An early summer Steel Division 2 Roadmap ahead of Tribute to D-Day Launch this Saturday, 6th of June!”

Good day to you, commander!

We hope you are doing well. Today, we are taking a short break to give you some details on several Steel Division 2 updates and features we are working on. From improvements to the Army General mode to an upgrade to infantry combat - you might find some interesting tidbits in this early summer roadmap if you keep on reading!

We are hard at work at launching the newest Steel Division 2 Pack: Tribute to D-Day this coming Saturday, the 6th of June. This expansion brings 6 fan-favorite divisions from Steel Division: Normandy 44 to Steel Division 2, and will include several original units, such as the M18 Hellcat and “Beute” Firefly. Read all about the divisions, new Aces, and units in the following posts: the Elite Airborne Divisions, the Mechanized Infantry Divisions, the Armored Divisions.



Before we continue: we are rolling out a small update for a release tomorrow, Friday. Due to popular demand, we have changed two of our 10v10 servers to run Destruction mode. We have also created an “Eastern Front-only” 10v10 server. On a later date, we’ll also introduce new 10v10 Tactical servers on 3v3 maps.

We always check the forums or Discord to see how we can improve Steel Division 2 based on your feedback and suggestions. The following features reflect this.

Please note that we don’t have a precise date for when we will be able to implement many of the ideas into the game. Consider them all to be very much work in progress!


One of the major projects currently in the pipeline is to improve Steel Division 2’s infantry combat. We want to find a way to make this type of fighting more accessible and clearer to understand. One way to do this is to overhaul how infantry weapons work. The goal here is to make individual weapons, such as a soldier’s rifle or SMG, more deadly and have the squad weapons such as machine guns or automatic rifles inflict more stress on the battlefield.

We are still trying to fit all the pieces together - more later!


We are not entirely satisfied with the current tank-on-tank combat or AT versus tank actions. We want to step away from inconclusive engagements between tanks at extreme ranges, each unit exchanging fire with one another without any discernible results. We know that we can improve this, making it less sterile and more fun.

That’s why we are also thinking about introducing (reintroducing for you Wargame veterans out there) a wider array of gun ranges. This means that certain gun pieces will have less range. Sure, you might think decreasing the ranges would be a nerf, but the upshot would be that a gun’s performance will become more efficient.

You would have to get closer to engage the enemy, but by doing so, your chances to destroy an enemy unit will significantly increase.


Our single-player strategic Army General campaigns are set to receive some modifications in the near future. You might have noticed this already with our DLC campaigns, but we have gradually switched from a “generic battalion strength” depiction of each counter to a more realistic, asymmetrical representation of each pawn. Each battalion on the map will reflect better their historical counterpart; for Axis units this means “battalion strength” and for the Allied units it means “regimental strength.”

In direct comparison, a Soviet pawn will contain more troops and units than its German counterpart. This allows us to deploy more powerful Soviet armies directly on the map and not rely on overstretched lists of reinforcements. This allows for more interesting tactical battle resolutions. To obtain the same results for Axis formations, we decided to merge independent field artillery with combat battalions, giving these latter formations their own organic artillery support and reducing the number of stray artillery guns represented on the strategic map.

We are hard at work updating each side’s composition in the base game’s Army General mode: expect the Berezina, Orsha, Bobruisk, and Baranovichi campaigns to be upgraded soon!


Continuing with Army General, we are thinking about improving the Army General combat experience by allowing, in some instances, the ability to fight with more than three battalions on each side.

There is more. We are also studying if we should give some battalion types a more dedicated, pronounced role on the battlefield. We are looking at how best to do this, but imagine that a Wehrmacht Pioneer battalion in combat might be able to remove an opposing unit’s entrenchment buff. We feel that it would set battalions apart from each other, granting a player more viable choices when selecting a formation for combat.

We can’t promise all units getting a special ability, but we are curious to hear what you think.


We left the best for last. Yes, that’s right, we are talking about the new History DLC! We see the rumors swirling around, some of them true, some of them decisively… not. Without giving away too much: while we had promised just one, the new DLC will actually feature two full Army General campaigns, a new nation with three new divisions, including a complete voice-over set, and three new Soviet divisions.

We are also working on a way to allow you to mod DLC units. It is one of the most recurring requests from the community, and we are happy to oblige!

That’s it, you won’t be able to twist our arms for anything more. Just keep an eye out and who knows, maybe in next week’s post, you’ll get to know even more!


One last little bit before we leave you to digest all the news: we are still working on the new Urban Maps (as we talked about in this blog post here). Right now, there is not much more news to report. When we have some more, we’ll keep you informed!

Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello!

We will be looking at some true divisional firepower today with the last two divisions of Steel Division 2’s upcoming “Tribute to D-Day” Pack: the 1 Dywizja Pancerna (or 1st Polish Armoured Division) versus the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”.

The launch of the Tribute to D-Day Pack is nearly upon us. On Saturday June 6th, in Steel Division 2, you’ll be able to play with six fan-favorite divisions brought from Steel Division: Normandy 44 to the brutal battlefields of the Eastern Front. With these new divisions, you’ll get your hands on original units such as the M18 Hellcat tank destroyer, Cromwell and Tetrarch tanks, “Beute” Firefly tank, and more!

