More than eight years since it launched, Hearts of Iron 4 remains the go-to WW2 strategy game on Steam. The sprawling, in-depth recreation of World War II from Stellaris and Crusader Kings makers Paradox Interactive still pulls more players than its contenders, and it’s about to get even bigger. Launching today, new HoI 4 DLC Götterdämmerung focuses on Germany and some of the countries in closest proximity to it, giving you entirely new ways to steer the nations through the globe-spanning conflict.
This Hearts of Iron 4 DLC brings a whole-new dimension to one of the grand strategy game’s most-played nations, with a much larger German focus tree that revises its focuses and offers a range of new ways to approach the country’s political stance. Adopt a more monarchist stance, restore Germany to democracy, or embrace a range of alternative fascist and militarist options. Additionally, further character-led events amplify the variety and flavor of this central player in one of the best WW2 games on PC.
Götterdämmerung goes much further beyond that, however. Austria’s focus trees are also revised, giving you the ability to envision a variant free of German control, should you choose. The historical path for Austria when controlled by the computer has also been redesigned. Then comes a Hungarian focus tree that allows you to employ technological advancement to overcome its limited manpower, or to make an attempt to reforge the Austro-Hungarian Empire into a unified faction.
Finally, Götterdämmerung gives love to an underloved but key nation in the war with the new Hearts of Iron 4 Belgium focus tree. As well as choosing to either resist or embrace German control, you can continue to play the nation after its fall to German rule. Follow history and declare the King unfit to reign, rebuilding through your government-in-exile in London and resources in Congo, or use the monarch’s status as a political prisoner to push for a resistance.
Along with the nation-specific upgrades, expect new special projects allowing you to assign scientists to research advanced tanks, artillery, and aircraft, nuclear physics, rocketry, naval engineering, and electronics. Raids will enable you to deliver carefully planned strikes on key enemy targets using bombing runs, commando assaults, or paratrooper drops. There are also new structures on the map, the effectiveness of atomic warfare has been adjusted, and enemy AI has been made smarter in planning its attacks.
Hearts of Iron 4 Götterdämmerung launches Thursday November 14 on Steam. You can buy it standalone or as part of Expansion Pass 1, priced at $36.99 / £31.19. Alternatively, it’s included in the rolling HoI 4 monthly subscription, which starts at $7.99 / £6.69 per month. Find the new DLC right here.
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