Headquarters: World War II News

Thank you for playing Headquarters: World War II! We are always looking for ways to improve your
gaming experience.

New content:
• Added Ardennes DLC German campaign
• Added Ardennes DLC USA campaign
• Added DLC units
o German units: Jagdpanzer IV, Panzerwerfer 42, Wirbelwind
o USA units: M36 Jackson, M24 Chaffee, 76 mm gun M5, M26 Pershing, T26Е1 Super
Pershing
o UK units: Comet, M24 Chaffee, Sherman Firefly Tulip, Centurion
• Added winter camouflage options for unit customization
• Added winter environment in the DLC campaigns. (Including new terrain types - Mud, Deep snow,
and Ice)

New feature:
• Mortar infantry, towed artillery, and self-propelled artillery units have gained a new active ability,
and now have a new button on Action’s panel - “Smoke Shell”. So, now you can deploy Smoke
screen not only via HQ skill, but also with Artillery and Mortar units. (Artillery covers a 3x3 area
and has 5 turns cooldown, while Mortars cover a 1x1 area and have 3 turns cooldown).

Fixes:
• Fixed a crash that could happen during the Dive bomber attack.
• Fixed the DLC units' availability in Multiplayer games. Before, the availability of DLC units was
determined by the player creating the multiplayer game - if the player had DLC - all players in that
game would have DLC units, including the game creator if he later switched off the DLC. Now, the
DLC units availability depends on every player individually and DLC units can be switched on/off
in the middle of a multiplayer game - if they are switched off (DLC disabled on Steam, for
example), then the player keeps existing units, but cannot acquire new DLC unis until the DLC is
enabled again.
• Fixed a multiplayer crash that could happen at the end of a match against AI.
• Fixed a UI issue - unit information would remain displayed after the unit had been deselected.
• Fixed the crew size of Sd.Kfz. 251/2. It was 4, instead of 3. Now it is 3, the same as all similar
APCs.
• Fixed bug that led to bunkers bonuses to Cover and Defence deteriorating if they have been
shelled extensively. It worked similarly to buildings deterioration, despite no visual indications.
Now, they provide the same defensive bonuses regardless of the damage they sustain.

Balance changes:
• Reduced the AP Attack for APCs with machine guns from 15 to 4, Now, it is the same as the
Machine gun infantry unit in terms of AP Attack, but has less HE Attack. (As the Infantry unit has 2
MGs and can better position and aim those.
• The move points cost of moving through a Sand terrain has been changed. For Wheeled units
increased from 1 to 2, and for Off-Road units increased from 1 to 1.5.
• The Flamethrower unit’s HE attack was increased from 80 to 90.
• The Panzer III(Fl) - German flamethrower tank - now has a longer Attack range (Increased from 3
to 4).
• Big changes in unit costs for most units. The general idea was to bring down the cost of most
vehicles and tanks while keeping high costs for artillery and mortar units. The goal is to allow
more active usage of tanks and other vehicles in multiplayer and skirmish games while making
artillery and mortar units more expensive and less cost-efficient.

The cost was reduced for the following unit classes:
o Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) - a 33% decrease
o Armored Car - a 50% decrease
o Assault Gun - a 60% decrease
o Flamethrower Infantry - a 25% decrease
o Light Tank - a 50% decrease
o Medium Tank - a 50% decrease
o Heavy Tank - a 50% decrease
o Machine Gun Infantry - a 20% decrease
o Anti-tank Infantry - a 20% decrease
o Self-Propelled Anti-Air - a 50% decrease
o Self-Propelled Anti-Tank - a 60% decrease

The cost was increased for the following unit classes:
o Mortar Infantry - more than 20% increase*
o Towed Artillery - more than 15% increase*
o Self-Propelled Artillery - slight increase*
*part of the cost increase is attributed to these units now having a new ability - Smoke Shell

The battle continues and it's time to return to the battlefield of Headquarters: World War II with our second DLC, Ardennes, bringing new campaigns, units, and challenges set in the legendary Battle of the Bulge.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
This DLC includes:

• Two story-driven campaigns – Play as both the US and German forces across 16 intense missions
  
• New units and tactics – 12 additional models, including the M26 Pershing, Jagdpanzer IV, and Sherman Firefly Tulip
  
• Expanded strategic depth – New weather and terrain effects, winter camouflage, and unique historical heroes
  
• Iconic battles – Relive key moments like the Siege of Bastogne, the St. Vith Assault, and the Push for Celles
  

Don’t miss out the opportunity to grab your copy with a discount launch here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3295310/Headquarters_World_War_II__Ardennes/

Check the bundle:

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/39686/Headquarters_WWII_Complete/

With the Normandy landings and Operation Market Garden behind you, it’s time to face one of the toughest winter offensives of World War II.

[h2]To celebrate the release join our two tournaments[/h2]

To celebrate the release of Ardennes DLC, we are excited to announce two new tournaments for Headquarters: World War II, one classic league tournament and one KO tournament.

Spring Offensive - League tournament
Do not miss the chance to sign-up to the Autumn Offensive Tournament which will feature 3 multiplayer maps:

1. Three Hills
   
2. Military Base
   
3. Marshland Clash
   

You can sign-up here.

The tournament follows Swiss Tournament rules: you can find the full list of rules here.
The first round will commence on Monday, 3rd March 2025. No further entries can be accepted after the tournament has begun.

The tournament will last 3 rounds, 20 days each. Games are paired, so each matchup will be played both ways. All you need to do is sign up, then the system will pair you with opponents and create your PBEM games. You will be notified by mail of when the tournament is starting and when it will be time to play your turns.

