Isonzo News

Welcome to our second Isonzo Intel blog! Today we’re going to look at how you go about recreating locations from more than 100 years ago in a video game. The focus will still be on the Monte San Michele map that we revealed last time, which is part of the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo Offensive campaign. If you missed it, you should read all about the new Offensive game mode here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1556790/announcements/detail/3059609427948758061

With Isonzo’s move towards recreating specific battles and where they were fought, it’s vital to do good research in many different areas. Part of our process in representing the Carso landscape and doing justice to the heavy fighting in the area was a visit to the Museo Del Monte San Michele, which stands right on the summit of the mountain. It was an excellent museum with some fascinating virtual and augmented reality tech to immerse visitors into trench life. Their website has 3 minute video showcasing the museum which is well worth a watch.

A WIP screenshot of one of the trench lines.

And here’s a video we took on our field trip of one of the surviving trenches with those distinctive rocks.

The distinctive sharp rocks of the area, which you can see in the WIP screenshot above, were essential to get right. A particular challenge is that in the present day the entire region is covered by forests, which was not the case back then. The curator at the museum explained that before the war this landscape was completely bare rocks, because sheep ate all of the vegetation. Some imagination and looking at historical photos (which is difficult because you cannot see grass or foliage that easily in black and white photos) was needed to derive a good concept of how we should represent the landscape.

Rocks everywhere, with some foliage visible - hard to determine the amount and types without colour!

Also essential was getting the correct tech, which meant innovating and using more advanced techniques than in previous titles to bring these razor sharp rocks to life. We spent quite a long time tweaking this, and it might sound funny to put so much time into rocks, but they really have a huge impact on the sense of place. Getting the basics and fine details correct is vital to create a solid base for everything else. When you’re aiming for authenticity, attention to detail is never a waste of time!

The carso landscape, dominated by boulders - in the rear areas it contrasts with the grass.

Rocks alongside a path.

Maps are a very useful reference when laying out areas, but you have to be mindful that places do change a lot over time. If you can’t get maps from WW1, more modern maps might still be useful - but you have to be very careful. Take a look at this comparison between a 1916 map and one from 2018...



Another important part of the Monte San Michele map was the town of San Martino del Carso. It was heavily battered during previous battles and even the scene of combat following rare breakthroughs by Italian forces in earlier attacks. We recreated a Polish village for Tannenberg, but the towns of Isonzo are on a different level, being more densely built-up. These rustic towns are very distinctive and needed to be represented with accurate details. Especially the irregular way construction materials are typically used in rural Italy, with a mixture of brick, stone, concrete and plaster.

To this end we spent quite some time designing and tweaking the way we render walls and ruins to make these Italian towns feel real. You can compare one of our WIP screenshots with a period photograph below.

The ruins of San Martino del Carso.

The village is completely ruined, so you’ll have to fight your way through piles of rubble.

The town offers challenging combat scenarios which are closer to “urban” warfare, with the general destruction, crumbled walls, and half-destroyed roofs offering perfect cover and tactical fire ports.



Finally, inspiration comes from places other than history books as well - such as this by Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti, written during breaks in the fighting. The town is the subject of the poem:

SAN MARTINO DEL CARSO
Of these houses
nothing
but fragments of memory

Of all who
would talk with me not
one remains

But in my heart
no one's cross is missing
My heart is
the most tormented country
of all


[h3]Until next time![/h3]
That’s all for this week! As for next time, we'll be having a look at some of the weaponry you'll be able to get your hands on in Isonzo. For instance, take a closer look at this… can you identify it already?

Benvenuti al fronte! Welcome to the first installment of the Isonzo development blog. Over the course of the following months we will release new content and updates that will give you more info about the game and all the exciting new gameplay features that are coming.

Last year we made a small road trip down to Italy for some on-site research. Three of us made the trip: series creative director Jos, together with producer Thomas and level designer Robin. While there, we made a few videos too...

