Hello commander!

We hope you are doing well. It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the entire team, but it proved to be a fitting end to an already busy and productive year!

As is our Steel Division 2 custom (the third one in a row already!), we are going to leave you for a (short) break before returning in full force in 2022. We’ll recharge the batteries over Christmas and be back before you know it in the first week of the new year.

A New Game

It’s been a heck of a ride, but we pulled it off! We revealed our brand-new game, the World War III battle simulator WARNO (which stands for Warning Order), last Friday. The unveiling didn’t go down without a hitch, of course, which is always the case. For instance, the Steam page was unable to be published for some hours, but we got everything sorted in the end. If you have missed it, be sure to wishlist WARNO and get ready for the Early Access launch on January 20th.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611600/WARNO/

We know quite a few of you have been clamoring to know what this means for Steel Division 2. We said it before, and we’ll say it again, but we will continue to work on our World War II game in the same way we have done in the last two-and-a-half years. There is no change in plans, no radical departure from our schedule; you will still have your weekly blog post, and we are still planning, developing, and creating exciting new content for Steel Divison 2. Yes, this means new Nemesis DLCs, new units, new divisions, a new Army General campaign, new expansions, and much more.

Do not worry: Steel Division 2 is a game that thrives, and we are 100% committed to keeping it that way for the foreseeable future.

Tribute to the Liberation of Italy

You will have to wait a bit longer to get to play with our latest expansion, the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy. It won’t be until the new year that we’ll be able to launch it. Expect a release date when we are back! In the meantime, look at those mosaics of some new infantry & vehicles.





The Strike Team is currently busy play testing and checking new units and divisions. They are all in a good place now. In the next couple of days, they should receive the greenlight to stream freely the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion. And you know what that means: a release will shortly be upon us.

We have also moved most of our attention on the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC. Once again, more information will come in the future. Expect the launch soon after the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion.

We bid you adieu!

That is everything for this week and year! We will see you on the other side, commander. It’s been a pleasure, and let’s try to make 2022 a better year than the ones that came before (hopefully shouldn’t be too difficult).

From the whole Eugen Systems team: we wish you happy holidays and all the best for 2022. We will be back in the first week of January.

Don’t forget to keep a close watch on our Steam forums to keep up to date with the latest discussions. Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

As always: see you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello commander,

There it is! We have revealed today what we have been working on for quite some time: WARNO, our next-gen World War III battle simulator.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611600/WARNO/

Some of you dedicated readers of this blog were right (others, not so much) in that we were developing a new Cold War-era game.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out WARNO’s reveal trailer.



What does this mean for Steel Division 2? As a matter of fact, not much. Of course, we hope to entice you to go over and play WARNO when it launches into Steam Early Access on January 20, but we still have plenty of content planned for our World War II game. We don’t only have the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion coming soon, but also the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC and more. Don’t expect us to stop developing for Steel Division 2 any time shortly!

We have learned a lot, and improving and updating Steel Division 2 has been a genuine joy for the team at Eugen Systems. With WARNO, we implemented some of these lessons learned. For instance, our new game will feature elements such as the Army General strategic campaigns, division-based battlegroup builder, Rules of Engagements and Smart Orders, and more.

We hope you will join us on our new journey. Be sure to wishlist WARNO (if you haven’t done so) as you get ready for action on the 20th of January! If you want to keep up to date, don’t forget to check out our dedicated Discord server or WARNO’s own Steam forums.

Until next week’s blog post. Adieu, commander!

Are you ready, commander?

The wait is almost over. Yes, that’s right, Christmas will come early as tomorrow (Friday the 17th of December) we will be officially unveiling what we have been working on so hard (and in secret) the last couple of months and years!



It is so close, you can almost touch it! Undoubtedly, you sleuths will have the answer soon, but be sure to tune in and check our channels, including this space and our Discord server for the big reveal.

You will not be disappointed…

But onwards to other exciting things, as we go back to good ‘ol Steel Division 2. More specifically, let’s look at some new Allied units for our upcoming expansion, Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.

The Italian Meatgrinder

Italy during World War II was not particularly known as a tank country thanks to the local topography, with its mountains and hilly countryside. The Italian campaign was an infantry’s war; but whoever says infantry, has to say artillery.

