Age of Defense News

[p][/p][p]Hello everyone![/p][p]We are happy to finally make an official announcement of Heads Will Roll: Reforged's fourth DLC — Sins of the Floating City. It is scheduled to be released on September 4th 10am PDT and will continue to expand the world and story of HWR. This time with two new massive story branches that will be taking place in Italy during Venice-Genoa wars. As always, the DLC will be accompanied by a major patch containing new items, gameplay mechanics, updated balancing and lots of technical iprovements.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]What awaits you in the DLC:
[/h2][p]*No step too far, no measure too desperate
Become the right hand man of the Venetian Doge and plunge headlong into the maelstrom of European politics to help Venice survive the onslaught of an alliance of its many rivals. Enlist the help of allies and defeat your enemies on the battlefield or, through cunning intrigues and sophisticated machinations, set them against each other in order to reap the fruits of their discord. Deception, betrayal, bribery and political assassinations - achieve your goal by any means available and dare to take the most desperate steps for the sake of the greatness of Venice.[/p][p]*A descent into darkness
Enter the service of an influential Italian noble house, surrounded by enviers and grudge-bearers, and take on the role of a bodyguard who will protect its members from the dangers that lurk everywhere and the traps set by their enemies. Descend into darkness as you make your way through the Venice's underworld that will confront you with powerful secret societies, mysticism, blood feuds and the many vices and sins of human nature.[/p][p][/p][p]*More than a dozen new characters
From members of various Italian noble houses and famous condottierros to the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire himself.[/p][p]*Europe-spanning adventure
Visit Italy, France, Holy Roman Empire and the Outremer all within one continuous campaign.[/p][p]*2 new romantic interests
Each with their own unique story and character.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As always together with the DLC we will be releasing a big gameplay update that will, among other things, include:[/p][p]• new mechanics, items, weapons and civic talents;[/p][p]• improved survival mode;[/p][p]• a lot of bugfixes and several performance improvements;[/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Hello there,

The soundtrack of Age of Defense is a masterpiece, crafted by four talented composers. Each world features its own unique musical style, and several tracks include stunning vocals that bring the game’s atmosphere to life.

This incredible soundtrack deserves to be heard by more people! To celebrate it, we’ve created a special video featuring all the tracks and uploaded it to YouTube.

Let this video stand as a lasting tribute to the game’s legacy.

[h3]Enjoy listeting![/h3]

[p]

Hello there,

Thank you for staying with us for over 12 years. We have finished the work on Age of Defense this year, and during last 3 years, we've been hard at work on our new game — a sequel to our very first title — Guards II.

And today, we're excited to finally release it!
If you enjoy turn-based tactics games, you're going to love Guards II.
Play it now!

[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]

[h2]About the game[/h2]
Guards II is a tactical turn-based strategy game with seemingly simple rules but deep and thoughtful mechanics. To attack, you only need to swap two heroes — but don’t be fooled, as the devil is in the details: every decision can determine the outcome of the battle.

You’ve made a deal with a demon and now venture into the very heart of Hell. Traverse five otherworldly realms filled with terrifying creatures. Eight heroes, each with their unique abilities, will help you break through countless hordes and establish order in a world of chaos.



[h2]What Awaits You in Guards II: Chaos in Hell?[/h2]

• An original turn-based combat system — think ahead and exploit enemy weaknesses.
  
• Eight unique heroes — upgrade their abilities and create the perfect squad.
  
• A flexible skill system — combine upgrades and adapt to changing conditions.
  
• Five realms of Hell — each with its own horrors and deadly creatures.
  
• 80 thrilling levels — from simple skirmishes to true challenges.
  
• Hell Mode — 80 more levels of nightmare with new enemies and increased difficulty.
  

[h2]Simple Rules, Deep Strategy[/h2]
You control a squad of four heroes, each with their own characteristics:

• Attack Type — Physical, Fire, Magic, or Deadly.
  
• Resistance — each hero has a defense against a specific type of damage and a weakness to others.
  
• Attack Methods — normal strikes, powerful super abilities, and two stances.
  