In today’s themed “Tribute to D-Day” Versus post, we detail two hard-hitting armored divisions: the Free Poles of the 1 Dywizja Pancerna will lock horns with the indoctrinated young soldiers of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”.

But first, let’s unveil some new units, a new unit trait, and two new Aces!


A new unit will be available for the 1 Dywizja Pancerna: the Spitfire Mk.IXc, which featured the older 2x20mm plus 4x7.62mm armament loadout instead of the 2x20mm and 2x12.7mm machine gun array encountered in the more common IXe variant.

The “Tribute to D-Day” Pack will also feature a new unit trait found with the 12. SS-Panzerdivision to highlight their ferociousness on the battlefield: “Fanatical.” A unit with this trait will never surrender!

We have made sure that each division featured in the upcoming pack will take full advantage of the latest game mechanics, units, and features found in Steel Division 2. The six divisions contain the latest unit types such as the artillery observers, military police, and commander units. Also, each formation uses Steel Division 2’s economy templates instead of the fixed rate. There is more: new units will also carry special traits including Raiders (operate without a morale penalty behind enemy lines), Disheartened (these units lose morale quicker under fire) or the new Fanatical trait.


The “Tribute to D-Day” Pack features two new Aces - you know, those fancy looking units with their own custom paint job (but not gameplay advantage) which highlight a particularly illustrious individual from a division’s combat history. We’ve had snipers, pilots, tank commanders; in the new pack you’ll be able to play with:

• Francis “Gabby” Gabreski (P-47D-25 in fighter mode) found with the US 2nd Infantry Division.
  
• Michael Wittman (Tiger E Führer) found with the 12. SS-Panzer.

The latest two divisions in the “Tribute to D-Day” will revive some classic units from Normandy 44. These include:

• ”Beute” captured Firefly
  
• Cromwell tanks (half a dozen variants)
  
• Crusader Mk.2B
  
• Firefly Ic

Now, let’s take a look at the divisions in detail!

The Free Poles of the 1 Dywizja Pancerna, the 1st Polish Armored Division, only started landing in France at the end of July and beginning of August. Under Canadian command, the Winged Hussars joined combat during Operation Totalize, which broke the Axis defensive lines south of Caen, and paved the way for the Polish tanks and soldiers to advance to the town of Falaise.

The 1 Pancerna took on a crucial role in closing the subsequent encirclement that trapped thousands of Axis soldiers. It bore the brunt of the German attempts to escape the Falaise Pocket and, despite repeated attacks, held the line. Later during World War 2, the Winged Hussars drove up the French coast and played an essential part in the liberation of Belgium and the Netherlands.

Some of the 1 Dywizja Pancerna’s defining features:

• Fast Cromwell cavalry tanks (as well as light Stuart tanks) allow the Free Poles to be very fast and aggressive in the opening attacks.
  
• Sherman and Firefly tanks provide the bulk of the armored forces in the second wave.
  
• The division can also field two older Firefly Ic (slower, less armored compared to the more common Vc variant) but only phase A. A neat trick: this division provides the only opportunity to deploy two vetted Firefly tanks in phase A.
  
• Strong AA weapons, including mobile, armored twin and triple 20mm, Bofors portee, etc.
  
• A drawback is the limited amount of infantry and the lack of strong artillery.
  
• The Polish air force is compelled to use older variants of various capable planes, encompassing Spitfire Mk. IXc, Hurricane, Mosquito, and P-51 Mustang (the old Mk. III variant).

Arguably one of the best fighting divisions of the Third Reich in the early summer 1944, the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” became renowned for its fanatical conduct on the battlefield. The bulk of the division’s soldiers were spirited and indoctrinated, recruited from the Hitler Youth, backed up by a cadre of experienced and battle-hardened NCOs and officers. The 12. SS-Panzerdivision lacked for (almost) nothing, being able to field a large number of tanks and other armored vehicles such as Tigers, Panthers, supported by self-propelled AA guns and rocket artillery.

Being one of the closest Axis armored divisions in Normandy during Allied landings, the 12. SS-Panzerdivision was immediately sent to the front. The formation proved to be a tough and ferocious opponent to the British-Canadian forces arrayed against it. Time and time again, the German soldiers counter-attacked, inflicting many casualties. However, harried by constant air attacks, naval and artillery bombardment, the 12. SS was almost completely destroyed after weeks of hard fighting. Only a small part of its soldiers escaped the disastrous Falaise Pocket.

Some of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision strengths and weaknesses:

• Lots of tanks, although only the Panzer IV H and “older” Panther D are available from the start. Wittman’s Tiger E and brand-new Panther G tanks can only be fielded from phase B onward.
  
• The iconic “Beute” Firefly, available vetted in phase A.
  
• The commander unit in phase A can deploy in a captured Dingo armored car (named as Bef.SPW 202(e)).
  
• All combat infantry comes with the new “Fanatical” trait. Better watch out, these guys fight to the death!
  
