[p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4193350/Panzer_Corps_2_Allied_Operations__Italy_Vol1/"] We’re excited to announce Panzer Corps 2 – Allied Operations: Italy Vol. 1, the first chapter of a new grand Allied trilogy covering the liberation of Italy from the invasion of Sicily to final victory.[/p][p]In Allied Operations: Italy Vol. 1, you will command the British Eighth Army and the US Seventh Army during Operation Husky, the massive amphibious assault that opened the road into Europe’s southern flank. Fight across Sicily’s rugged terrain, break through Axis defensive lines, and push both armies toward a converging offensive against the retreating German and Italian forces.[/p][p]This DLC features two parallel campaign paths that eventually merge into a unified Allied advance. Build and carry over your veteran core forces, use historical heroes, earn Commendation Points for unique rewards, and deploy new obstacles and fortifications such as hedgehogs, barbed wire, pillboxes, and machine-gun nests.[/p][p]Begin the Allied liberation of Italy and shape the opening phase of a campaign that will continue across the entire Italian front.[/p][p][/p]
PANZER CORPS DAY 2025 - TOURNAMENT RE-RUN
[p]We're excited to announce that the tournament scoring system has been fixed and sign-ups are now re-opened.
For the first time in Panzer Corps 2 history, you'll be competing for a coupon prize pool. Prizes will be distributed as follows and they have been slightly increased as a compensation for the issue and for your patience:[/p]
[p]1st: $70 coupon[/p]
[p]2nd: $60 coupon[/p]
[p]3rd: $50 coupon[/p]
[p]4th: $40 coupon[/p]
[p]5th to 7th: $30 coupon each[/p]
[p]8th to 10th: $20 coupon each[/p]
[p align="start"]The tournament will feature 4 brand-new scenarios with 15-days round length:[/p]
[p]Round 1: Bardia[/p]
[p]Round 2: Jarabub[/p]
[p]Round 3: Desert Arena[/p]
[p]Round 4: Benghazi
[p align="start"]PLEASE NOTE: You DO NOT need to own the Cyrenaica DLC to join and play the tournament.
Elite - 1st Guards | Out Now
[p][/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4093750/Panzer_Corps_2_Elite__1st_Guards/"]Panzer Corps 2: Elite - 1st Guards is out now for $4.99. This second Elite Campaign of the 1st Guards offers Panzer Corps 2’s first fully playable campaign for the Soviet Union, following their struggle against the German Wehrmacht during World War II.[/p][p]As an elite campaign, 1st Guards highlights Soviet Russia’s best fighting units and showcases their major contributions to the turning points of the war. From the pre-war years, when the first lessons of this new era of warfare were first being learned, to the decisive battles of Stalingrad and Kursk and finally the collapse of the Third Reich.[/p][p][/p]
Panzer Corps 2 joins Slitherine 25th Anniversary celebration
[p]This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Slitherine. To celebrate, we are pleased to announce the release of two free fictional scenarios:[/p]
[p]Epsom Rising[/p]
[p]Liberation of Milan[/p]
[p]The Epsom free scenario takes you to a completely fictional 1945, where the German invasion of Britain has dragged on for years, and they have enlisted help from their Vichy French allies for one more push on London.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/c1516738e012b683bf86717ce22560645dc3f319.jpg"][/p][p]This is one of our very special Slitherine anniversary scenarios, and you’ll get a chance to see some special heroes based on real Slitherine staff, and get a first look at several of the brand new Slitherine camos and Slitherine insignias we’re adding to the game.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/2e70a46fb1a8b1e9f9fd343e749e16c2c0cfbcc1.jpg"][/p][p]The Milan scenario is another one of our special Slitherine scenarios, this time a fictional battle based on the real events of the liberation of Milan in the Spring of 1945. This scenario features some more Slitherine staff from their Milan division and very dense urban battling. Watch your prestige here, the resources are very tight and every turn counts to freeing Milan from the grip of German troops and their Italian collaborators.[/p][p][/p][carousel][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/58b95d59c120823e501c4bc2e21727c7d8db7300.jpg"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/99aa31fcba3c25a99f7d309ad350e602ca6877a9.jpg"][/carousel][p][/p]
Keeping the tradition
