The game is set in the Italian and North African theaters of World War II, and features new mechanics and modes. The story is dynamic, and the player's interactions with the game's various commanders can affect the narrative's ending. The game was officially announced in July 2021. The team chose the...
The game is set in the Italian and North African theaters of World War II, and features new mechanics and modes. The story is dynamic, and the player's interactions with the game's various commanders can affect the narrative's ending. The game was officially announced in July 2021. The team chose the Mediterranean theatre as the setting allowed the inclusion of a variety of environments, which is a feature frequently requested by players of older games. In addition, the team added that the Italian areas in the game offered "broader palette for environmental gameplay" and players can make use of verticality of the maps to plan their moves and attacks. At the beginning of development, the studio recruited modders and competitive players to form a player council. The council worked with Relic during preproduction to determine what the new entry should focus on mechanically and where the game should take place. A demo for the game was available for a limited time shortly after the announcement.