• Lots of powerful AA and FlaK units including two special SPAAG vehicles: the Mobelwagen (37mm) and Wirbelwind (4x20mm), as well as regular towed 20mm, 37mm and 88mm guns.
  
• Regular artillery units backed-up by Wurfrahmen rocket artillery.
  
• A drawback is the lack of powerful anti-tank units (which reflects their absence for most of the Normandy campaign).
  
• Air support is very light.
  
  
  
  
  Historical Battlefield Evolution
  
  We wanted to update each division’s unit pool depending on the actual combat history of the formation. A unit’s deployment should reflect when they were used in reality.
  
  For the Winged Hussars, this means that up-armored Cromwell VII tanks are only available in Phase C. The Axis get the Tiger E (including Wittman’s Ace variant) in phase B and C. The same goes for the Panther G and Jagdpanzer IV. These were sent as reinforcements in the middle of the Normandy campaign - hence their limited availability in the later combat phases.
  
  
  Coming up next
  
  That is it! Next week, on Saturday June 6th, we will launch the Tribute to D-Day. The pack will be made available for $16,99 / €16,99.
  
  If you haven’t, check out the Mechanized Infantry blog post where we look at the U.S. 2nd “Indianhead” Infantry Division and the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen”. If that whets your appetite, take a look at some airborne action in the Infantry blog post where we detail the 6th British “Red Devils” Airborne squaring off against the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division.
  
  
  
  Let us know what you think! Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page.
  
  See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

We hope you are doing well. In today’s post, we’re going to shine a light on two “devilishly good” divisions which will be part of our upcoming new Steel Division 2 “Tribute to D-Day” DLC launching the 6th of June.

That’s right, it’s paratrooper action with the 6th British “Red Devils” Airborne Division squaring off against the “Green Devils” 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division. As elite infantry formations, they both feature tough and battle-hardened soldiers, favoring the fight up close and personal.

Don’t forget to read the previous Mechanized Infantry blog post where we look at the U.S. 2nd “Indianhead” Infantry Division on the Allied side and the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” for the Axis.

The “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will celebrate the official start of Operation Overlord in 1944 and transports six divisions from Steel Division: Normandy 44 to the Eastern Front, including several new units. Read all about it in the original announcement here.


Of the two airborne divisions, only one was actually used in its intended vertical paradrop role (the 6th Airborne). While the Axis formation did feature a large array of parachutist-friendly material (light, short-range guns), by this stage of the war, the 3.Fallschirmjäger was mostly related to slogging it out on foot. Still, the soldiers from both divisions were well trained and combat-ready.

One of the main new features of the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC is the Belgian Brigade Piron, found with the 6th Airborne. All the units attached to this Belgian brigade have been reskinned to match Piron’s camouflage and markings, with the soldiers having their own voice acting (and yes, that means French with Belgian accents and Flemish accents of Dutch). Its units can be also searched for under their own flag in Steel Division 2’s Armory.



The following selection of special units can be found in the Belgian Brigade Piron:

• Recon: Daimler Littlejohn, Eclaireurs (2-man team), Scouts (4-man team), Daimler Scout Car, MMG Carrier, Universal Carrier
  
• Infantry: Grenadiers-Volt. (8-man Motor Rifles-like), CMD Grenadiers-Volt. (4-man Leader squad with PIAT)
  
• Transport: CMP trucks, Willys MB
  
• Other: Dingo (Commander), CMP Polsten, 25-pdr artillery gun

Officially, the air landing commandos of the 6th British “Red Devils” Airborne were the first to land on French soil just after midnight on the 6th of June during Operation Deadstick: the coup de main glider assault on two bridges over the River Orne and Caen Canal. Shortly after, the bulk of the division’s paratroopers dropped in various landing zones located on the eastern flank of the invasion area.

Having consolidated their positions, and reinforced by British and Canadian divisions, the “Red Devils” occupied a vital bridgehead across the Orne for several weeks. Later on, the division was further augmented by the Belgium Brigade Piron, one of the various “other” Allied formations from nations contributing to the Normandy campaign (including the French, Polish, Dutch, Czech, etc.)

Later during the campaign, the 6th Airborne Division advanced along the French coast, reaching the River Seine by the end of August. The paratroopers were sent back to England and were used as reinforcements during the subsequent Battle of the Bulge before making their last combat drop into Germany during Operation Varsity in March 1945.



The 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division never performed an actual para drop but was still considered part of the fighting elite of the Third Reich. Formed of veteran soldiers, the division was listed as full strength and well-equipped with a large arsenal of MG 42s and the Fallschirmjägers-own FG 42s.

Having moved into the battlezone on June 10th, the German “Green Devils” wreaked havoc on the Allied formations, expertly using their numerous short-range automatic infantry weapons during deadly ambushes and transforming the many hedgerows of Normandy into natural fortresses. The lack of motorized transport hampered the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division, and later on, the formation was almost completely destroyed during heavy Allied bombing near Falaise.




