Headquarters: Cold War News

[p]Step into a new chapter of the Headquarters series and experience tactical warfare in a hypothetical Cold War conflict between NATO and the USSR in the early 1980s. Command modernized armies, deploy powerful new units, and fight across a wide range of battlefields set in West Germany.[/p][p][/p][h3]Choose Your Side[/h3][p][/p][p]The game features two campaigns, allowing you to experience the conflict from both perspectives.[/p]

• [p]NATO Campaign: Command NATO defenders as they hold the line, wait for reinforcements, and launch a counteroffensive to reclaim lost territory.[/p]

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• [p]USSR Campaign: Lead Soviet forces as they push westward across Germany in a large-scale offensive. [/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Each campaign contains 10 missions, for a total of 20 operations across diverse battlefields including cities, river crossings, mountain passes, and key strategic corridors.[/p][p][/p][h3]New Units, New Tactics[/h3][p][/p][p]Expanding tactical possibilities with new unit types and battlefield mechanics:[/p]

• [p]Modern main battle tanks[/p]
• [p]Utility and attack helicopters[/p]
• [p]Recon and support units[/p]
• [p]Advanced artillery and air support abilities[/p]

[p]Helicopters make their debut in the series, enabling rapid troop deployment, aerial strikes, and highly mobile battlefield tactics.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]Expanded Strategic Depth[/h3][p][/p][p]New systems:[/p]

• [p]Officer skill trees to customize battlefield abilities[/p]
• [p]New Headquarters skills including air strikes, MLRS support, and tactical nuclear options[/p]
• [p]Improved AI and rebalanced combat reflecting Cold War technology and doctrine[/p]
• [p]Destructible environments and terrain-based tactics[/p][p][/p]