[p]Lastly, as we traditionally do for the Winter holiday season, and to thank our players for being the beating heart of Panzer Corps for over 14 years, another free scenario has been added: Operation Wittgenstein.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/4884c85f05ba770b97d46a86614c384538a2f634.jpg"][/p][p]This scenario explores a different timeline from our own, in which the Allied powers decide to go ahead with Operation Unthinkable and launch a preemptive strike on the Soviet-occupied sector of Germany. Making rapid advances in the first week of the offensive, the Western Allies have managed to achieve total air superiority and nearly encircle the city of Dresden.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/6358161cafa834682501c58442558818bb2001e1.jpg"][/p][p]The outcome of the whole operation will be decided on the Elbe River. However, the Soviets have no intention of giving up their hard-fought conquests without a struggle. With reinforcements pouring in from other sectors, the Soviets prepare to launch a major counterattack. Take control of the Red Army, halt the Allied offensive, and unleash a red tide on the Western backstabbers.[/p][p] [/p]
Editor update
[p]As a very special improvement, we have something that has been on the agenda since launch dayone: We finally have updated the arsenal of thousands of unit previews in the editor from their ancient legacy Panzer Corps icons to brand new Panzer Corps 2 icons.[/p][p]While we honor the legacy of our original Panzer Corps art and graphics, as Panzer Corps 2 has continued to grow with new unit additions to the game, the editor has become less and less accurate, as new units have debuted such as the E-100, T-44, Bf-109Z, and many other such new units had no OG Panzer Corps equivalent.[/p][p]With this major update, the editor now better represents exactly what unit is being placed on the battlefield, a huge boon for both our official content designers as well as any enterprising modders out there making their own scenario content too.[/p][p][/p][carousel][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/331844e3f81edc9c32b7b1800c6fb5ff8bdd6191.png"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/ebfd161c3900bf4861f31ba534333274f900b624.png"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/213e9f5b6ed5dd3372c327150bc23fa6d4a3a937.png"][/carousel][p][/p]
Changelog v1.17.1
[p]Added 1st Guards DLC[/p]
[p]Added two free bonus Slitherine 25th Anniversary scenarios: Epsom Rising and Liberation of Milan[/p]
[p]Added one more free bonus scenario: Operation Wittgenstein[/p]
[p]Added new set of Editor unit icons derived from in-game unit models[/p]
[p]Fixed localizations in Ghost Division DLC[/p]
[p]Other minor fixes[/p]
[p][/p][p]We hope you appreciate all the free content we released for these holidays. Thank you once again to all our awesome players and to the Panzer Corps 2 community as a whole. We wish you all Happy Holidays and best wishes through the rest of winter. We’ll be back with more news and updates to share very soon.[/p]
Elite - 1st Guards | Dev Diary
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/e42570fd815a3f82f714291c63b623f64300401c.jpg"][/p][p]Attention Panzer Generals![/p][p]Panzer Corps 2 has a whole goody bag of awesome stuff planned for this Holiday Season, so we hope you enjoy reading all about the juicy content we’ve got lined up for you. We’ve gone all in with a new DLC campaign, free solo scenarios, and are proud to announce we’ll have even more content coming as part of Slitherine’s 25th Anniversary celebrations.[/p][p]As with Ghost Division before, we’re once again very pleased and humbled by the positive engagement we’ve received from the 1st Guards announcement. So thank you to all our players for making up this awesome Panzer Corps community that has lasted for more than a decade.[/p][p]Now then, on to the first content preview, our 1st Guards Developer Diary![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/abce0e1d4fb6ba1ff219b551f029405b7e0c3e45.jpg"][/p][p]As 1st Guards moves towards its November launch date, we wanted to share some of our insider throughts on the content, while giving our players a preview of the content they can expect from this latest DLC campaign for Panzer Corps 2. [/p]
Doubling Down
[p]With the commercial and critical success of Ghost Division, we really felt like Panzer Corps 2 found a solid formula that players really responded positively to: much stronger content-focused campaigns at competitive pricing.[/p][p]So if you were a fan of Ghost Division and the classic strategy gameplay that defines Panzer Corps, 1st Guards is all of that ramped up even higher.[/p][p]We’re cutting the fat and dropping you right into some impressively large battles, with well above average slot deployment limits. As early as the second scenario, there are huge deployment zones available, especially for those players who prefer managing large amounts of forces instead of fewer high overstrength units.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/e4560655862faf2e986617509ce80d17e3bd0496.jpg"][TAG-30][/p][p]And once the Axis invasion of the USSR begins with Operation Barbarossa, your deployment options and limits will only continue to expand as you experience the Soviet Guards’ journey from the desperate battles of 1941 to the triumphant storming of Germany in 1945:[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/85fb26b5d822f99eaea00d6decb62b0a86fa90cb.png"][/p][p]This theme of large deployment zones, and also having multiple such zones, is a theme you will see consistently throughout this campaign, to provide players with maximum flexibility and choice on how to tackle each battle.