Steel Division 2 News

Hello there! In today’s post, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the four new divisions which will launch with the first History Pack, the Death on the Vistula DLC, on October 17th.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

On the Axis side, let’s welcome to the stage the veteran foreign volunteers of the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking” and the experienced Luftwaffe soldiers of the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”.



On the Allied side, we have the brave fighting Poles of the Armia Krajowa, the clandestine military army in occupied Poland, as well as the Soviet-controlled 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division.



The two Axis and two Allied divisions are unlike anything you’ve seen in Steel Division 2 so far, bringing over 200 new units to the battlefield.


The 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking”
A powerful armored formation, the 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking” was one of the first major reinforcements to arrive on the Polish front. It lacks the state-of-the-art tanks (Tiger E’s and Panther G’s) from its Heer counterpart, the 5. Panzer, but makes up this disadvantage by the large amount of infantry and a substantial number of medium tanks at the player’s disposal, including StuG IV’s and Beute T-34/85’s.



An interesting new unit available to the “Wiking” is the Bergepanther, which can be deployed on the battlefield as a heavy prime mover. The division also features one of the newest variants of the Fw 190 fighter: the capable, long-nosed Fw 190 D-9.



The 5. SS-Panzerdivision “Wiking” allows you to create a very resilient battlegroup, with enough offensive power to lead on the attack, while being equally effective in defensive situations.

Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring”
As a military formation, the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring” occupied a rather unusual place, being an armored paratroop division of the aerial warfare branch, the Luftwaffe. This elite division fought well on various fronts before being ordered with haste to reestablish a coherent frontline around Warsaw. Once in Poland, the “Hermann Göring” took control of various subordinate formations and troops already present. This is represented in Steel Division 2 by the division’s ability to deploy some rather special units.



For instance, while lacking newer tanks, the “Hermann Göring” fields not only a large number of armored personnel carriers compared to a regular German division, but also features a sizable number of anti-aircraft guns, either stationary or self-propelled. Some more peculiar vehicles available in this division are the prototype Sturmtiger, the 600mm off-map artillery, and the Walküre.



Any battlegroup made with the Fallschirm-Panzerdivision “Hermann Göring” benefits from the variety and flexibility of the support, artillery and AA units on offer. This makes it an adaptable division in both offensive and defensive situations.

Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa, also known as the Home Army, was the underground military branch of the Polish government-in-exile that, after many years of hit-and-run attacks, sprung fully into action during the Warsaw Uprising. In Steel Division 2, the Armia Krajowa is an unconventional division, fielding a broad array of weapons including a handful of captured German tanks. You will have access to Panzer IV’s, Hetzer’s, Panthers, and even Tiger heavy tanks, but as an infantry-centric force, the Armia Krajowa is best used in close combat situations.



It excels in these types of up-close-and-personal battles, even against armored opponents, and is very reliable when used on the defense. It fares less well on the attack, and a battlegroup formed from the Armia Krajowa division depends on friendly support to accomplish an offensive mission.

1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Division
The second Polish fighting force including in the Death on the Vistula DLC is the 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division. This Soviet-controlled formation was formed from Polish exiles, POWs and civilians from liberated territories. Being part of the Red Army, it was kept in reserve until combat moved to Poland and the liberation of Warsaw seemed imminent.



Modeled after a typical Soviet rifle division means that the 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division is able to field a lot of infantry and is well supported by tanks and armored reconnaissance troops. The Polish soldiers of this formation were known to use scavenged German weapons, so plenty of MG-42 machine guns and Panzerfäuste can be found within its ranks.

The 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” provides a strong backbone to any battlegroup, thanks to the various powerful units the division can deploy, and allowing it to hold its own in any combat situation.

What’s next?
The launch of the Death on the Vistula DLC is just around the corner, releasing on October 17th. With the four new divisions, you’ll be able to get your hands on 200+ new units, experience new Historical Battles and one massive new Army General Campaign, use new Aces, and play with much more exciting Steel Division 2 good stuff.

Alongside the DLC, we’ll also be launching the free Reinforcement Packs to everyone who owns Steel Division 2, and which will come with a host of improvements and new features, including Smart Orders, three new maps, tutorials, and more!