Each turn requires just one action — swap two heroes. But behind this simple mechanic lies complex tactical depth:

• Hero Rearrangement — three heroes on the front line attack while the fourth in the back recovers health.
  
• Ultimate Abilities — when a hero comes from the back line, they unleash a powerful ability to crush the enemy.
  
• Tactical Combinations — select your squad and alternate attacks to exploit enemy weaknesses.
  

Each hero wields two combat stances, changing their playstyle. For example:

• Wizard — in his normal form, uses magic orbs for attacks, and his super ability enhances his power.
  
• Fire Wizard — when switched, can attack any enemy with fire, and his super ability summons three meteors to incinerate foes on every line!
  

Utilize different stances, combine abilities, and choose the right tactics to achieve victory over the forces of darkness.

[h2]Learn More[/h2]
Guards II is packed with cool ideas and exciting features.
Read more on the store page or check out some gameplay videos.
And if you enjoyed our previous game, just go ahead and grab it — I’m confident you’ll love this one too!

Greetings, mercenaries!

We’re excited to announce that the free demo of our dark tactical RPG Blades for Hire is available now on Steam — a game where loyalty has a price, and that price is gold.

And starting tomorrow, Blades for Hire will join the Steam Next Fest: June 2025 Edition festival — stay tuned for updates, livestreams, and exclusive content on our Steam page!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3180010/Blades_For_Hire_Demo/

Blades for Hire is a tactical RPG that doesn’t care about your morals.
In a world no longer worth saving, you command a guild of mercenaries just trying to make a profit from what’s left. And today, you get a first look — the free demo is available to everyone.



[h3]You're not the hero. You're the boss.[/h3]
You don’t play a chosen one. You manage a struggling mercenary guild in a rotting fantasy world. Your crew? A mix of renegades, idealists, thieves, and cynics who follow you not out of loyalty — but because you pay them. On time. Or else.

[h3]No grand quest. Just dirty work.[/h3]
There’s no prophecy or world-saving arc. Instead, you’ll face contracts filled with extortion, blackmail, massacres, and ruthless decisions. Your actions shape your reputation and unlock (or block) new opportunities. The Church may despise you — but the criminal underworld might welcome you with open arms.

[h3]What to expect in the demo:[/h3]
• First missions and early in-game choices
• Tactical combat with indirect control
• Guild economy and basic management
• A glimpse into the world and its brutal rules



[h3]What to expect in the full version:[/h3]
— 150+ contracts and missions:
From escorts and ambushes to betrayal, extortion, and moral gray areas.
— Tactical combat with indirect control:
Set strategies and priorities — your mercs act on their own (and not always how you’d like).
— Deep mercenary relationship system:
Every character is unique, with values, limits, and personalities. Bonds impact efficiency, loyalty, and story outcomes.
— Guild economy system:
Salaries, equipment, hiring and firing, bribes, donations — everything has a cost.
— Choices that shape the world and your reputation:
Your actions affect which factions you can work with — the Church, criminals, nobles, or outcasts. Your path determines your contracts.
— No good or evil. Just consequences:
This is not a game of “right” decisions — it's about what's necessary, what's profitable, or just the least awful option.
— High replayability:
Every run is different thanks to branching paths, dynamic events, and your crew’s unpredictable nature.

[h2]Wishlist, follow, and remember — there are no heroes here. Just contracts, cold steel, and the price you’re willing to pay.[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3180000/Blades_For_Hire/

[h2]Got questions?[/h2]
Join our Discord server to ask the developers directly and share feedback with the community.

We’re happy to announce that Age of Defense is taking part in Games From Russia 2025 — the largest online festival of Russian-speaking video games, happening on Steam from May 1 to May 9!

This unique event is the first and biggest online showcase dedicated to games created in Russia, the CIS, and by Russian-speaking developers worldwide. Expect game trailers, gameplay showcases, special offers, and plenty of exciting content from talented studios across the region and beyond.

Age of Defense is a strategy game where the fate of your tribe depends on the strength of your defenses. We’re proud to represent our project at a festival that highlights the best of Russian-speaking gamedev.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/603320/Age_of_Defense/

Defend your tribe — and support local games!
➡ May 1–9 — only on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/43785639/view/4490745531935490552