Spring Knock out challenge - KO tournament
Do not miss the chance to sign-up to the Knock out challenge Tournament which will feature 5 multiplayer maps:
Countryside - GER/US - 2500/25
Royal Chateau - UK/US - 2500/255
Riverside Battle - US/GER - 2500/25
Military Base - UK/GER - 2500/25

You can sign-up here.

The first round will commence on Monday, 3rd March 2025. No further entries can be accepted after the tournament has begun.

The tournament will last 4 rounds, 15 days each. Winners of each round will move to the next round, losers will not.

Hello, Commanders!


This year is packed with new updates, DLCs, and features that we think you’ll love. Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming up throughout the year:



Early 2025
We’ve kicked things off with a free update that focuses on improving the AI. This update addresses the AI’s behavior in Skirmish, particularly its unit purchase algorithm. It's the first step in a series of AI improvements that will be rolled out throughout the year.

Alongside these AI changes, we’ll be making important balance adjustments. Expect tweaks to unit costs and other parameters to refine the overall gameplay experience.

Additionally, we’re bringing out in 1 week our first major paid content of the year with the Ardennes DLC. This DLC will let you relive the dramatic moments of the Battle of the Bulge, but with a twist – you’ll get to play both sides of the conflict. It’s a narrative-driven experience that shifts perspectives, giving you a deeper look at this pivotal moment in history.


Spring
As we approach spring, we’ll be gearing up to celebrate Headquarters: World War II’s upcoming 1-Year Anniversary. It’s hard to believe the launch is almost a year behind us, and we’ve got some exciting surprises in store to mark the occasion.

We’ll also be rolling out another free update that builds on the previous AI improvements, adding further refinements and bug fixes to ensure smoother gameplay.


Summer
In the summer, we’ll be releasing a smaller, wallet-friendly DLC. While it won’t be as large as Market Garden or Ardennes, it will offer fresh content that is sure to be an exciting addition for players looking for something new.

Alongside this, we’ll also release another free update focused on gameplay and balance changes, ensuring everything continues to run smoothly and providing more fine-tuned adjustments based on your feedback.


Winter
To wrap up the year, we’ve got something huge planned: Steam Workshop support. This highly anticipated feature will allow you to share and download community-created maps for both Skirmish and Multiplayer modes. It’s going to open up a whole new world of content and creativity, and we’re excited to see what you all come up with.


Additionally, we’ll be releasing a final free update for the year, which will include the latest round of AI improvements and other fixes to wrap up 2025 on a high note.


We’re looking forward to an incredible year ahead with all of you. From AI updates to new DLC and community features, we’re committed to making Headquarters: World War II even better in 2025.


Thanks for your continued support, and we can’t wait to see you on the battlefield!

Hello!
It is Oleksandr from Starni Games with the final Dev log entry dedicated to the upcoming Ardennes DLC. In the previous Dev log, we talked about the German campaign. Today, we will examine the USA campaign to see what it has in store for you when the Ardennes DLC comes out on the 18th of February 2025.

[h3]USA CAMPAIGN[/h3]
While the German campaign that covers the first few weeks of the Ardennes Offensive, also known as, the Battle of the Bulge, starts on December 16th, 1944, the USA campaign starts a few days later and covers events happening on another section of the frontline. Here, the US forces are counterattacking the advancing German army with the strategic task of relieving the troops that hold out in the encircled town of Bastogne, and ultimately pushing the German troops back. Unlike the German campaign, here all 8 missions have a snow-covered terrain. Below, you can find the list of operations and weather conditions in them:

1. Reconnaissance at Martelange | Snowfall
2. Breakthrough at Burnon | Snow + night
3. Battle for Chaumont | Snow
4. Battle for Bigonville | Snowfall
5. Push for Bastogne | Snow
6. Battle of Sibret | Snowfall
7. Mageret Assault | Snowfall
8. Wardin Counterattack | Snowfall + night


The campaign was built around the Siege of Bastogne, where the US troops operated in full encirclement. They put up a strong resistance to the German troops, but they would not have been able to resist for long without supplies. Here is where our forces come in. Our goal for the first four missions is to pave the way through territories freshly captured by the German army and reach Bastogne.


You will have to perform swift day and night operations to move forward at maximum speed, passing Martelange, Burnon, and Chaumont and reaching as far as Bigonville. The Germans, though, would not sit idly by. They would do everything in their power to stop your forces and keep Bastogne encircled.


As you approach Bastogne, you will have to help the first supplies column to break through the German lines and finally reach the exhausted yet valiant garrison of the town.


Finally, you have reached your initial goal and ensured that Bastogne now has a steady inflow of supplies, raising the spirits and combat readiness of the local forces.


Now, your next goal is to help defend Bastogne and push the German forces concentrated around the town further and further away from it. The first decisive action you will take is at Sibret, where you must defeat a strong German force and recapture a nearby town and villages.


Your final battle of the campaign happens at Wardin, where you have to defeat a powerful enemy force and fight your fiercest battle so far. The final face-off will make it clear who is in charge in and around Bastogne and will crush any remaining German hopes of keeping the area under control.


To sum up, 8 new challenging battles await you with new units, winter environment assets, characters, heroes, awards, and unique combat situations. We really hope that you will be excited to explore the Ardennes and relive the momentous events. Meanwhile, we keep working to improve the game and provide new challenges for your tactical skills.

P.S. The Ardennes DLC will be out on 18th February, together with a free update for all Headquarters: World War II players with big changes to units’ costs and some other balance changes aimed at making the multiplayer games more exciting by allowing you to use more armored units - as they become much cheaper and less risky to use.
We are always looking forward to your feedback and suggestions!

See you next time!

WISHLIST NOW:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3295310/Headquarters_World_War_II__Ardennes/