Until then, don’t forget to check out our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

Welcome back! Today we will be diving deep into an exciting new Steel Division 2 feature the Eugen team has been working on during the summer: Smart Orders.

Smart Orders will be made available to all players and launch alongside the upcoming Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

Smart Orders is a new tactical player tool in Steel Division 2 which offloads certain aspects of unit micromanagement to the computer. It means that you can select a group of units, give them a Smart Order, and watch as the AI takes over and, while taking into account various tactical elements, execute the order. A neat new feature, no?

Of course, there is a whole lot more to it. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at what Smart Orders are, and how they can help you command your troops more efficiently on the battlefield.

How does it work?
Smart Orders come as a new information panel in the tactical interface, above the standard unit controls. They are essentially automated commands you can give to a group of units, such as “take this hill” or “defend this position”, which they will then try to follow on their own initiative. Smart Orders can be used (or not) in perfect harmony with the more detailed and precise unit controls already available in Steel Division 2.



It is an excellent way to have the computer take control over a part of the battlefield, such as a flank or providing counter-battery fire, while you are concentrating on more important sectors of the frontline.

You pick the units, give them a Smart Order, and let the AI do the rest. The computer will carry out the command, stringing together various tactical considerations into one overarching automated order that is continuously updated until the objective is reached. For instance, the AI will take into account the group’s composition and number of units, the surrounding terrain, the cover available, if there are roads which can be used for fast movement, visible enemy units, their relative strength, and more. You can check which orders a unit is following by selecting them and holding Shift.



The units under a Smart Order will be highlighted in a different color. If you want, at any moment, you can take back control of a unit under a Smart Order by giving it another order.

Different types of Smart Orders
We were not happy with designing just a general offensive or defensive order; we wanted to make sure to reflect the realities of Steel Division 2 combat in the best possible way. This means you can give different types of automated orders to your units, which they will try to follow on their own initiative.

Which Smart Orders can you give?

• SEIZE: Give the “Seize” order to a selected group of units and they will automatically try to capture the targeted location, engaging any enemy near their objective. Having dealt with their threats, the selected units will automatically switch to the “Hold Position” stance.
  
• HOLD POSITION: Give the “Hold Position” order to a selected group of units and they will defend their current position to the best of their abilities, using the surrounding environment and available cover. They will relocate depending on the tactical situation, for instance, move around to face an enemy flanking attack.
  
• FIRE AT WILL: The “Fire at Will” order gives a selected group of units the freedom to target and engage any spotted enemy within their range of fire.
  
• COUNTER BATTERY: Give the “Counter Battery” to a selected group of artillery units, and on their own initiative will fire at enemy artillery pieces - but strictly in a counter-battery role. This means that your artillery units, mortars and howitzers will only target known or detected enemy artillery positions. No more idle time for your howitzers and mortar crews!
  
• DEFENSIVE FIRE:The “Defensive Fire” is the second Smart Order focused on helping you manage your artillery forces better. This command gives your artillery the freedom to fire at any target spotted close to the designated position. A great way to support your offensive operations!
  

Why did we create Smart Orders?
When creating Smart Orders we wanted to make sure that the new mechanic would appeal to all our players, from first-timers to experienced veterans.

It might look like a simple addition on the surface, but we made sure that everyone would enjoy it in their own particular way. Smart Orders fit into our game design ethos of Steel Division 2: you can either keep a strategic bird's-eye view of the battlefield or zoom in all the way to watch your tanks and soldiers do the fighting up close.



Smart Orders work in the same way. As a veteran, you can safely ignore issuing any Smart Orders if you are comfortable in micromanaging your units against the toughest of opponents. If you feel that a tactical battle goes too fast, however, you can subordinate certain sectors of the front to the computer. For new players getting into Steel Division 2, Smart Orders is a great management tool, giving them more control over their units on a battlefield that at times might feel too chaotic.

What’s coming next?
We are always very curious to hear what you, our players, think of our plans. As we talked about in our previous post, Smart Orders are just one of the many new features that will be coming to Steel Division 2 in the near future.