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Developer Jos on location in Italy, discussing the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo.

As you’ll see in the blogs, Italy is a stunning place with some amazingly varied scenery. One of the reasons we chose to make an Italian Front game was the range of different battlefields, from mountain peaks to river valleys and the distinctive Italian towns. We really lean into this diversity with the new Offensive game mode that takes center stage in Isonzo. So without further ado, let's dig in to what Offensives are all about!


The Offensive game mode is a multi-map experience where success or failure in one battle will have an effect on future battles! In each map, one team is tasked with assaulting defensive positions and completing a number of objectives. The other team, as you would expect, will try to stop them. The battle progresses through multiple defensive lines: once the attackers complete all their current objectives, the defenders must fall back to the next line, which will have its own set of objectives.

Part of the Monte San Michele battlefield.

For instance, the attackers might need to capture and hold three points to complete the first defensive line of a map, and then the second line might require them to sabotage a gun position and capture two points to progress to the next defensive line. The attackers win by defeating every defensive line - the defenders win by holding out long enough. We'll go into more detail about the kind of objectives you can expect and exactly how it all works in a future post!

[h2]The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo[/h2]
Let’s illustrate with an example! The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo was was the first Battle of the Isonzo where the Italians actually gained some ground. There were breakthroughs in places and desperate stands by Austro-Hungarian defenders all along the southern Isonzo.

In-game, the Italian attackers are aiming to capture the city of Gorizia - and that assault is a single map and battle. However, to get there they first need to break through Austro-Hungarian positions at Monte Sabotino or Monte San Michele. Both of these are also individual battles. There are three ways the Offensive can go:

1. If the defenders can hold both Monte Sabotino and Monte San Michele, the Offensive fails and the Gorizia map isn’t even played.
   
2. If the attackers win one of the first two battles this means a breakthrough has been achieved, and Gorizia will be played. The winner of the Offensive comes down to who is victorious there.
   
3. Finally, if the attackers win both Monte Sabotino and Monte San Michele they have achieved a major breakthrough and will go to Gorizia with bonus reserves for the climactic battle!

A trench line on the heavily contested Monte San Michele.

As you can imagine, this approach has called for a lot of in-depth research to find historical battle maps, orders of battle, and accounts of how the battles progressed! It’s been a lot of work, but amazing to see how it all comes together to recreate key moments of the war on the Italian Front.

[h2]Specific Battles[/h2]
So to sum up, unlike our previous games which aimed to capture the overall feel of different areas of the frontline, in Isonzo every map corresponds to a particular battle, on a particular date. These maps are then linked together to form an Offensive.

Let's see what an individual Offensive mode map looks like with a specific example: the Carso map, centered around the conquest of the Monte San Michele. As part of the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo Offensive, success here gives the attackers a route to Gorizia, and extra reserves for that final battle if they also capture Monte Sabotino when they play that map.

(Very!) WIP UI of the overview of the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo Offensive.


The Monte San Michele was one of the most bloody locations on the entire Italian Front. From the very first battle the Italians needed to get a foothold on the Carso plateau. The Monte San Michele is not very tall (just 275m) compared to some of the Dolomite peaks, but it has a very commanding location overlooking the Gorizia valley. In the game you can actually see the other locations of the other two maps (Sabotino and Gorizia) in the distance from the top of Monte San Michele!

There are many significant features you’ll be fighting over in the course of the Monte San Michele battle. Establishing trenches in the rock of the Carso is no easy task, but it was done.

Part of a line of trenches that the Italian attackers will need to capture.

The Schönburg Tunnel entrance saw furious fighting. The tunnel was built by the Seventh Feldjager Battalion, started in 1915 and completed in 1916. It was named after General Alois von Schönburg Hartenstein - he was a major player in the Third Battle of the Isonzo. The tunnel cut through the entire mountain, providing a route for Austro-Hungarian reserves to reach the frontline, as well as serving as a shelter from artillery.