[/p][p]For a prime example from the middle of the campaign, we can look at the Citadel Sortie scenario: [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/16595d66995aa6ef8687304851200b4220ffd0ca.jpg"][/p][p]Your main objectives to win the scenario, marked with gold dots and red arrows, are due west.[/p][p]The bonus objective to earn large sums of prestige to buy and repair your units, are typically scattered around the maps.[/p][p]But your special bonus objective, the one that will reward special and prototype equipment rewards, is marked in red dots and black arrows.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/edc43a42a71b52bda9ffc8c9733a631f25dd1015.png"][/p][p]So as you can see this, is an excellent example of the freedom of choice you’ll have to exercise when tackling such a scenario. Do you split your forces and approach all objectives simultaneously? Do you focus on one objective at a time? The decisions are yours, but be warned that serious challenges await, and spreading your quantitatively superior forces too thin against the qualitive nature of some of the mightiest German forces could lead to disasterous results![/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/c38cae994e53a19b95d4b1fb5185cd4cac19dcf0.jpg"][TAG-60][/p]
History First
[p]Again as with Ghost Division, our continued focus with the Elite series is to take a History First approach. This means there won’t be any fictional scenarios, or what if battles like something out of Operation Unthinkable. If you’re a fan of that content though... well we just might have you covered in other ways, so stay tuned for that.[/p][p]But for 1st Guards, the spotlight falls on the real actions that the guards spearheaded; from the encirclement at Stalingrad, to the battles of Kursk, and beyond.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/61cc8753186f3efaea0bf29ac2de018d4eab10ad.jpg"][TAG-70][/p][p]Our goal is to inform players of this history, not as a passive observer, but as participants in command of battles that characterized the most colossal struggle of the 20th century. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/688648ba4b18cb8211266aae3187713628138ff1.jpg"][/p][p]Based on some of your Ghost Division feedback, we also made the decision to also cut out fictional characters from the Elite series. While amalgamous characters are very helpful narrative devices to help players establish wider context to the battles they are engaging in, there is no shortage of real heroes that participated in World War II, so we’re going to try and shift to more letting real history just speak for itself.[/p][p]The Red Army is especially unique for World War II, as more than any other nation it featured women in combat roles, from snipers to tank commanders to pilots. The real story of Mariya Oktyabrskaya is incredible, and actually really heartbreaking. She lost her soldier husband during the initial Barbarossa invasion, and then went on to sell of her possessions to raise money to fund the production of a T-34 tank, which she was then allowed to drive into battle with the Guards Tank Corps! That’s definitely a story worth retelling.[/p][p][/p][carousel][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/5bcca75e7307e103776895ded52d60fc00e1c15a.png"][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/a089aebbfb60de6d74a6056bd7367d2c1c9e891c.png"][/carousel][p][/p]
The Art of 1st Guards
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/3e5330634840d5c8322890366d24ef1befac680d.jpg"][/p][p]Our awesome 1st Guards artworks have once again come from the efforts of artist Adrián Rodríguez, and we hope you enjoy them as enhancements to the written descriptions of the battles of our 1st Guards DLC.[/p][p][/p][carousel][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/892d655188a2779dcd0ac4aa996290fd9301a8cb.jpg"][TAG-104][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/4205a298bb4232ae97dcb2581deaa38fe8b61855.jpg"][TAG-106][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/6284314115c1dadfae3909c4f58fbe6339c045b9.jpg"][TAG-108][/carousel][p]While I’ve personally been utilizing a lot of generative AI features on my own, we continue our pledge to keep generative AI assets and writing out of all official Panzer Corps 2 products. Some of us have been with Panzer Corps as a series for almost 15 years now, and we’ve gotten this far without generative AI. Perhaps some day for some future project, but not this day.[/p][p]It is fun though, and quite satisfying, to get results like this back. Panzer Corps definitely has a very unique feeling to a lot of its elements such as the writing, and it shows.[/p][p][/p]
Still More to Come