First off, we have made quite a few under-the-hood changes to each of the divisions featured in the upcoming DLC. For instance, they will have full access to all the new unit types introduced in Steel Division 2, such as the artillery observers and commander units. Also, each formation uses Steel Division 2’s economy templates (instead of the fixed rate). There is more: new units will also feature traits such as Raiders (operate without any morale penalty behind enemy lines) or Disheartened (these units lose morale quicker under fire).

As we explained in our previous blogpost, we wanted to highlight the historic battlefield evolution of each division.

For the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division this means that some of their “lesser” comrade-in-arms (the reinforcements from the weaker, disbanded Luftwaffen-Felddivisionen) will become available in phase B.

There are some more noteworthy changes visible with the 6th Airborne. Here, the Ox & Bucks commandos (the troops the first to assault Pegasus Bridge) are available during phase A. The same for their infamous captured AB PaK 40. The Cromwell replacement tanks can be deployed from phase B, while Challenger tank reinforcements arrive in phase C. Lastly, one of the big new additions to the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC, the Belgian Brigade Piron, is available from phase C.

For both airborne divisions, most of their line infantry (Rifles, Assault, Pioneer) feature the Raiders trait. Some of their support units also gain this trait, including MGs, flamethrower squads, the British Tetrarch tank, 2-pdr mortar, 75mm howitzer, captured PaK 40, and 20mm Polsten gun, the German L6 light tank, LG 42 recoilless guns and 20mm Flak guns.


We have created a couple of new units for our paratrooper divisions:

• Fs-Sturmjäger - 3FJ: A very small number of Fallschirmjäger support squads were equipped with a combination of FG 42 and StG 44 automatic rifles. Not satisfied with the proposed massive hail of fire, MG 42 have been added on top for good measure.
  
• Glider Crew - 6AB: Large squads of pilots and glider crew who found themselves without a job once on the ground. Armed with Sten guns and rifles these ad-hoc soldiers are untrained in tactics, and as such carry the Disheartened trait.
  
• AB Paras (PIAT) - 6AB: A small number of “heavy” paratrooper squads can be found with two Bren machine guns and a PIAT.
  
• Grenadiers-Volt - 6AB: Belgian Motor Rifle soldiers, equipped with two Stens and 2 Bren machine guns.

The “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will also “revive” some classic units from Normandy 44 and allow for their deployment on the Eastern Front in Steel Division 2. In no particular order:

• All Airborne and Airlanding infantry for the 6th British Airborne Division.
  
• Tetrarch light tank - In three variants, including Littlejohn in the Recon tab.
  
• Daimler Littlejohn (Belgian version)
  
• AB M1 75mm - Light howitzer with the Raiders trait.
  
• British Tanks - Cromwell, Challenger, Centaur (support variant of the Cromwell).
  
• Fallschirmjäger and Luftwaffe infantry for the 3.Fallschirmjäger-Division.
  
• AB41 - Armored car
  
• L6 - Light tank
  
• Puppchen light AT rocket-launcher.
  
• PaK 42 Gerlich light squeeze-bore AT gun.
  
• LG 42 recoilless 105mm gun found in the Support tab.

Next week’s blog post, we’ll take a good look at the remaining two divisions of the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC: The Free Poles of the 1 Pacerna versus the fanatical 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend.

The upcoming “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will release on June 6th and will be made available for $16,99 / €16,99.

Let us know what you think! Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Good day to you!

In the lead-up to the launch of our new Steel Division 2 “Tribute to D-Day” DLC this 6th of June, we are going to explore each of the six new divisions in detail. In true versus format, we’ll focus a weekly post on two individual formations: one Allied and one Axis.

Today, the theme of our post is mechanized infantry. Please welcome the contenders to the ring: for the Allies, it’s the U.S. 2nd “Indianhead” Infantry Division; on the Axis side, we have the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen.”

For those of you who missed last week’s news: on the 6th of June, in celebration of Operation Overlord in 1944, we’ll be releasing a brand-new DLC for Steel Division 2: “Tribute to D-Day”. This expansion features 6 divisions from Steel Division: Normandy 44, and will bring several new units to the battlefields of the Eastern Front.


A disclaimer: yes, we know, the 2nd ID “Indianhead” is technically not a full mechanized formation compared to the 17. SS in the strictest sense of the word. However, we are labeling the American battlegroup as such in our game. This is due to the real-life reinforcements of independent units which were added to the division late into the Normandy campaign. Keep on reading to find out more.


First off, the brave soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division “Indianhead” which came to shore on D+1. Locked into fierce combat around Saint-Lô with among others the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division, the American formation learned the hard way how to operate (and succeed) in dense bocage country, creating improvised weaponry and developing new tactics on the fly. At the end of July, the division managed to break out, and advanced onto the important port of Brest. Much later in the war, the Indianhead soldiers also fought during the Battle of the Bulge, before ending up at the conclusion of World War II all the way across Germany, in Czechoslovakia.



The mechanized 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen” couldn’t hold a candle to the Third Reich’s best: it was a far cry away from a well-supplied and armed division made up of battle-hardened, experienced soldiers. Instead, raw recruits and Volksdeutsche filled up its ranks, and the lack of motorized transports had only been slightly mitigated by using locally sourced French trucks and automobiles.

