Sudden Strike 4 News

Finland – Winter Storm brings sub-zero conflict to Kalypso’s strategy heavyweight

Kalypso Media is excited to announce the release of the next chapter in its World War 2 strategy heavyweight Sudden Strike 4. Finland – Winter Storm releases today on Steam and other platforms, and is based on the events of the Russian advances on Finland during and after the Winter War, up until the Vyborg Offensive in 1944.

Offering two new mini-campaigns and six missions, the DLC faithfully recreates some of the war’s most important conflicts between the Finnish and Soviet forces. In the Soviet campaign, players will attempt to capture the village of Suomussalmi, protect the railway to Murmansk against a German-Finnish offensive and break through the Finnish defensive lines during the Vyborg Offensive. In the Finnish campaign, you must retake and hold the village of Suomussalmi while crushing Soviet reinforcements, seize back the Lähde sector and hold the final defense line in the Battle of Tali-Ihantala.

Alongside the new campaigns, Finland – Winter Storm also introduces three new doctrine commanders to choose from; artillery expert Vilho Petter Nenonen, tank general Ruben Lagus and renowned general Karl Lennart Oesch, all of which introduce new strategic options for tackling this latest set of challenges. You’ll also have 19 new vehicles to deploy, including new rescue vehicles, the Russian KV-1 and BT-7M, and the Finnish Stug III G and Flak 36.

Finland – Winter Storm is available now on PC via Steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/813390/Sudden_Strike_4__Finland_Winter_Storm/

To celebrate the release, Kalypso has prepared a new trailer showcasing the new DLC in all its glory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Gzs6cHoEk

Save game compatibility and Legacy branch

Commanders!
Since the release of Sudden Strike 4 last year, we’ve been working hard on free improvements and new features, and we’d like to confirm to all the fans that we will continue to do so with the version 1.09 update and beyond.

However, all these changes are not possible without also effecting the core of the game: the code. As such, when installing update 1.09, old save-games will no longer be compatible with update 1.09 and beyond. However, overall campaign progress will not be affected. The worst-case scenario is that you will only lose a part of one mission.

We apologise for this inconvenience, and we really have tried to avoid this requirement as best we can, but the changes to the game have been so substantial that we simply cannot circumvent the problem any longer, and in the long term we feel that the benefits will outweigh this.

However, we fully apprecate that some players may prefer to keep their save games, and for this reason we will be providing a workaround: the Legacy branch!

The Legacy branch will allow you to boot up an older version of the game to ensure that, whatever we add to the main game now and in the future, you can still access your old saved games. So to continue play on a save game from before the 1.09 update, you just have to use this new branch.

Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you continue enjoying Sudden Strike 4 as we work towards providing the best possible strategy experience.

How to access the Legacy branch
1. Go to your Steam library
2. Right-click Sudden Strike 4
3. Select "Properties"
4. Select the "Betas" section
5. Select "legacybranch(1.08)" from the drop-down menu
6. Steam should automatically start the download

To opt out from the Legacy branch, just repeat the steps above and select "NONE" in step 5.

• Added two new multiplayer maps based in Finland*:
  
  • Tali and Citadel.

• Detailed multiplayer result screen
  We added a new tab to the result screen in multiplayer and skirmish battles, where you can compare how you fared against your adversaries and teammates.
  
• Skirmish AI has been further enhanced in both game modes:
  
  • Extended use of abandoned vehicles. From now on the AI will make use of APC’s by towing artilleries to support the main force.
    
  • Better management of supply and repair vehicles. With this new feature, supply and repair units will follow the main force, and whenever a unit in the proximity requires their services, they proactively respond to these calls.
    
  • Transport vehicles will now be used to relocate towed armaments.

• Reworked the explosive equipment distribution, and improved the weapons on all halftrucks.
  
• Instead of Paratroopers, Snipers will now be deployed with TNT equipment.
  
• The HP of halftrucks have been increased and their mounted MGs have an increased rate of fire.

*More details to the newest Sudden Strike 4 DLC: Finland - Winter Storm can be found here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/813390/Sudden_Strike_4__Finland_Winter_Storm/

Commanders!
In this update, we’re bringing you a new Doctrine, new units and improvements for multiplayer and skirmish matches based on player feedback.

Roll out!

New Doctrine
The Armored Doctrine of Hermann Balck is now available for all players!
Utilizing unique German tank hunter units and a specialized skill set, this commander opens new tactical opportunities to defeat your opponents.

Hermann Balck – Armored Doctrine Coming from a family with a rich military tradition, Hermann Balck fought in both World Wars. By the end of the second, he was a General of Armored Troops, and his leadership on the Eastern Front earned him the rare Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. He was an expert in armored combat and tactics.



New Vehicles in Multiplayer
Destroy your enemies with the new Jagdpanther and Hetzer tank destroyers, and conduct fast blitzkrieg operations with the heavily-armored Panzer II Ausf. J light tank.

• You can now switch between team colours and player colours in multiplayer and skirmish matches.
  
• Improved feedback for capturing strategic locations in Domination mode.
  
• Added a safe planning period at the start of each battle.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/373930/Sudden_Strike_4/

Welcome to the 1.07 update of Sudden Strike 4!

Our second update of the year aims at improving AI behaviour and multiplayer experience. Let us show you all the work under the hood, Commander!




At the start of the mission, the crew of the strongest medium or heavy tank unit is promoted to elite status.



Skirmish AI has been enhanced in Domination mode:

- Adaptive unit purchase management. The AI's unit choice now better reflects its current standing and strategical needs.
- Extended use of air support against other human or AI opponents.
- Better use of transport vehicles which now engage in combat, if necessary.




Multiplayer connectivity has been improved to reduce latency and increase stability.




Minimum player count has been reduced to 1 vs 1.
Quick Matches start once another player joins the session.




Reworked functionality for the "Survive" and "Tough Guy" doctrine skills.

Welcome to the 1.07 update of Sudden Strike 4!

Our second update of the year aims at improving AI behaviour and multiplayer experience. Let us show you all the work under the hood, Commander!




At the start of the mission, the crew of the strongest medium or heavy tank unit is promoted to elite status.



Skirmish AI has been enhanced in Domination mode:

- Adaptive unit purchase management. The AI's unit choice now better reflects its current standing and strategical needs.
- Extended use of air support against other human or AI opponents.
- Better use of transport vehicles which now engage in combat, if necessary.




Multiplayer connectivity has been improved to reduce latency and increase stability.




Minimum player count has been reduced to 1 vs 1.
Quick Matches start once another player joins the session.




Reworked functionality for the "Survive" and "Tough Guy" doctrine skills.