[p]Thanks for reading our latest Developer Diary, we hope you’re even more excited to experience the 1st Guards campaign when it comes out later this month on November 24th![/p][p align="justify"][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4093750/Panzer_Corps_2_Elite__1st_Guards/"]But remember, this is just the first taste of content we have coming. We have more announcements for the upcoming free solo content, and here is a spoiler for the special Slitherine themed content that is coming as part of their anniversary celebrations:[/p][p][/p][carousel][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/427737c1dcbd34850a5178167a3be9f173c23510.jpg"][TAG-130][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/6901f91a3447b77200cb58bf70b369a7f61d5e41.jpg"][/carousel][p]
Westwall - Dev Diary #3
[p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3508950/Panzer_Corps_2_Frontlines__Westwall/"] Welcome to the third and final Dev Diary for Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Westwall. As announced previously, this part is all about specific gameplay elements of this DLC and visual additions. So let's go right into it.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/26e322c24e735aa19323d63db30be73f97d21873.jpg"] Objectives: Do's and a few Don'ts[/p][p]Usually mission objectives are all about things you need to do to win. [/p][p]This time there are a few exceptions from that rule: since the intro map is a recon mission, it is all about mobility. You don’t have to hold objective hexes – you just need to take them once to scout the location, and can abandon them afterwards. [/p][p]Later, when you close in on Aachen, you also get told what you have to avoid, and this time it’s not a request. The reason for this is explained in the game of course. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/690ac28e168aaf6591c0fa0175d6525fe8133918.jpg"]One map has an optional objective to capture German supply dumps, and the briefing explains how it can be achieved. The same method can be used to take most depots you encounter in this DLC. But in rare cases certain triggers might lead to unexpected results.[/p][p]Other battles include objectives you have to complete earlier than the rest. Falling those may cost you a hefty bonus in the best case – in the worst you could lose your command when your superiors run out of patience. [/p][p]These goals are not extremely difficult to achieve, but require you to stay focussed. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/632003502c24f4b85cf7581fb49fd1015043bffe.jpg"]Prestige: Liberation vs. Occupation[/p][p]Several maps play either on German-occupied territory, or in border regions. This has a direct impact on the way prestige can be earned by taking various locations.[/p][p]Bigger rewards are always tied to objectives, or key locations like airfields and supply hexes. But non-objective towns and villages outside Germany.give a small one-time prestige bonus when you liberate them. Once you are across the border, inside Germany, no such reward is given. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/b69b6a09b6fd4c606760b70780fb61c98ceeebf3.jpg"]And not only that – when the Allies are battling to reopen the vital port Antwerp your progress in nearby North Brabant is directly affecting prestige and core slots at your disposal in the final stage of the campaign.[/p][p] Events: Not written off[/p][p]This DLC includes a variety of scripted triggers and events, both to add flavor and to impact gameplay.[/p][p]We highlight the state of the German border defenses, especially during the intro mission, warn about significant enemy reactions in a few battles, inform about key developments elsewhere on the western front and more. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/6f6a79447e916f8e73fcbed60b032cd9b49fd96b.jpg"]In a few battles you are presented with choices at the beginning. Some of them are easy decisions, for example when you get a chance to acquire cheaper veteran core units.[/p][p]Other choices enable different approaches: do you call in Allied help when fighting in the Peel Marches, or do you get by with just a few core reinforcements instead? Later, do you opt to deploy a unique, hard-hitting, but low strength unit or do you prefer a few bonus core slots instead? [/p][p]Visuals: The usual suspects[/p][p]Frontlines - Westwall includes three new officer portraits to select from at the start of the campaign. Since it has become quasi-standard in recent DLCs each new battle gets introduced with a specific map before the actual briefing begins. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/b35d8dd149e84bba02aa44bfd444b3e7e4069982.jpg"][TAG-60]Those who played Bulge know the briefing character already. Internally we toyed with the name Deckard back then, but the basic idea of both Bulge and Westwall is that everyone knows each other at least since D-Day, or even longer. So he never gets explicitly introduced as it would feel odd that late.