Our recreation of the Schönburg Tunnel entrance.

The town of San Martino del Carso is a key objective. The Italians actually did get this far in earlier battles, but were then forced back by Austro-Hungarian counterattacks. Ruined houses, debris and defences mark the effects of the earlier combat.

The town of San Martino del Carso.

Another tactically important feature of the terrain of the Carso are the ‘doline’ (sinkholes). These dips in the landscape are ideal for camps or artillery positions.

A doline camp.

That’s it for this week! We’ll be sharing more videos with accompanying blog posts, as well as some separate blogs to dive into features we don’t have space to do justice to in the videos.

Until next time!

Our new game Isonzo is set on the Italian Front of WW1, covering key battles ranging from high-altitude combat in the Alps through to the ferocious fighting for the Isonzo river, after which the game is named. There were 12 (!) Battles of the Isonzo, many resulting in heavy casualties and little ground being gained. Isonzo’s new Offensive game mode puts players at the center of those key historical offensives on the Italian front: one team must break through a series of defensive positions while the defenders try to hold their ground. Objectives range from mountaintop fortifications and river crossings to ruined towns and hastily dug foxholes – you can even expect a few trench lines!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]A new front[/h2]
Trenches, along with the mud and blood of the Western Front are what people think of first when the First World War comes up, but the Italian Front saw an equally brutal conflict begin in May 1915. This war between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy involved millions of men, and would see battles fought at heights of up to 12,000 feet (3,600 meters) as the two sides struggled for control of the Alps. The challenges of conducting a modern war in such conditions cannot be overstated!

Our last game Tannenberg covered the Eastern Front, so the question was where to take the WW1 Game Series next? After much discussion (and several research road trips) we decided that the Alpine warfare of the Italian Front offered great opportunities to elevate the series to unexpected heights! You can see things are already shaping up nicely in these WIP screenshots...



[h2]Historical Alpine warfare[/h2]
We’re going all out to make sure we reproduce the atmosphere of the Alpine Front in Isonzo, with the new game mode, a fresh look and feel, carefully recreated Italian weapons and uniforms, and much more! Our team has been working in secrecy on Isonzo for almost two years now, and much of that time has been spent designing new features to immerse players even more deeply in the experience of WW1 combat. To mention just a few examples (more will be revealed closer to release!) this means introducing equipment like the wire cutters seen in the trailer, making for a more dynamic battlefield where the enemy can cut new paths through your barbed wire. There’s a new loadout system giving players more tactical flexibility to react to changing battlefield conditions! As well as new engineering gear, the new front also means more weapons…

Mortars are just one of these new weapons that you’ll get your hands on in Isonzo. These player controlled indirect fire weapons fill a vital spot between heavy artillery barrages and hand grenades. Such indirect fire support is especially valuable in the landscapes of Isonzo, where you’ll find yourself fighting your way up steep slopes, through blasted towns, into fortified mountain bunkers, and more. And don’t think that these highly vertical battlegrounds won’t pose challenges for the defenders as well! While being on top might give you a good view, you’ll need to watch out that you aren’t silhouetted against bright blue skies as you lean over a ledge. The rugged landscape also gives ample opportunities for sneak attacks by cunning attackers moving through crevasses or narrow hillside paths.



[h2]A new entry in the WW1 Game Series[/h2]
Isonzo is the third game in the WW1 Game Series, following our Western Front game Verdun and Eastern Front game Tannenberg. Verdun is centered around trench warfare with the Frontlines game mode that sees players alternate between attack and defense as they try to capture trench lines, then defend those lines against counterattack. It illustrates the nature of fighting on the Western Front, where every meter was earned in blood and set-piece offensives were the order of the day. For last year's release - Tannenberg- we created the new Maneuver game mode to reflect the different realities of the Eastern Front – players fight to control sectors, and both teams can encircle and cut off enemy positions at any time. The fighting along the Russian border involved far greater distances than in France, and there was much more maneuver warfare (hence the name of the game mode). Verdun and Tannenberg are the perfect way to pass the time until the release of Isonzo!