We have mod tools coming, new tutorials, the first Historical DLC bringing new divisions, new units, new maps, new Historical Battles and a new Army General Campaign, and much more. Hang on, as we will be ramping up the frequency of our blog posts, revealing all the good stuff in the lead up to the launch of the Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October.

Keep an eye on our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).

Leave your comments, suggestions, feedback! We’d love to hear what you think.

See you on the battlefield!

Hello everyone,

We are glad to announce the first History Pack DLC for Steel Division 2: Death on the Vistula! Available on Thursday, October 17th, and part of the Steel Division 2 - History Pass, this first paid DLC will be packed with awesome content!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/

And that’s not all: at the same time, free content will be released for every owner of Steel Division 2!



Let’s have a look at what Death on the Vistula DLC will bring!

The last massive tank battle in the East
Poland, July 28th, 1944. The Operation Bagration offensive closes in on its ultimate goal. Having destroyed Army Group Center, the 1st Belorussian Front races ahead to prevent the Germans from reforming a strong defensive line, overconfident in its own abilities. Stalin aims to capture Warsaw and install a pro-Soviet government.



With their sights set on the grand prize, the Polish capital city, as well as a bridgehead the Vistula river, the Soviets fail to notice that they are heading straight into a trap. The Germans, having received reinforcements from five elite Panzerdivisions, are converging on the Red Army vanguard from three directions.



This new Army General campaign pits the crack IV. SS-Panzerkorps (Totenkopf and Wiking Panzerdivisions) against the three tank corps-strong Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army. Various elements from other armored or mechanized divisions will also be available, including 4. Panzerdivision, 19. Panzerdivision, Hermann Göring Panzerdivision, 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, 11th Tank Corps, and more...

Massive content
The Death on the Vistula DLC will feature tons of awesome exclusive content:

• 1 Huge Army General Campaign: Vistula
  
• 4 New Divisions:
  • 5. SS-Panzerdivision "Wiking"
    
  • Fallschirm-Panzerdivision "Hermann Göring"
    
  • Armia Krajowa
    
  • 1st Polish “Tadeusza Kościuszki” Infantry Division
    
• 200+ new units
  
• 4 new Historical Battles :
  • River of Blood
    
  • Fighting Retreat
    
  • Escape from Brest
    
  • Memento Mori
    
• 2 Exclusive Aces :
  • Karl Nicolussi-Leck and his Panther A
    
  • The “Chwat” Jagdpanzer 38(t)
    

Of course, we will reveal all the juicy details of this gorgeous amount of new content in the upcoming Dev Diaries!


New features and more maps for everybody
We are proud to announce that a new feature will be added to the game: the Smart Orders. Introduced in our latest blog entry, these new tactical commanding tools will greatly reduce the required amount of micromanagement. It does so by letting the AI manage the execution of orders given to selected group of units. We can’t wait to tell you more about the Smart Orders, which we will do in detail in a dedicated Dev Diary that will be published later this week.



Moreover, releasing on the same day as the Death on the Vistula DLC, three new tactical maps will be available as free Reinforcement Pack DLCs for everyone who owns Steel Division 2:

• Brest, west
  
• Zbuczyn
  
• Gora Kalwaria
  

These brand-new battlefields offer new tactical possibilities for skirmish players in any game mode, including solo, coop and multiplayer!



Last but not least, a major update with a host of improvements and adjustments, as well as tutorials for Army General will be released alongside the Death on the Vistula DLC on October 17th!

Stay tuned
Keep an eye on the Steel Division 2 Steam page and on our social channels in the near future, we have a lot to tell you about this exciting new content that is coming in hot!

See you!

Hello everyone,

It’s been a while! Since the release of Steel Division 2 on June 20th, we have been hard at work on some awesome new content (including the Free Reinforcement Pack #1), balancing the game, as well as tracking and fixing the last remaining bugs and glitches. We know you are anxious to know what’s in store next for Steel Division 2.

We have developed Steel Division 2 with a long-term philosophy in mind. As such, we are dedicated to support our game, not only with exciting new content, but also by adding new features set to improve the overall quality, making it easier for new players to jump in and play, and at the same time bringing new challenges to our veteran commanders.

Let's take a look at what’s cooking in the kitchen.