[/p][p]You get to see him in various new environments now. We added a new post-battle state where he looks a tad battered, but also more relaxed with straps open, smoking a cigarette. This look is mostly used in debriefings, but may also pop up in selected events. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/3f86d4a2f15c58c0b85666ff1d1e3de802127eff.jpg"][/p][p]New Units I: On the Line[/p][p]As the eponymous Westwall plays a central role in this DLC several additions were made to represent those German border fortifications in greater detail:[/p][p]Various larger forts were built in selected locations along the Siegfried Line, but most often the Allies had to deal with smaller pillboxes, and sometimes with lots of them. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/a79b278d973e82e698804b271163e2e2ccbe6596.jpg"]So we included a new pillbox unit. Unlike bigger bunkers they’re not overly strong on their own, but as part of a defensive network with mines, support units or even mobile reserves as backup they can keep you quite busy.[/p][p]It’s worth noting that certain structures accept skins now, including those pillboxes, and modders can adjust their directions in the editor. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/77b7076614b3082911e4c020b2a73e1d1f43c9be.jpg"]Key areas were also protected by so-called Dragon’s Teeth, a widely used form of anti-tank obstacle, which we included as well. These obstacles do not shoot back, but destroying them can be time-consuming. [/p][p]It’s best to find gaps or other weak spots to plow on, although these do not always look as peaceful as in the pic above.[/p][p] New Units II: Field Armor…[/p][p]US tank crews often used everything they could get their hands on to increase protection, so many Shermans were soon covered with additional sandbags, track segments, wood or even selfmade side skirts. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/4dc02f43b08ccf7ba7ba9b408d70f09c60389b5c.jpg"]Such modifications, known as field armor, farmer armor, or even hillbilly armor became a common sight both in the Pacific Theater and in Europe.[/p][p]While we cannot include every possible modification ever made, we added one modified variant for some of the main late-war versions. These modifications don’t turn regular Shermans into super units, but offer slightly better defense stats for a minor price hike. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/3583627673be825400306a319081a55eff72add1.jpg"][TAG-102]Field-armored tanks also have better unit-traits than their unmodified counterparts. This is a gameplay decision to make them more valuable, built on the idea that their crews excel in a certain area. [/p][p]Modified Shermans count as limited equipment. A handful are added regularly as the campaign progresses, and objective rewards increase their overall number further. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/13de8434a0f903cc3a6cf898d8c67c22224fad90.jpg"][TAG-108][/p][p]Players can field and sustain a few units equipped with them, but may have to deploy vanilla tanks again if they take too many losses. This goes especially for the later, long-barrelled versions, while field-armor for the M4A1 and A3 tanks is available earlier, and in larger numbers.[/p][p] New Units III: …and all the rest[/p][p]Another unique addition to the US roster is the Dodge WC63. Derived from the similar, but lighter Dodge 4x4 series it represents a variety of enlarged Dodge 6x6 trucks. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/c6bd69aa97b5385142992b87330b39374ba37602.jpg"][TAG-120]The new transport is cheaper than the Studebaker, has all terrain movement, and even an MG. But it can only carry vanilla infantry, paras and rangers, not engineers or heavy infantry, and it cannot tow all guns. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/f52c7933c26741534486ffedc43300afacef0e7b.jpg"]Last but not least a few more variants of known US warplanes are available now, with slightly improved stats. This includes a specific, armed version of the Grasshopper recon plane which appears as a specific aux unit first. Later in the campaign you receive a unique gift unit of this type. [/p][p]On top of that shiny new skins made for specific USAAF aircraft have been added to the game, so the number of available, historic late-war skins has increased once again…[/p][p] Conclusion[/p][p]And so this third and last Dev Diary for this DLC comes to an end. Are you ready to punch through the Siegfried Line?[/p][p]Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Westwall will be released on August 19th.[/p]
Panzer Corps Day 2025 - New Tournament sign-ups
[p]Hi, there was a small problem with the registrations for our Panzer Corps tournament, there was an unintended cap at 16 players.
This has now been fixed, anyone can join, and the starting date has been moved to July 23rd.
PLEASE NOTE: You DO NOT need to own Cyrenaica DLC to join and play the tournament.