With the pace of operations and offensives on the Italian peninsula being much slower than other theaters of war, massive amounts of artillery guns and ordnance of all types were used by the Allies. This includes the U.S. M1 155mm (predecessor to the infamous Long Tom) and the M1 8-inch 203mm, as well as the British BL 4,5-inch 114mm guns (also featured in the South African divisions in-game).



Another key feature of the more static Italian battlefields was the use of heavy AA guns on the frontline. These were usually kept in the rear by the Allies, but as Axis air forces posed less threat, more of these formidable guns were used in a direct fire role. The Allies could count on the U.S. M2 90mm and British (manned by South African crews) QF 3,7-inch 94mm dual-purpose AA guns. The American unit is slightly superior to the famous German 88mm in an AT role; the British gun (which we presented earlier as somewhat worse) was actually better than the previous two examples. Its downside was that it carried only a handful of AT shells (in real-life, often none) and was hampered by inferior targeting optics.

Going Sky High

Aside from new Allied Co-Belligerent Italian plane models, which we showcased in the blog post here, the Allies most original plane in the Italian campaign was the tank-busting RAF Hurricane Mk IV. This close air support aircraft sported two Vickers 40mm S guns. With a deadly pedigree as a tank killer in the North African deserts, by 1944 it was replaced by rocket-firing Typhoons, with only a few Hurricane Mk IVs remaining over the Adriatic and Balkans. Consider this tank buster a formidable counterpart to the German “Panzervögel” Stuka G-2 or Soviet IL-2-37.

In-game, this particular unit (as well as its bomb-fielding variant) will be featured as a close air support aircraft with the 8th Indian (Infantry) Division. It will also be deployable in our upcoming Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC.



Another new major plane variant includes the Boston Mk IV (British designation) / A-20J-5-DO Havoc (US designation). This aircraft carries a substantial increase in the number of close-defense MG compared to the existing Mk III. It will also be featured with both the 8th Indian (Infantry) Division (as a bomber) and Task Force 45 (as heavy recon).

There is also a new napalm P-47 variant, the P-47D-22-RE which flies with a new paint job and camo.

We have also taken the opportunity to improve various in-game models which were noted (either by the Strike Team or our community) as being incorrect, including the Mosquito PR Mk XVI and the Wildcat Mk V.

Back to Earth

Not being tank country doesn’t mean tanks didn’t serve with distinction in Italy. The Allied forces could count on the usual combination of Shermans, Stuarts, M3 and M5 half-tracks, and some indigenous variants here and there. Like the artillery-fire capable South African M10.

Lighter vehicles also made their way to the Mediterranean front. This includes the Indian recon ACV-IP (Armoured Carrier, Wheeled - Indian Pattern), as well as the 6-pdr Portee 57mm light tank destroyer. This is a South African battlefield conversion, say a scratch-built technical, merging a 6-pdr AT gun onto a Bedford lorry. The gun was mounted so it could fire to the front, over the driver’s cabin.

Some New Map Variants

We are also working on a new “tactical” variant of the recently released Kostritsa map. This one will be slightly reduced in size, to be played with a lower income. This map version also allows you to micro smaller numbers of units to get a more intense “company-level” feel to the battle.

Also, thanks to feedback from the community and our Strike Team, we are improving the Ostrowno map by reworking the positioning of some of the objectives.

Until next time

That is everything for this week. We hope to see you soon (say… tomorrow?)!

Don’t forget to keep a close watch on our ourSteam forums, or check our Facebook and Twitter channels. Looking for an online game in the meantime? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you soon, commander!

Hello commander!

We are back with some more news about the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion. Like the busy bees we are, our much-appreciated Strike Team is currently hard at work testing and helping us fine-tune our latest offering. We can’t tell you - yet - when the expansion will launch (read the full reason at the bottom of this post… *wink*).

Instead, today we take to the sky with the two new Aces featured in our upcoming expansion. Rather uniquely, we have our high-scoring pilots squaring off from the same nation. These daring flyboys fought for two different sides during the war: Mussolini’s Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR, or National Republican Air Force) and the Allied Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana (ACI, or Italian Co-belligerent Air Force).

Let’s welcome to the stage ANR’s Tenente Ugo Drago and ACI’s Sergente Maggiore Teresio Martinoli.