[h3]Continue the Headquarters Series[/h3][p]Buy it now:[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]To celebrate this release, the entire Headquarters: War War II franchise is now on sale on a special price:[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]In today’s Dev log, we discuss the NATO campaign in Headquarters: Cold War and how it follows up on the USSR campaign we reviewed in the previous Dev log. I will not go into too much detail to allow you to experience the campaign without too many spoilers, but I will outline some key moments and historical background.[/p][p][/p][p]Allied forces ready to take on the Red threat[/p][p][/p][p]A new beginning[/p][p][/p][p]The NATO campaign starts right at the end of the events covered in the USSR campaign, several weeks after the active war broke out. By that time, the Red Army had achieved most of its operational objectives and occupied most of West Germany. However, it started to lose its pace, and its further advances slowed down greatly. This presents NATO forces, reinforced by additional troops, with an opportunity to finally stop the enemy advance and start pushing the enemy back towards Berlin, where it all started.[/p][p][/p][p]The battles are heavy, but the enemy has finally started to show the first signs of weakness[/p][p][/p][p]Protect the Ramstein Air Base[/p][p]
Your first order of the day is to stop the enemy advance by holding the defenses in and around the city of Mannheim. It is vital to stop the enemy there, as if they break through, they would come dangerously close to the Ramstein Air Base, which plays a key role in the logistics of NATO's entire war effort in West Germany. If you manage to stop the enemy advance, that will finally signify the perfect moment to start the long-awaited counterattack.[/p][p][/p][p]Hold the line![/p][p][/p][p]Retaking the Fulda Gap[/p][p][/p][p]After the initial success in the counteroffensive, the time has come to take the Fulda corridor back from the Soviets, allowing Allied troops to continue the counteroffensive. Taking control of the strategic paths is vital for the war effort and is a key element for ensuring the continued advance. The Reds will not spare any resources to prevent your troops from taking the city. So, it will be up to your tactical prowess to overcome their stubborn resistance. [/p][p][/p][p]USSR troops are putting up desperate resistance in the face of advancing NATO forces[/p][p][/p][p]Assault on the Nohra military base[/p][p][/p][p]Another key moment of the NATO campaign is the attack on the USSR military base near Nohra. Taking over the base and denying the Soviets control over it is critical for relieving the pressure on the southern front. It also allows the operation aimed at retaking the German capital Berlin.[/p][p][/p][p]NATO troops are about to get themselves a new base of operations[/p][p][/p][p]Battle for Berlin[/p][p]
It is quite symbolic that the USSR campaign starts in Berlin, while the NATO campaign ends in Berlin. It is the last push to restore the pre-war border and possibly even reunite Berlin under the West German banner. Will that be possible? It depends entirely on your tactical prowess and the well-trained troops you have accumulated under your command over the course of the entire campaign.[/p][p][/p][p]NATO forces are liberating Berlin[/p][p][/p][p]See you on March 19th![/p][p][/p][p]Headquarters: Cold War will release in just a few days - on March 19th. Our entire development team eagerly awaits the release and looks forward to your feedback. We hope that you will have a great time playing the game.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]
Tear down this wall![/p][p]
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[p]​In Headquarters: Cold War, the NATO campaign features the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. [/p][p][/p][p]Watch this video and become an expert at deploying this versatile helicopter on the battlefield:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Headquarters: Cold War is coming on March 19th:[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]In today’s Dev log, we will talk about the USSR campaign in Headquarters: Cold War and discuss its historical background, key features, and important battles. [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]I will not go into too much detail to allow you to experience the campaign without too many spoilers, but I will outline some key moments and historical background.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The Berlin Wall is not an obstacle in the USSR tank’s way[/p][p][/p][p]The historical background[/p][p][/p][p]The game’s events are set in 1984, where the storyline becomes an alternative history, and the Cold War turns into a full-scale war. It happened right at the very end of the Cold War era, when the tensions were still running high, just before Gorbachev came into power and started to gradually lower the hostility between the USSR and the Western countries. This timeframe makes sense historically, while also conveniently allowing us to use a wider array of units, which includes all models introduced by 1984. [/p][p]
A fragile peace is one Berlin Wall away from being shattered
[/p][p]The war plan
[/p][p]The invasion was planned as a relatively quick takeover of West Germany, followed by the negotiations, and the reluctance of the NATO countries to enter a nuclear war for the sake of West Germany. Thus, putting USSR in a stronger position diplomatically and allowing them to dictate its terms in Europe. The dev team was drawing inspiration from various military exercises of the time, including “Seven Days to the River Rhine”, as well as other sources - there are quite a lot of speculations as to how the Cold War might have gone really hot. [/p][p]
That is exactly the nukes that were supposed not to happen…[/p][p][/p][p]Starting with Berlin[/p][p][/p][p]As many of you know, during that time, Berlin was split between West and East Germany, separated by the Berlin Wall. So, the first order of the day for the USSR troops was to cross the border and capture the historical center of Berlin, including the ex-Reichstag building. Then, occupy the rest of the city.[/p][p][/p][p]USSR troops are taking the ex-Reichstag building once again[/p][p][/p][p]River crossing at Hann. Münden[/p][p][/p][p]One of the battles will take you to the town of Hann. Münden, where you will be tasked with crossing the river and taking control of the strategically important town. One of its iconic locations is a Tillyschanze Tower.[/p][p][/p][p]USSR troops locked in combat with NATO forces next to the Tillyschanze Tower[/p][p][/p][p]Battle for Cologne[/p][p][/p][p]One of the crucial targets for the Soviet invasion is undoubtedly Cologne. The large city is also a major industrial center. Its location near the western border also signifies the near completion of the USSR’s overall plan. However, NATO troops may yet have their say in how the war would end. Designing maps such as Cologne is always challenging for the game design and art teams, as the mission design and visual assets have to follow the real location, which has changed quite a lot over the last 40+ years… We are really looking forward to your reactions and feedback.[/p][p][/p][p]USSR troops on a sightseeing tour in Cologne[/p][p][/p][p]What’s next?[/p][p][/p][p]With the USSR forces taking lots of territory and a number of key cities in West Germany, NATO forces face a very challenging task of striking back and retaking the occupied regions. Will they succeed? Let us discuss that in the next Dev log.