Tired of micromanaging every single unit on the battlefield? Would you rather focus on the strategic view? Do you wish that you could command your tanks only and give global orders to all of your other units? That's where our new Smart Orders come into play.

The new Smart Orders panels (work in progress)

We have created Smart Orders with both new and veteran players in mind: on the one hand, the battlefield in Steel Division 2 can be chaotic, with many things happening at the same time. Smart Orders allows you to worry less about certain sectors, and focus on those critical pieces of the frontline where the action is happening. Experienced players can use Smart Orders to organize and control their forces even more efficiently.



Smart Orders come as an additional panel in the interface, and allow you to give commands to groups of units and let the AI automatically manage the execution of these orders. We are looking at different types of offensive and defensive orders (as well as some cool management orders for units focused on providing support to your combat troops). Smart Orders will be added to the game soon, and will be available in solo, multiplayer and coop in Skirmish mode, Historical Battles, as well as Army General's tactical battles.

We are working hard on the implementation of this new feature, so we hope to be able to provide you some more in-depth details soon!

The next update on our list concerns the Army General mode. We are revamping a host of elements within our Dynamic Strategic Campaigns, including adding various new visual touches. For instance, we are working on making the unit counters and maps more legible. We are also greatly improving the Autoresolve and Battle Preparation information panels, and we are going to add additional videos to the campaigns to make them more interesting.

The new Battle Plan panel (work in progress)

The Bobruisk campaign will also receive some special love and care, with the team making it more challenging and exciting to play thanks and overhaul and fine-tune of the AI. Be prepared for a real fight in closing the noose around Bobruisk, or getting your beleaguered Wehrmacht troops out in one piece!

Included in the Steel Division 2 - History Pass, the first History Pack is also on its way. We'll reveal all the content of this DLC soon, but we can already say that it will feature 4 new Divisions, 4 new Historical Battles, and a massive new Army General Campaign. Obviously, a bunch of new units, as well as new Aces, will be made available too.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/
As a reminder, the Steel Division 2 - History Pass will feature 3 History Pack DLCs which we are releasing during the 12 months following the game's release.

We have heard you! Tutorials for both Army General and Tactical Battles are on the way. These were initially planned to be part of Steel Division 2 at launch but took a bit longer to implement. In the meantime, we have temporarily integrated video tutorials made by our awesome community members VulcanHDGaming and Saucy Network (follow them, these guys seriously rock) and released the game manual to help you get started with the game.



Lastly, the long-awaited modding tools for Steel Division 2 will also be made available soon. We will allow you to express your infinite creativity with our game to your heart’s desire. Yes, this means you'll be able to add the Pink Panther D you've always dreamed of (as the WWII and Jacques Clouseau fan that you are).

But wait - there's even more! We are planning tons of free content in the coming weeks, including new Skirmish maps and new features. Stay tuned, and keep an eye out as more announcements are incoming!

As you can see, the future of Steel Division 2 is bright and plentiful. We can't wait to hear what you think. Looking forward to reading your reactions and feedback.

We strongly advise you to keep an eye on Steam and our social channels (Facebook and Twitter) and prepare for some awesomeness.

See you on the battlefield, commander!

Two Brand-New Divisions, new Units and 2 new Aces join the Eastern Front in the first Free DLC for Steel Division 2! Part of our 10 Free DLC program, this first pack also features a brand-new map and two new epic music tracks! Have fun!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1130850/Steel_Division_2__Reinforcement_Pack_1/


Build and customize brand-new battlegroups with two additional (and harsh enemies) divisions: the German 25. Panzergrenadier Division and the 84th Guards Rifle Division!


Fight intense battles in this new skimish map, playable in solo, coop and multiplayer! Featuring central natural water reservoirs, Siedlce offers a unique tactical challenge for the best commanders!




New Divisions means new deadly weapons to bring to the battle, including the gargantuous K532 220mm Heavy Field Gun and the KV-8 Heavy Flamethrower Tank!




Lead two of the deadliest warriors of the Eastern Front: Helmuth Harth from the 20. Panzerdivision with his Panzer IV H, and Nikolay Stepanovich Averin from the 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps and his SU-76M!