “Defensive Fire” is the second Smart Order focused on helping you manage your artillery forces better. This command gives your artillery the freedom to fire at any target spotted close to the designated position. A great way to support your offensive operations!

Why did we create Smart Orders?
When creating Smart Orders we wanted to make sure that the new mechanic would appeal to all our players, from first-timers to experienced veterans.

It might look like a simple addition on the surface, but we made sure that everyone would enjoy it in their own particular way. Smart Orders fit into our game design ethos of Steel Division 2: you can either keep a strategic bird's-eye view of the battlefield or zoom in all the way to watch your tanks and soldiers do the fighting up close.



Smart Orders work in the same way. As a veteran, you can safely ignore issuing any Smart Orders if you are comfortable in micromanaging your units against the toughest of opponents. If you feel that a tactical battle goes too fast, however, you can subordinate certain sectors of the front to the computer. For new players getting into Steel Division 2, Smart Orders is a great management tool, giving them more control over their units on a battlefield that at times might feel too chaotic.

What’s coming next?
We are always very curious to hear what you, our players, think of our plans. As we talked about in our previous post, Smart Orders are just one of the many new features that will be coming to Steel Division 2 in the near future.



We have mod tools coming, new tutorials, the first Historical DLC bringing new divisions, new units, new maps, new Historical Battles and a new Army General Campaign, and much more. Hang on, as we will be ramping up the frequency of our blog posts, revealing all the good stuff in the lead up to the launch of the Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October.

Keep an eye on our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

Leave your comments, suggestions, feedback! We’d love to hear what you think.

See you on the battlefield!

Hello everyone,

We are glad to announce the first History Pack DLC for Steel Division 2: Death on the Vistula! Available on Thursday, October 17th, and part of the Steel Division 2 - History Pass, this first paid DLC will be packed with awesome content!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

And that’s not all: at the same time, free content will be released for every owner of Steel Division 2!



Let’s have a look at what Death on the Vistula DLC will bring!

The last massive tank battle in the East
Poland, July 28th, 1944. The Operation Bagration offensive closes in on its ultimate goal. Having destroyed Army Group Center, the 1st Belorussian Front races ahead to prevent the Germans from reforming a strong defensive line, overconfident in its own abilities. Stalin aims to capture Warsaw and install a pro-Soviet government.



With their sights set on the grand prize, the Polish capital city, as well as a bridgehead the Vistula river, the Soviets fail to notice that they are heading straight into a trap. The Germans, having received reinforcements from five elite Panzerdivisions, are converging on the Red Army vanguard from three directions.



This new Army General campaign pits the crack IV. SS-Panzerkorps (Totenkopf and Wiking Panzerdivisions) against the three tank corps-strong Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army. Various elements from other armored or mechanized divisions will also be available, including 4. Panzerdivision, 19. Panzerdivision, Hermann Göring Panzerdivision, 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, 11th Tank Corps, and more...

Massive content
The Death on the Vistula DLC will feature tons of awesome exclusive content:

• 1 Huge Army General Campaign: Vistula
  
• 4 New Divisions:
  • 5. SS-Panzerdivision "Wiking"
    
  • Fallschirm-Panzerdivision "Hermann Göring"
    
  • Armia Krajowa
    
  • 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division
• 200+ new units
  
• 4 new Historical Battles :
  • River of Blood
    
  • Fighting Retreat
    
  • Escape from Brest
    
  • Memento Mori
• 2 Exclusive Aces :
  • Karl Nicolussi-Leck and his Panther A
    
  • The “Chwat” Jagdpanzer 38(t)

Of course, we will reveal all the juicy details of this gorgeous amount of new content in the upcoming Dev Diaries!


New features and more maps for everybody
We are proud to announce that a new feature will be added to the game: the Smart Orders. Introduced in our latest blog entry, these new tactical commanding tools will greatly reduce the required amount of micromanagement. It does so by letting the AI manage the execution of orders given to selected group of units. We can’t wait to tell you more about the Smart Orders, which we will do in detail in a dedicated Dev Diary that will be published later this week.



Moreover, releasing on the same day as the Death on the Vistula DLC, three new tactical maps will be available as free Reinforcement Pack DLCs for everyone who owns Steel Division 2:

• Brest, west
  
• Zbuczyn
  
• Gora Kalwaria

These brand-new battlefields offer new tactical possibilities for skirmish players in any game mode, including solo, coop and multiplayer!



Last but not least, a major update with a host of improvements and adjustments, as well as tutorials for Army General will be released alongside the Death on the Vistula DLC on October 17th!

Stay tuned
Keep an eye on the Steel Division 2 Steam page and on our social channels in the near future, we have a lot to tell you about this exciting new content that is coming in hot!

See you!