If you want to read more about the airpower included in the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion, check out this detailed DevBlog here.

Ugo Drago

Lieutenant (Tenente) Ugo Drago is our first Ace, fighting for the Axis ANR. He started as a biplane pilot on the CR.42 Falco, scoring his first confirmed kill during the Greek-Italian War where he shot down a Greek biplane fighter. Three weeks after this feat, he single-handedly fought off five enemy biplanes, escaping by the skin of his teeth.



Transferring to a Macchi C.200 and deployed in North Africa in 1941, by the end of the year he had flown 150 missions. When the Armistice was signed in 1943, he didn’t directly join the RSI. Instead, he tried to contact his family but was arrested by the Germans, who pressured him hard to fly in the Luftwaffe. He refused, and as a result, was shipped to a prison camp in Germany. On the way, he escaped. When hearing of Mussolini’s air force, the ANR, he reappeared. Immediately reinstated as a pilot officer, he flew first on the G.55 Centauro before transferring to a German Me-109.

He ended his World War II career with 17 claimed kills, 4 of which he achieved by flying biplanes.

In Steel Division 2, Ugo Drago is featured with the G.55 Centauro.

Teresio Martinoli

Much like his Axis counterpart, Sergeant Major (Sergente Maggiore) Teresio Martinoli started as a biplane pilot for the Regia Aeronautica, once more in the cockpit of a CR.42 Falco fighter. He claimed his first three victories at the beginning of Italy’s entry into World War II in 1940, including a French bomber over Tunisia. He followed his first kill by shooting down an RAF Gloster Gladiator later in the year over Egypt.



He too transferred to the Macchi C.200, flying fighter sweeps over Malta, during which he claimed four British planes in just two months. He claimed a further four in 1942 before rotating back to North Africa, where he shot down four more. Defending Sicily during the Allied invasion in 1943, after the Armistice he joined the Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana (ACI). He flew missions against the Luftwaffe over the Balkan, where he fought and shot down at least one more plane.

Martinoli’s total of 22 kills painted on his plane included four different nations, from both sides: France, UK, USA and Germany. During the war, Martinoli shot down an eclectic array of planes, from Gloster Gladiators to Hawker Hurricanes, Spitfires, P-38 Lightning, a B-17 Flying Fortress, and even a Junkers Ju 52. On August 23rd, 1944, he died in an accidental crash while converting on P-39 Airacobra.

In Steel Division 2, Teresio Martinoli is featured with the C.205V Veltro.

Other news

In case you missed it, we have recently released two new free Reinforcement Packs: the new Kostriza map and Lucky 13, bringing two free divisions to our game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1810030/Steel_Division_2__Reinforcement_Pack_12__Kostritza/

If you want to read more about the Axis Panzerdivision Tatra and the Allied Task Force Butler, be sure to check out this blog post here.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1810031/Steel_Division_2__Reinforcement_Pack_13__Lucky_13/

Until next time

That’s it for this week. We know you might be clamoring for more details about our upcoming Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion and the Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC, but you need to hang on tight a little bit longer.

What we can do is lift the tip of the veil on something else though. We have been hard at work on our secret project, and we are getting ready for a big call to arms in the very near future! Things are moving fast, so keep a very close eye on our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our Facebook and Twitter channels. Looking for an online game in the meantime? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

New battlefields lie around the corner, commander. Get ready!

Prepare for battle, commander!

That’s right, the second of our promised free Reinforcement Packs is ready for deployment.

Download our Lucky 13 DLC for free and discover two new divisions: the varied Axis Panzerdivision Tatra and the rapid Allied Task Force Butler.

Lucky 13 Details

The Lucky 13 DLC will launch today. As our veteran Steel Division 2 players know, in the past we have proposed various Nemesis DLCs. Each option would feature a new theme, focused on a specific battle or region, and two new divisions. The community would vote on which choice out of three alternatives they would like to see developed first. We have had five successful Nemesis DLC so far.

Our Lucky 13 DLC combines two of the most interesting runner-up Nemesis options which didn’t make the cut. Panzerdivision Tatra was featured in Nemesis: Slovak Uprising in Nemesis #4 (won by Nemesis: Raid on Drvar), while Task Force Butler was part of Nemesis: Battle of Montélimar in Nemesis #2 (won by Nemesis: Battle of Rimini).