Named after the Swabian 15th-century knight, with an iron prosthetic hand (yes, they had them in those days) which led to the black-and-white coat of arms, the 17. SS was also known as the “Lick my Ass Division” thanks to the famous saying of the namesake, Count von Berlichingen. Nonetheless, the 17. SS proved themselves well during the fighting in Normandy. Heavily mauled in constant battles, only the tattered remnants of this division managed to escape the Falaise Pocket.




The “Tribute to D-Day” divisions will have full access to all the new unit types introduced in Steel Division 2, such as the artillery observers and commander units, and the Feldgendarme for the 17. SS. Not only that, but we are also introducing some new units to these two formations:

• SS-Legionari - 17. SS. This unit is composed of die-hard Italian SS troops. They are veteran assault soldiers equipped with Beretta SMGs, G-43 semi-auto rifles, Molotov cocktails, and Panzerfausts.
  
• Basics - 2ID. Much as the name implies, these fresh recruits are armed with Garand rifles and gathered in large squads. As green replacements, they carry the Disheartened trait. We can’t save all the Private Ryans, can we?
  
• Assault Group - 2ID: A field-expedited full SMG squad (a mix of Thompsons and Grease Guns) formed after suffering one too many defeats in “hedgerow hell.” This unit is available from phase B onward.
  
• Demolition Group - 2ID: Urban combat specialists, created by the Indianhead during the street fighting in the port city of Brest. These soldiers are armed with a combination of flamethrowers, bazookas, rifles and experimental full-auto M2 carbines. These soldiers can only be deployed in phase C.
  
• Snipers - 2ID: This unit is introduced for the first time to the Indianhead. Does exactly what it says on the tin: shoots the enemy from afar with deadly accuracy!

The “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will also “revive” some classic units from Normandy 44 and allow for their deployment on the Eastern Front in Steel Division 2. These units can all be found in the 2nd Infantry Division.

• U.S. Rangers - The famous elite American soldiers will equip four different infantry squad variants and one support half-track unit.
  
• M3 105mm howitzer - A light artillery piece used by both airborne troops and regular infantry U.S. Army regiments.
  
• M18 Hellcat - Fan-favorite tank destroyer which sported paper-thin armor but resulted in it being the fastest tracked vehicle of the war.
  
• M4A1 Rhino - A Frankenstein of a Sherman, some tankers fitted out their tanks with scrap metal scoured from German beach obstacles. This scratch-built armor allowed the Rhinos to destroy the dense hedgerows and shrug off light anti-tank weapons.
  
• Xylophone - A beautifully named truck-mounted twin multiple rocket-launcher. The North American cousin of the Katyusha.

We have made some additional changes to these two divisions. One of the most important is also one of the most obvious: these divisions no longer feature fixed economies, following instead the various Steel Division 2 templates currently available (Vanguard, Balanced, etc.).

That said, to acknowledge each division’s history, we decided to represent the “evolution” these divisions saw during the Normandy campaign. This we did by unlocking each unit at a specific combat phase depending on when they were used during the battles in Northwest France.

For instance, the 17. SS will gain access to heavier Flak units (37mm and 88mm), most of the tank destroyers (Jagdpanzer IV) and assault Sturmpionier from phase B onwards. This reflects that these elements only joined the division relatively late into the campaign.

The “Indianhead” experiences this even more. Here we see the Ranger-associated units only available in phase A or B in low numbers. Improvisation in the field led to the deployment of Assault Groups and the M4A1 Rhino, which is reflected by these units becoming available from phase B onward. The Xylophone rocket launcher and the M18 Hellcat joined the division late in the campaign; as such they can only be deployed in phase B and C. Another new unit is the Demolition Group infantry squad. Together with the British flame-throwing Crocodile tank, they played a vital role in the liberation of Brest, much later on. That’s why they can only be deployed in phase C.




The upcoming “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will release on June 6th and will be made available for $16,99 / €16,99.

We’d love to know what you think! Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page.

Next week’s blog post will take a look at the kick-ass paratrooper Tribute to D-Day divisions and see some devil-versus-devil action: the 6th British Airborne squares up against the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

Until then, take care and see you on the battlefield, commander!

We have a surprise announcement for you today. As (we hope) you know, in a month, almost to the day from now, we will be celebrating the 76th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

We wanted to do something special with this year’s D-Day commemorations and take the opportunity to deliver upon a long-enduring community request. Without further ado…

On June 6th precisely, we will release a new DLC called “Tribute to D-Day” featuring 6 iconic divisions from the battle of Normandy, brought over from Steel Division: Normandy 44 to Steel Division 2.

Who, what, where? Want to know more? Keep on reading!

Six divisions, three per side. Which ones will be featured in this brand-spanking-new DLC you shall shrewdly ask? Let’s start with the Allies.