Not everything went as planned. NATO forces finally staged a counter-offensive that we will discuss in the next Dev log[/p][p][/p][p]Out on March 19th [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]In today’s Dev log, we will scrutinize the NATO forces’ units available in Headquarters: Cold War and compare them with the Red Army line-up we looked at in the previous Dev log. So, let us see what the alliance has to offer as a deterrent to the red threat.  [/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]An alliance means the combination of different countries’ units[/p][p][/p][p]Unlike the Red Army, which was arguably more centralized and homogenous, NATO forces represent unit models from different NATO countries. While the bulk of the forces is comprised of the US units, there are a few notable representatives from other NATO nations planned. For the most part, that would be West German units, such as Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, Jaguar 1 tank destroyer, and the Light Artillery Rocket System (LARS). [/p][p][/p][p]NATO’s anti-aircraft defense[/p][p][/p][p]With the growing importance of AA units in Headquarters: Cold War, due to the introduction of helicopter units, let us look at what NATO has on the table. On top of the traditional systems, like Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 based on Bofors AA guns as a towed AA, and the M163 VADS as the self-propelled AA, we now also have the rocket-based units (SAMs), namely the Roland-2 system.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Whose Main Battle Tank is the best?[/p][p][/p][p]The Cold War period saw the unification of the light, medium, and heavy tanks into a single class named main battle tank, sparking an even fiercer competition between the tank builders on both sides of the Berlin Wall to prove they could find the best balance between weight, mobility, protection, and firepower. The USSR was developing a fairly successful line of tanks, initially started as T-54/T-55, and later developing into the T-64, T-72, and finally the T-80. Meanwhile, on the NATO side, there were different lines of development led by varying teams and aspirations. The Headquarters: Cold War features the M103 as the last remnant of the “heavy tanks” era, the M551 Sheridan as a light tank, and several key main battle tank models, such as Leopard 1A4, Leopard 2, M60A1, and M1 Abrams.[/p][p]
[/p][p]NATO infantry meeting the enemy invasion head-on[/p][p][/p][p]Both NATO and Red Army infantry units are evenly matched in terms of heavy weaponry and small arms. One could argue about the quality of the weapon system and personnel training, but the underlying techs are about equal. NATO’s elite troops are represented by the “Green Berets” - the United States Army Special Forces. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Artillery duels[/p][p][/p][p]On top of the conventional towed artillery pieces, represented by the FH70, NATO forces boast Light Artillery Rocket System (LARS) - the multiple launch rocket systems designed for providing concentrated rocket fire at the designated area. So, in terms of the artillery counter-battery fire, we have FH70 facing off against the D-30, LARS against the Grad system, and finally, the self-propelled M109A1 against the 2S3 Akatsiya. [/p][p]
[/p][p]NATO helicopters[/p][p][/p][p]We have already discussed the helicopter units in the first Dev log entry. However, I would like to mention them here as well, to present a fuller picture of what you could expect from the NATO units' composition. Helicopters act both as additional fire support and mobile transport. The rapid redeployment of infantry units could play a pivotal role in the outcome of any engagement. It is also worth mentioning that the Apache helicopter currently features the best offensive capabilities among the helicopter units on both sides, but lacks the ability to transport troops, compared to its USSR counterpart. (So, both USSR helicopters could transport troops, while NATO forces have one utility and one attack helicopter)[/p][p] [/p][p]NATO’s Trucks and APCs get their wheels rolling[/p][p] [/p][p]When it comes to transporting the infantry units and providing fire support, NATO forces have the following assets at their disposal: the MAN Category 1 4х4 truck, with the iconic workhorse М113A1, and a more heavily armed LAV-300, featuring a 90 mm gun. [/p][p][/p][p]Recon units maneuvering[/p][p][/p][p]Now, let us have a look at what NATO has to say in terms of providing mobile reconnaissance units. There are the following models at your disposal: the Ford M151A2 utility jeep, as a light vehicle, and the heavier M706 Cadillac Gage Commando, able to engage the enemy's lightly armored units.  [/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]What is a Raketenjagdpanzer?[/p][p][/p][p]The quick advancement in portable AT rocket launchers led to the creation of the Raketenjagdpanzers - the armored vehicle with rocket launchers on top - serving as a well-protected and mobile anti-tank unit. However, the missiles installed on the Raketenjagdpanzer 1 and 2 have become obsolete over the years, leading to the further upgrade of the Raketenjagdpanzer 2 into the Jaguar 1. [/p][p]Jaguar 1 has newer missile systems installed and improved armor. The result is virtually a rocket-firing tank, with a low silhouette, due to the absence of a turret. [/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]What’s next?[/p][p] [/p][p]Now you know what the NATO forces in West Germany had at their disposal while making themselves ready to defend against the Red Army’s imminent invasion. In the next Dev log entry, we will have a closer look at the hypothetical events leading to the Cold War turning into an active war, and the key ideas behind the campaign's design in Headquarters: Cold War. So, stay tuned![/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]See you next time![/p][p][/p][p]Wishlist Now:
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