If you want to read more about the composition of both Lucky 13 divisions, take a look at last week’s blog post.

Other news

A quick update on some of our other projects. We are making steady headway with both the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion and Nemesis: Raid on Drvar DLC. See some of the progress on the models below!



Also, included in the patch delivered alongside Lucky 13, you’ll find the proper model for the Soviet 72-K AA gun, previewed with 358-ya Strelk. And you’ll see more of it in the future ...

Until next time

Let us know what you think. You can do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

That’s all, commander. Muster your troops, crank up those tank engines - combat awaits!

Hello!

We hope you are doing well. We are busy getting both Nemesis: Raid on Drvar and our next expansion, The Tribute to the Liberation of Italy out of the door, but that doesn’t mean we have lost sight of our other, smaller projects. One of them is in your hands already, while the other is coming next week!

What, where, how? Read on for all the juicy details.

New map Kostritza is out now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1810030/Steel_Division_2__Reinforcement_Pack_12__Kostritza/

In case you missed it, Steel Division 2 has been enriched by a brand-new map - Kostritsa. A repurposed showcase map, it features forests, wide spaces, and a corridor of urban terrain. The map is playable in all game modes, solo, coop, and online. As part of the free Reinforcement Pack 12, download Kostritza now for free.

RP Lucky 13 coming next week

On to our other free Reinforcement Pack 13, which now has an official release date! Make ready as you are going to play with two free new divisions as part of the Lucky 13 DLC on Thursday, December 2nd (that’s next week). In case you want to check out the divisions ahead of time, be sure to tune into some of our Strike Team members from today onward. They will be streaming playthroughs with the Lucky 13 battlegroups until launch day!

Let’s take a detailed look at the two new divisions which will ship: the Axis Panzerdivision Tatra and the Allied Task Force Butler. There might be slight differences between how the two were originally showcased as part of their Nemesis DLC offering and how they will appear in-game as Lucky 13 DLC. More research has been done, resulting in the addition of some new units and the removal of others.

Panzerdivision Tatra

Panzerdivision Tatra is an amalgamated battlegroup self-styled as a panzer division, but featuring fewer tanks and more infantry than usual. The units are varied and plenty, but most unit cards will only be available in low numbers.

• RECON - a fairly classic category with the usual complement of Axis recon units.
  
• INFANTRY - lots of well-priced options. Includes the usual Grenadier (plus Leader), Ersatztruppen, Landesschützen Ost (including Leader), Schupo, a few Panzergrenadier and Sturmpionier. The following new units can be found:
  - Volksturm - a 12-man Disheartened squad, with MP-28 and Kar.98K… and a LOT of Panzerfausts!
  - Pionier (MG-26) - engineers with automatic rifles.
  - Panzergrenadier (MG-26) - right now only available with the 25. PzGrenadier-Division.
  Soldiers-in-training equipped with two automatic rifles. These squads form the backbone of Panzerdivision Tatra’s infantry.
  - SS-Sturmgrenadier - a 10-man squad with MP-44 and two MG-42s.
  
• TANK - average in options and costs, with no more than one (at times incomplete) card of Panzer III L, Panzer IV H, and StuG III G (also in Leader variant) and Tiger.
  - Panzer 38(t) - this new unit is featured as this particular variant only in one Army General Romanian battlegroup in the Tiraspol campaign (but not available for multiplayer).
  
• SUPPORT - a pretty good category with a solid amount of cheap slots. Some of the more unusual unit choices are:
  - StuG 40 - currently only in use by the 14. Infanterie-Division. This is a short-barreled version of the ubiquitous StuG III G.
  - Bef.Panzer 38(t) - only available in Back to War DLC with 352. Infanterie division.
  - Feldjäger - only available in Burning Baltics with 52. Sicherungs-Division z.b.V.. These are elite military police equipped with MP-44.
  
• AT - a good number of cheap options, with quite a bit of choice. There are no new units, but some guns are rather rare, including the PaK 43, PzB 39 and the Jagdpanzer IV.
  
• AA - not particularly strong, with only a few slots and just two options: the Flakvierling and the 88mm.
  