The first one to be featured in the “Tribute to D-Day” DLC is the US 2nd Infantry Division “Indianhead”. Although the division didn’t take part in the D-Day landing itself, only coming ashore on D+1, it can hardly be considered a shirker. Immediately thrown into combat in “hedgerow hell” around Saint-Lô, the 2nd ID clashed with some of the most formidable opponents the Allies faced in Normandy: the elite German paratroopers from 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

For two months, Indianhead soldiers fought close quarters in the Normandy bocage, forced to develop new tactics and even equipment to beat a ferocious opponent. After the fall of Saint-Lô, Indianhead was to adapt to another grueling type of warfare when the division was sent to fight street by street for the liberation of the harbor of Brest.

The second battlegroup to be featured is the British 6th Airborne Division. Aside from small groups of Jedburghs and pathfinders, it was the first major unit to hit the ground in Normandy when Major Howard’s commando company landed by gliders near Pegasus Bridge at Bénouville.

The rest of the division touched down shortly afterward, isolated east of the river Orne where its mission was to hold a bridgehead for British and Canadian armored troops to exploit once they got off the beach. And despite counter-attacks by 21. Panzer and other German units, the Red Devils held their bridgehead for over a week.

The last (and certainly not least) Allied division featured is the 1 Dywizja Pancerna, also known as the Polish 1st Armored Division. Put ashore in early August, it had its baptism of fire only a week later in Operation Totalize. Here the Poles faced off against the best German armored division in Normandy, 12. SS-Panzer.

Nonetheless, the Winged Hussars kept up the attack in the follow-up Operation Tractable and managed to seize the city of Chambois and the Mont Ormel, therefore effectively closing the Falaise Pocket. In this position, the 1 Pancera had to bear the brunt of all the German soldiers scrambling to break out. It was a fight to the death, with few if any prisoners made during the two days of heavy combat. The Winged Hussars played a pivotal role in the capture of more than 50.000 men left in the pocket.

We are not finished yet. Let’s take a look at what the Axis bring to the table.



The first German division is the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Götz von Berlichingen”. Named after a Swabian medieval knight equipped with a prosthetic arm, which also gave the unit its distinctive coat of arms, it was the only Wehrmacht mechanized infantry division to fight in Normandy. Counting on a sizable amount of pressed “Volksdeutsche” (ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia, Romania and France), as well as being generally inexperienced and lacking motor transport, not much was expected from this formation.

And yet, the 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division proved a formidable opponent, making the most from the combination of hedgerows and its command of brand-new, low-profile StuGs. The division played a significant role in preventing the Americans from capturing Saint-Lô, but was almost wiped out when the Allies later unleashed Operation Cobra.

The next division to be featured in the “Tribute to D-Day” is the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division, without a doubt the best infantry formation facing the Allies in Normandy. The Grüne Teufel (Green Devils) were considered elite, and in the cramped Norman bocage around Saint-Lô, the German paratroopers thrived. They turned the hedgerow-ringed fields into natural fortresses. Here the Americans always found the paratroopers ready to engage them in close combat, where their large number of automatic weapons often made the Germans prevail.

Even after Operation Cobra smashed the front, the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division held its positions for three days, before retreating under pressure. After two weeks on the run, the remains of the division and many others were trapped in the Falaise Pocket. When it came to breaking out, the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division hadn’t lost its fangs and formed the spearhead, allowing many of their desperate comrades to escape and evade capture.

The final division we are going to feature is maybe the best and most powerful fighting formation fielded by the Third Reich - all fronts considered - during the summer of 1944. The 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend”. Formed from teenagers from the Hitler Youth organization and led by an experienced cadre of officers and NCOs, this formidable unit combined fanaticism with proven combat experience.

The division became the scourge of the Canadian troops during the Normandy campaign. For every British-Canadian offensive, there was a 12. SS-Panzer counter-attack and no Allied victory came at an easy price. Even in the end, when trapped in the Falaise Pocket, 12. SS-Panzer’s units were still deemed combat-capable enough to lead the second, armored thrust breaking out of the pocket, alongside 3. Fallschirmjäger.



To recap, the upcoming “Tribute to D-Day” DLC will release on June 6th and will be made available for $16,99 / €16,99.

Mind you, this DLC is not the third and final History DLC part of our Steel Division 2 History Pass. We are still working on this expansion, and hope to reveal more of this unrelated DLC in the near future!

If you haven’t, do get your hands on the History Pass! It’s a steal and gives owners access to all the three history DLC planned for Steel Division 2. The History Pass includes The Fate of Finland expansion and The Death on the Vistula expansion.

We’d love to know what you think! Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello there!

As promised in the blog post last week, today we are going to take a closer look at the planned urban maps for Steel Division 2. Hoorah!


We have been toying with the idea to include a different style of urban maps in Steel Division 2 for some time now. Implementing new maps is not nearly as easy as it looks, though. There are a lot of things to consider, from the buildings to add, their destruction levels and the cover they provide, to recreating a built-up layout that is not only logical but also fun to play.



There are a couple of other considerations. As Steel Division 2 takes place on the Eastern Front, towns and cities have a different make-up from those urban counterparts in Western Europe. They were smaller, with fewer inhabitants, and less densely built.