[h2]Prepare to scale the mountain later this year…[/h2]
You can already wishlist Isonzo, and follow us for all the latest development news! The battle for the Italian Front starts later this year, and you don’t want to be unprepared for the extreme conditions of mountain warfare. We’ll reveal the precise release date closer to the time – and until then you can bet that we’ll be releasing more details about Isonzo! We can’t wait to share more about the gameplay, the battlefields you’ll be fighting over, new mechanics and much more.

Until then, enjoy the stunning views!

After fighting on the Western Front of World War 1 in Verdun then the Eastern Front in Tannenberg, the first-person shooter series will continue on the Italian Front in Isonzo later this year. Blackmill Games and M2H today announced their latest game will rumble across the mountains, valleys, and towns of northern Italy. Watching the announcement trailer, oof yeah I don't think the lovely weather makes up for the hellish battlefield terrain.

Read more

[h2]Battle awaits in the Alps[/h2]
We’re happy to announce that a new WW1 game is on the way! Isonzo, set on the Italian Front, will be released later this year! Our latest FPS is inspired by the two year long battle for control of the Isonzo river valley and the Alps during World War One. Prepare for high-altitude mountain warfare and historical offensives as we bring the Great War on the Italian Front to you!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Elevating the WW1 Game Series[/h3]
In Isonzo you’ll be tasked with assaulting mountaintop fortifications, crossing rivers, and battling through ruined towns. The new Offensive game mode puts you in the middle of major historical battles on the Italian Front – lead the charge or prepare your defenses on dynamic battlefields. Fight for the iconic Salcano bridge, storm the outskirts of Gorizia and fight for the arid Carso plateau overlooking the Adriatic coast.

That’s right, in Isonzo you’ll have more power to shape the battlefield to your will. For instance, you’ve surely spotted the wire cutters in the trailer – these are one of many tools that will be available in the loadout system. Another new feature is rifle grenades – perfect for when you need more range than a thrown grenade, or more direct explosive firepower. And if that’s not enough… you’ll be able to operate your own artillery directly for the first time in the series thanks to the introduction of mortars. Work with your team to drop explosives directly on your enemies or knock out machine gun positions. React to the tactical situation with your weapon and gear choices – make sure to work with your team to cover all the bases!



[h3]Authenticity assured[/h3]
As with our previous games, we will ensure Isonzo is as historically accurate as possible for you to fully immerse yourself in the environment and circumstances of these unique battles during World War One. Through extensive research, field trips, and advice from knowledgeable historians we’ve made sure to bring the details of the scenery, uniforms, weapons and more to life.

It’s been fascinating for us to learn more about the expansive Italian arsenal that you’ll get your hands on in Isonzo, and we can’t wait to share more with you! The sharp eyed among you will likely already have spotted a number of the new weapons that will feature in Isonzo, including one of the new mortars that we mentioned earlier…

Isonzo builds on the rock solid and authentic base of the WW1 Game Series, taking the intensity of Verdun and combining it with the scale of Tannenberg. It breaks new ground in the Alps with completely new features, technical enhancements, dramatic scenery and visuals - plus a brand new historically driven game mode. Isonzo takes the series to the next level and immerses players like never before!



[h3]Be ready for battle![/h3]
We’re currently working hard on Isonzo and will have more exciting development details to release as we head towards release day, which is planned for later this year. Expect more reveals on a regular basis!

Be sure to wishlist Isonzo on Steam and follow us on our Steam hub if you don’t want to miss anything! Feel free to also follow us on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WW1GameSeries
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WW1GameSeries
Discord: https://discord.gg/URD8z3R4
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/WW1GameSeries/

Arrivederci, hope to see you all in Italy later this year!
- WW1 Game Series team