• ARTILLERY - average with a large supply of Czech artillery. New units are:
  - l.FH 14/19(t) 105mm - an older artillery piece.
  - K35(t) 105mm - also known as the Hruby, fielded by the 25. PzGrenadier-Division. A modern gun superior to the ubiquitous German l.FH 18M 105mm (also fielded).
  - Panzerwerfer and Wurfrahmen - one model each of these two rocket launcher systems.
  
• AIR - a pretty decent category with a little of everything. One noteworthy unit:
  - Ju-88G1 heavy fighter, currently only available in Death on the Vistula with 5. SS-Panzerdivision "Wiking".

Task Force Butler

A mobile battlegroup built with an emphasis on speed and maneuver warfare. This division is reinforced by FFI (French armed resistance) from Phase B onwards.

• RECON - lots of slots, with cheap and a vast array of choices. This includes the ubiquitous jeep, M8, and Recon Stuart, but also new units, such as:
  - Cavalry Scouts - 6-man squad with bazooka and smoke, coming in their own M3A1 Cavalry half-track.
  - Commando d’Afrique - making its way over from Nemesis: Storming Toulon. A heavy 10-man commando squad with Thompson and Garands, automatic rifles, and bazooka. Available from Phase B only.
  - FFI Saboteur - 5-man squad armed with MP-40 and M1 Carbines, as well as explosives. They come speeding in with the legendary Traction car.
  
• INFANTRY - a good amount of slots, though Phase A only features a small number of American squads. More FFI units come available in Phase B.
  - OSS Ldr - a large 10-man command squad with UD-M42 SMG and M1 Carbine, plus LMG. They come vetted.
  - FFI Maquisard - currently only available in Nemesis: Storming Toulon. Several cards of a 12-man squad with Sten, Kar. 98K and FM 24/29 automatic rifles, as well as Molotovs. They feature the Raider trait.
  - FFI Ralliés - squads made up of “German” deserters, often Osttruppen or Volksdeutsche, but also some anti-fascist or communist Germans who decided to join the Résistance. Deserting with their weapons and training, they formed a few squads equipped with PPSh, Kar.98K, MG-34, and Panzerfaust.
  
• TANK - an average number of open slots, with the usual complement of Stuarts, M4A1, and M4A1(76) tanks.
  - M8 Cavalry - a new unit is the Greyhound armored car used in a “direct combat” role.
  
• SUPPORT - a well-supplied category, with a large amount of choice, including the M8 Scott, Sherman 105, M1919, and M2HB HMGs, but also some new units:
  - FFI MG-34 - French resistance fighters using a captured HMG with the Raider trait.
  - FFI Mortier 2-inch: light mortar courtesy of British airdrops, featuring the Raider trait.
  - FFI transports - which include Traction (also as a Commander) and DMA truck (also as supply).
  
• AT - not the strongest category, with expensive options and few slots. There are several new units, including:
  - FFI Partisans - 2-man team with a Sten and Panzerfausts.
  - FFI PaK 40 - a few captured German AT guns.
  - FFI Canon AC 25mm SA-L - a new light AT unit that was originally used as a towed version by the French army in 1940. Small, but accurate and with a high rate of fire.
  
• AA - one of the weaker categories with few and expensive slots. These include:
  - Citroen Hotchkiss - a twin 13,2mm AA MG mounted on a police truck.
  - FFI Canon CA 25mm - a mainstay of the French Army in 1940, this light air defense unit is only featured in-game by the Romanians.
  
• ARTILLERY - a pretty decent category featuring only American units, such as mortars, M7 Priest, Long Tom 155mm, and a few off-map 203mm observers riding a M3 Scout Car.
  
• AIR - the battlegroup can count on some very solid air support, with a combination of U.S., British, and French airplanes.
  - US B-26B-10 Marauder and P-47D-22-RE.
  - British Beaufighter Mk.IX rocket (only available in Nemesis:Battle of Rimini) and the Hellcat F Mk.II (from Nemesis: Storming Toulon).
  - French F-5B-1 Lightning and P-38J-15 (both available in Nemesis: Storming Toulon), as well as the B-26G-26 Marauder, a new bomber.

Tribute to the Liberation of Italy

That’s it for Lucky 13 DLC. We are still hard at work on the next expansions. A quick update, but we can let you know that all the Axis vehicle and plane models for The Tribute to the Liberation of Italy have been finished, as well as all the infantry models.