We get our inspiration by looking at maps and photos from World War II to get an idea of how towns were structured. Of course, most cities have a more or less defined center, but we are particularly interested in the whole picture: the road network, the type and size of buildings, how far does a city stretch out for, and more. For instance, we did some research into Wolomin, located close to Warsaw. A substantial battle was fought between the Wehrmacht and the Red Army in the Soviet advance on the Polish capital during the later stages of Operation Bagration.


What’s the aim of making urban maps? We wanted an urban environment where the foot soldier truly shines: they can vault from one point to the next, moving through and across difficult terrain with relative ease. The buildings provide cover. Even when blown up and lying in the rubble, squads are still protected to a certain extent. The short sightlines allow for ambushes, and especially vehicles and tanks, with their limited visibility, are vulnerable in the close confines of a city.



From a design point of view, this is great, but with Steel Division 2 we still want to allow for certain types of long-distance combat, specifically on the flanks. That’s why we made sure that there are open spaces to conquer and control.

Our idea was to create a mix of urban terrain, not only featuring “big city” type of closely spaced structures but also a “semi-urban” environment, where there will be more space between buildings and homes. Currently, in Steel Division 2 we have so-called neutral combat zones, forest areas, and maps containing spots of dense urban areas (Minsk, Orsha). We want to add this new type of semi-urban map to the mix. Not only in the Skirmish mode (online or single player) but also in our Army General campaigns.




We can tell you that we are working on several maps where cities or towns take center place. Furthermore, we are thinking very hard about the feasibility to make an urban map for the Steel Division 2 online 10v10 mode! More details about this later.

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

If you haven’t, get the History Pass now! It gives owners access to all the three history DLC planned for Steel Division 2. The History Pass includes today’s The Fate of Finland expansion and The Death on the Vistula expansion. And the third expansion? Well, we hope to lift a tip of the veil of what’s coming next for Steel Division 2 soon!

Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our [https://discord.gg/TEeBArm]Discord server[/url] or Reddit page. Discord especially is a great place to find other Steel Division 2 players to kick off an online or coop match!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Good day to you, commander!

Today’s post will be a bit shorter, as we are coming hot off the press after the successful release of the
new Destruction mode.

We wanted to give you a quick update to let you know we are working on several hotfixes for Steel Division 2, which we hope to roll out in the not-too-distant future.

The new Destruction Mode is downloadable as a Free Reinforcement Pack, available to all Steel Division 2 owners.


Before we continue: thanks for trying out the new mode and blowing up units in the name of fun! That’s how we like it. We find that the Destruction mode is popular and doing well.



Of course, there is always room for improvement, and we are using these days to collect all your feedback and suggestions. One of the things you are asking for is the ability to play the new mode on a 10v10 map. We love the idea, and we have made it a high priority on our to-do list.

Keep sending us your notes, thoughts, and recommendations. We wouldn’t be halfway where we are right now if it wasn’t for you, the players, and your significant help.


We don’t want to leave you unsatisfied. To lift a tip on what we are working on...drumroll maestro… dedicated urban maps!



That’s right, we are busy creating several levels featuring built-up areas. Now, this is easier said than done; making new maps is a complex undertaking, especially when implementing a new environment with houses and buildings in close proximity.

Also, we are not going to recreate something like the inner city of devastated Berlin, with large avenues and big, destroyed structures. Instead, our new maps will reflect the cities and towns found in Poland and Belorussia during World War II: more spread-out, less densely built-up than comparable places in Western Europe.

We hope to share some more exciting details in next week’s post!


That’s it for this week. We are going to let you get back to playing Steel Division 2.

Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page. Discord especially is a great place to find other Steel Division 2 players to kick off an online or coop match!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander,

We are happy to share with you the news that the new Destruction Mode for Steel Division 2 is available now!

For those of you who don’t know, the new Destruction mode brings a completely new battlefield experience, awarding points for destroying enemy units. We have updated 10 maps to use the Destruction mode, including new side-reinforcement paths, a new layout of objectives that provide income, and more!



That’s not all: together with today’s roll-out of the Destruction mode, we have also launched a new update for Steel Division 2 bringing a host of improvements and fixes to our game.

We have listened to a lot of your feedback, especially with regard to the new Fate of Finland History DLC. For instance, the new patch has increased the aggressiveness of the Soviet AI in the strategic Army General campaign significantly. Be prepared for a tough fight!


Destruction mode has been with us for quite some time now, making its first, glorious appearance in our golden oldie RTS R.U.S.E. The idea behind the mode is simple: blow up things, get points for it. The player with the most points after a set amount of time wins! We have tweaked Destruction mode over time, and the latest incarnation, the Steel Division 2 version, you can play now by downloading the free Reinforcement Pack.

Destruction mode plays a bit different compared to a standard Conquest or Breakthrough game in Steel Division 2.

• Destroy enemy units and get Victory Points for the destroyed unit’s purchase value. Reach the Victory Point limit set in the lobby to win a game!
  
• Objectives on the maps now provide your income. All battlegroups feature the same default income rate. Control all objectives for a Sudden Death win!
  
• Ten updated Steel Division 2 maps featuring not only a new layout of objectives but also side-entry reinforcement points. Each side controls half of the map at the start of a Destruction game.
  
• Each Destruction mode map can also be played in Meeting Engagement and Closer Combat variant.