We also have the promised Soviet 72-K 25mm AA gun’s model done, which you will be able to enjoy with the 358th Rifle Division … before it gets added to more divisions.

Adieu, and until next week!

Enough for this week, commander. Drop us a line in our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you soon!

Expand your Steel Division 2 experience for free with the new Kostritza map. This Skirmish map is playable in every game mode, including solo, coop, and multiplayer.

Kostritza features a large clearing surrounded by woods and marshes, located north of the Orsha-Kiev highway.

Reinforcement Pack 12 - Kostritza is free to all owners of Steel Division 2 here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1810030/Steel_Division_2__Reinforcement_Pack_12__Kostritza

Hello there!

Let’s call today a little in-between post, but not without substance. We are still hard at work getting you the two free Reinforcement Packs: our new Kostritza map and the Lucky 13 DLC with the Axis Panzerdivision Tatra and the Allied Task Force Butler. They are not quite ready yet, though, as they could use another round of testing and tweaking.

In the meantime, we want to take the opportunity to highlight an important aspect of our upcoming major expansion, The Tribute to the Liberation of Italy. Let’s welcome to the stage the daring pilots of the Italian Air Force (that is: both of them).

A bit of history

As you know, after the Armistice in 1943, Italy was divided into two warring states: the Kingdom of Italy in the south joining the Allies, and Mussolini’s fascist Repubblica Sociale Italiana in the north, quickly turned into a puppet state of Nazi Germany. The old Italian Army, including air forces, was also split.

In southern Italy, elements of the original Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) formed the Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana (ACI, or Italian Co-belligerent Air Force) under Allied command. In the north, the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana[[/i] (ANR, or National Republican Air Force) under Mussolini’s control.

The Italians were reluctant to engage their former comrades in combat. This meant that ANR fighters intercepted Allied bombers on their air campaigns in northern Italy. ACI planes provided recon or escort duties but limited their ground support sorties. Heavier equipment was mostly used “overseas”: either in the Balkans (ACI) or in anti-shipping roles (ANR).

Italian Air Forces in Steel Division 2

You know that the name of the game - Steel Division 2 - in a more figurative sense has always been about historical accuracy. With our divisions and battlegroups, this works especially well when it comes to the TO&E (Table of Organization and Equipment). Due to the distances involved, we always had a bit more flexibility in bringing planes, formations, and squadrons together from further afield. The same is true for our Italian airmen of the ANR and ACI: while they might not have fought each other directly, both air forces in our upcoming Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion features its historical inventory of fighters, fighter-bombers, and bombers.

Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana

Mussolini’s air force got the lion’s share of the former Regia Aeronautica’s personnel. Most of them joined the fascist puppet state when the Armistice was announced. For years, these pilots had been battling the Allies over the Mediterranean. More recently, their primary task turned to intercept the bomber waves hitting the Italian cities and industries in the north. Skilled and motivated, most ANR airmen not only had to fight against the Allies, but also against a Luftwaffe distrustful of their Italian comrades. The Germans were keen on dissolving the Italian squadrons, taking control of its assets and pilots as a foreign legion of sorts. Fun fact: an attempt was made by the Luftwaffe, which ended up in confrontation between SS and Italian paratroopers, close to deteriorating in open combat.

The ANR recovered a substantial amount of the Regia Aeronautica’s planes and flew them for the duration of the war. In addition, despite their distrust, the Germans delivered some replacement airframes to make up for the losses suffered.

In Tribute to the Liberation of Italy the ANR’s arsenal features:

• C.205V Veltro fighter in several variants
  
• G.55 Centauro fighter
  
• Re.2005 Sagittario fighter
  
• German Bf. 109 G-6 in both fighter and fighter-bomber roles
  
• SM.79-III Sparviero bomber
  
• Z. 1007ter Alcione bomber

Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana

While the ANR laid their hands on most of the Regia Aeronautica’s personnel and planes, the Allied ACI had to make do with scraps (in some cases literally as quite a few of the airplanes were in dire need of repair). All in all, the ACI could only count on 200 airframes, some barely functioning. What’s more, Mussolini’s forces controlled the aeronautical factories and workshops in the north, meaning an acute lack of spare parts for the ACI planes.