If you want to get to know a bit more about Destruction mode, don’t hesitate to check out this blog postdetailing some of the mode’s new features and mechanics.


Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our Discord server or Reddit page. Discord especially is a great place to find other Steel Division 2 players to kick off an online or coop match!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hey there!

We hope you are doing well. Today’s post will be a bit shorter as we are very busy manhandling a hot-hot-heat update for Steel Division 2 out of the door. That’s right: it’s the new (and updated) Destruction Mode!

We are launching the mode as a free Reinforcement Pack. Due to the last-minute testing and bug hunting (go get ‘em, boys!), we hope to deliver the pack to you as soon as possible, either before the end of this week or at the very beginning of next week.




We have talked about the glorious return of the Destruction mode not once, but twice already. The first post can be viewed here. If you want to read about the updated mode in great detail, scoot on over to a more recent blog post here.

You will read what makes the new Destruction game mode tick, understand that all battlegroups will feature the same income rate, find out we have upgraded ten maps, and that, for instance, side-entry reinforcement paths now play a significant role. Not only that, but the cherry on the cake is a great tactical view of the Destruction-updated Orsha North map.




Of course, the imminent deployment of the Destruction mode is not the only thing we are currently working on. As a matter of fact, the Eugen magicians are waving their magic wands furiously to put the finishing touches on some very exciting new stuff. We can’t lift the veil just yet, but when we do - and this should not be in the too-distant-future - we have no doubt you’ll like it!


That’s it for this week. Don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter). You can also join us on our [https://discord.gg/TEeBArm]Discord server[/url] or Reddit page. Discord especially is a great place to find other Steel Division 2 players to kick off an online or coop match!

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander!

We hope that you are doing well. In today’s post, we’ll be taking a closer look at a series of minor, but very interesting improvements that are making their way to Steel Division 2’s Army General mode.

These updates are still work in progress. They will be rolled out in the near future! Let’s take a sneak peek.


Playing a strategic Army General campaign is not for the fainthearted. Much like the rest of Steel Division 2, it is a game mode that is deep, supported by complex gameplay systems with a ton of information being presented to the player in various panels and sub-menus.

Over the last couple of months, we have tried to make all the figures and facts easier to find and read, but we know we can still improve in this area.

We are working on revamping some of the user interface panels. You will find it easier to check a unit’s combat power, see how much strength they will have per phase, if they are going to win or lose a fight, and more!




One wrinkle we wanted to iron out is a player’s understanding of the battalions under their command, specifically with regard to how well they would hold up during a battle. As you can see in the screenshot: when you select a battalion, its revamped information panel will come up. The updated menu shows the unit’s combat value (its fighting strength) as a numerical value divided across the three combat phases. The new menu will also show the unit’s reserves in a separate column.



There will also be an option to display the combat values in different ways: either in a more graphical form with squares or as a number. Or even simpler: as a single value. The way to display a unit’s label on the strategic map can also be changed.




We have spent a fair bit of time on improving the Autoresolve panel. In the screenshot, you can see a typical match-up on the battlefield, one that in the current and past versions of Army General might have been too confusing.

What we have done in the updated version is to make the Autoresolve mechanic easier to be understood. For instance, we are displaying the combat values for each unit, showing a battalion’s losses after a phase, as well as total losses. What’s more, we want to be clearer in presenting an enemy’s losses in a succinct and easy way. The revamped Autoresolve menu should do this.




The Eugen team is also working on developing a robust Army General combat prediction tool. This new feature should give you a good indication of how a potential battle might unfold - or at least the level of losses you and the opponent could incur.

This new feature will also give the player a heads-up about the strongest possible combination of battalions at your disposal - the ones you should bring into a fight to give yourself the best chances for success!

As you can see in the screenshot, the new mechanic works directly on the map, highlighting the formations you should bring once you have selected a combat-ready battalion.




That’s not all. We are also updating a battalion’s movement after winning a battle. Now, all formations move (if they aren’t destroyed), which means that some of your units might end up in a disadvantageous situation, or relocate themselves into a vulnerable position. From now on, only the first battalion selected will move. This should, hopefully, clear up most of the confusion after you have won a hard-fought battle!

Players will also gain the ability to increase (or decrease) the game speed in the strategic campaign mode. This should allow you to increase how quick your troops move or slow things down if you want to spy on what the enemy is exactly up to during its turn.

The bombardment ability will now have a longer-lasting effect. When a unit is bombarded, it will not only lose all of its action points for the current turn but also for the turn after that. Being shelled means you are now unable to perform any special actions for not one turn but two turns in total.

Lastly, we are also improving the unit movement algorithms used by the AI. The computer will be more careful about how they place their battalions on the frontline, which should decrease the chance that they get encircled during an offensive.


That’s it for today’s post. Be sure to tune in next week! In the mean-time, don’t hesitate to check out our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or our social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

You can also join us on our [https://discord.gg/TEeBArm]Discord server[/url] or Reddit page. Discord especially is a great place to find other Steel Division 2 players to kick off an online or coop match!

See you on the battlefield, commander!