The ACI resorted to rebuilding their forces using Allied equipment. This also had the double benefit of not being mistaken by Allied AA and fighters. From the summer of 1944 onwards, the remaining Italian machines were gradually replaced by American and British examples, save for the rather excellent Z.1007 bombers. These were used until the end of the war as night bombers over the Balkans.

In Tribute to the Liberation of Italy the ACI’s arsenal features:

• C.202 Folgore fighter
  
• C.205V Veltro fighter, same as its ANR counterpart
  
• British Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop fighter
  
• American P-39 fighter (several versions)
  
• Re.2002 Ariete fighter-bomber
  
• British Baltimore Mk.V bomber
  
• Z.1007bis Alcione bomber

Before we leave

Before we bid adieu. A little update on our current projects. Get ready because the new Kostritza will launch soon@. The Reinforcement Pack 13, containing our free divisions, will likely release soon after.

The work on Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion and our Nemesis: Raid on Drvar is advancing steadily. Most of the Axis models - which were a lot, as the biggest part of the local Italian equipment was in the hands of the Germans - have been done. More news to come soon, promise!

Meanwhile, meet the cute L3 (aka CV33) family:

Until next time

That’s all, commander. Let us know what you think. You can do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you next week!

Hello commander!

We're posting this DevBlog one day in advance since tomorrow is a public holiday (end of WW1) in France.

So, in last week’s post, we promised two free new Reinforcement Packs, one being the new Kostritza map. Now, you must be mighty curious about what’s in the other Reinforcement Pack, number 13, bringing two divisions for free!

Aptly named, with the Lucky 13 DLC we present to you two Nemesis DLC runner-ups: the varied Axis Panzerdivision Tatra and the rapid Allied Task Force Butler.

Let’s find out more.

Lucky 13 Details

Yes, the Panzerdivision Tatra and the Task Force Butler were both runner-ups in two separate Nemesis DLC offerings. The Axis Panzerdivision Tatra was featured in Nemesis: Slovak Uprising in Nemesis #4 (won by Nemesis: Raid on Drvar), while Task Force Butler was part of Nemesis: Battle of Montélimar in Nemesis #2 (won by Nemesis: Battle of Rimini[b/]).

They didn’t make the cut then, but as hinted at before, we found them interesting enough that we wanted to include them in our game. So, what do the two divisions offer, and (equally important) which new units will you encounter in the Lucky 13 DLC?

Panzerdivision Tatra

Formed as a hurried response to the Slovak Uprising in late August 1944, Panzerdivision Tatra was close to a Panzergrenadier-Division in size and firepower. A large variety of different training, reserve, and militia units were brought together under the command of the 178. Panzerdivision’s (yet another training formation). If you want to read more of Panzerdivision Tatra’s, check out its historical background here.

Nemesis: Slovak Uprising is the second DLC choice revealed

In the Lucky 13 DLC, Panzerdivision Tatra is a well-rounded battlegroup, with a large variety of infantry, as well as a powerful Luftwaffe providing air cover. While only a handful of regular Grenadier and Panzergrenadier are available, more numerous trainee PzGrenadier (MG-26) and Landeschutzen, early Volkssturm and even some veteran SS-Sturmgrenadier can be deployed. The formation also features quite a few tanks, but in limited numbers, such as the Panzer 38(t), StuG variants, Panzer III variants, Panzer IV H, Marder III and Hetzers, and even a handful of Tiger Es. Its tank, support, and anti-tank units are pretty decent but few in numbers, and Panzerdivision Tatra lacks potent anti-aircraft forces.



New Units

• Panzer 38(t) - light tank.
  
• Volkssturm - large and badly armed squads (but with plenty of Panzerfausts).
  
• SS-Sturmgrenadier - squad featuring 8x MP-44 and 2x MG-42.
  
• PaK 37(t) 47mm - AT gun. This unit was featured previously in Steel Division: Normandy 44.

Task Force Butler

Task Force Butler was created after the initial landings of Operation Dragoon in southern France, August 1944. Built around the 117th Armored Cavalry Squadron, this formation aimed to advance rapidly north and pursue the retreating Wehrmacht. It didn’t have enough forces to hold captured territory for long, but speed was deemed more important than boots on the ground. If you want to read more of Task Force Butler, check out its historical background here.

Nemesis: Battle of Montélimar Unveiled

As a division, Task Force Butler has excellent recon units, and a powerful air force on standby, but lacks the number of infantry and armor for a prolonged fight. Veteran Steel Division: Normandy 44 players might remember the DBSAS squads, but this battlegroup will count on French FFI Résistance reinforcements and OSS special forces from Phase B onwards.



New Units

• Cavalry Scouts - heavy recon squads equipped with a bazooka.
  
• M3A1 Cavalry - recon half-track for Cavalry Scouts.
  
• M8 Cavalry Greyhound - as a direct combat “tank”.
  
• OSS - large elite US Special Force squads dropped behind enemy lines. They formed up with Task Force Butler along the way. Like the FFI, they’ll be available from Phase B onward.
  
• FFI Ralliés - squads made up from “German” deserters (mostly Osttruppen) who joined the Résistance bringing their own weapons. This unit was featured previously in Steel Division: Normandy 44.
  
• FFI MG-34 - This unit was featured previously in Steel Division: Normandy 44.
  
• FFI 2-in. Mortar - This unit was featured previously in Steel Division: Normandy 44.
  
• FFI Saboteurs - recon-engineer squad with explosives. This unit was featured previously in Steel Division: Normandy 44.

The airborne Commandos d’Afrique and several Free French Air Force planes from Nemesis: Storming Toulon will also be made available.

The new Kostritza map

After various rounds of testing and feedback, we tweaked the objective placement and some other details in the new Kostritza map. As part of Reinforcement Pack 12, this map will be made available for free to all Steel Division 2 owners.



Here is the final version, currently being tested:

Why does 3D modelling take so long?

We wanted to explain one reason why the last batch of 3D modeling for Steel Division 2 took a bit longer. For workflow efficiency, we have worked on both Nemesis: Raid on Drvar and the next expansion Tribute to the Liberation of Italy at the same time. Both installments feature a lot of Italian equipment, including German, RSI, Croatian (and even Yugoslav) variants. We rolled everything into one, which also means that the delay between both expansions should be pretty short compared to other Steel Division 2 DLCs.

This is the Semovente 47/32 family picture, with both German, RSI & ... Croatian (Drvar) variants.

Until next time

That’s it for this week. Let us know what you think. You can do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Hello there!

It’s high time for a general update on the status of several (ongoing) Steel Division 2 DLCs and expansions. Unfortunately, in recent months, we have run into various unexpected roadblocks along the way, which set the team back.

Today’s post is a mea culpa from our side. We promise we make it up to you… keep reading to find out.

Now, a summary of the most recent Steel Division 2 developments.

First things first: we are still on track with the upcoming patch and new Kostritza map, as talked about in last week’s post. Kostritza is being tested by the Strike Team, and thanks to their invaluable feedback, we are making some final tweaks and improvements. More details further below.

We announced both a new expansion - Tribute to the Liberation of Italy - and a new DLC - Nemesis: Raid on Drvar - several months ago. We expected we would have been able to deliver both to you by now. However, in reality, we encountered some detours on our path, which pushed back our projects.



For instance, we tried to do too many things at the same time for Steel Division 2, which included launching Nemesis: Storming Toulon, our Army General Coop Mode, developing Nemesis: Raid on Drvar AND the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy expansion.



On top of that, we were also working on a DLC for Wargame: Red Dragon, the new Nation Pack: South Africa, which we released not too long ago.

And… something else - something pretty big - has been steadily cooking in Eugen’s kitchen for quite some time now. What, how, where, who… hang in tight, but the day is edging closer that we can reveal it. Fair to say that this secret project has taken a fair bit of our attention as well.



As you can read, we have been hard at work. But, in order to iron out any wrinkles our unforeseen delays might have created, we want to offer you - the community - something.

Two new free Reinforcement Packs for Steel Division 2 will be made available soon, one of them being the Kostritza map. The other new Reinforcement Pack will contain two new divisions, hand-picked from the Nemesis DLC options that never made it. These will feature new units (but no new models). We will reveal soon which divisions they will be.

Both of these Reinforcement Packs will be delivered before the release of Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.

See you around

Now, you have to wait a little longer, but exciting things lie on the near horizon. Trust us, lots of interesting news will drop in the not-too-distant future!

Let us know what you think. You can do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.

See you on the battlefield, commander!