For the first time in Panzer Corps 2 history, you will compete for a coupon prize pool. Prizes will be distributed as follows: [/p]
[p]1st: $60 coupon[/p]
[p]2nd: $50 coupon[/p]
[p]3rd: $40 coupon [/p]
[p]4rd: $30 coupon[/p]
[p]5th to 7th: $20 coupon each[/p]
[p]8th to 10th: $10 coupon each[/p]
[p]The tournament will feature 4 brand-new scenarios with 15-days round length:[/p]
[p]Round 1: Bardia[/p]
[p]Round 2: Jarabub[/p]
[p]Round 3: Desert Arena[/p]
[p]Round 4: Benghazi[/p]
[p]Have fun and good luck![/p]
Panzer Corps Day 2025 - Recap
[p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/e62b1c63d6bc1642f96f5a0a3f3bb03dbda716f2.jpg"]Today is Panzer Corps Day! To celebrate this moment with the whole community, we've prepared a lot of content and hosted a live event on our Twitch channel.
We retraced the history of Panzer Corps and all the series that contributed to making it the fantastic franchise it is today, such as Axis Operation, Frontlines, Elite and more.
In particular, we had an in-depth live chat with Volcanite Games, discussing one of the upcoming Allied multi-linked campaigns: the invasion of Italy by the Allied forces.
In case you missed it, you can re-watch the live event here: YouTube.
Before we move on, here's a special message for the community from Kerensky, one of the developers and a cornerstone of our community.
"As we mark this 14th Anniversary of Panzer Corps releasing in 2011, I thought I’d see if I could define what Panzer Corps Day is, and why we go out of our way to mark this particular day.[/p][p]There are just so many numbers involved after all that time. Hundreds of scenarios created, tens of thousands of hours of work from across our small team, more than one hundred thousand unique players who have logged multi-millions of hours spent playing our game…[/p][p]I never would have dreamed about those kinds of numbers when I was BETA testing the original Panzer Corps back in 2010 and just beginning to learn how to make Panzer Corps content with the original Grand Campaign, and even today 14 years later those numbers are still difficult to comprehend.[/p][p]But it’s those numbers that we are here to celebrate. It’s been an unbelievable journey for those of us involved with Panzer Corps, and it’s incredible to think that so many players have been along with us through all these years. This day is as much our developers’ day to celebrate as it is a celebration of our player community. Without all of your continued support and interest for over a decade now, our game would be long forgotten and abandoned. It is thanks to you that this game will probably represent my life’s work, as I realize there’s probably no bigger or longer running project I’ll embark on like I have with Panzer Corps. [/p][p]Nothing has driven that home like the realization that Panzer Corps is approaching a generational title, as some of our potential newest campaign designers learning the trade are less than half my age. It’s endearing to know that our work to translate the history of the World War II into our game continues to inspire and educate the next generation of people, just as I remember experiencing WWII gaming through the original Panzer General that I was playing way back in the 90s.[/p][p]Through our exploration and celebration of historical gaming, we have in our own way joined that history as we continue to retell these stories through media and games that now inspire the interest of the next generation of humanity.[/p][p]And lastly, here’s to all of the friends and family, who after all of these years, are no longer with us. May you never be gone, as long as you are remembered.[/p][p][/p][p]Sincerest thanks to all from San Francisco in the United States of America,[/p][p]-Frank Leone aka Kerensky"
NEW TOURNAMENT [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/c14012258709a5d0785b21a341b9ed23612a96ac.jpg"]We're also glad to announce that sign-ups for a new tournament are now open.
For the first time in Panzer Corps 2 history, players will compete for a coupon prize pool. Prizes will be distributed as follows:[/p]
[p]1st: $60 coupon[/p]
[p]2nd: $50 coupon[/p]
[p]3rd: $40 coupon[/p]
[p]4th: $30 coupon[/p]
[p]5th to 7th: $20 coupon each[/p]
[p]8th to 10th: $10 coupon each[/p]
[p]The tournament will feature 4 brand-new scenarios with 15-days round length:[/p]
[p]Round 1: Bardia[/p]
[p]Round 2: Jarabub[/p]
[p]Round 3: Desert Arena[/p]
[p]Round 4: Benghazi[/p]
[p]PLEASE NOTE: You DO NOT need to own the Cyrenaica DLC to join and play the tournament.
Get ready to take command of US Army formations as they battle through the formidable Siegfried Line between September and December 1944. What starts as a rapid advance into a crumbling enemy front quickly escalates into a grueling, high-stakes campaign where every inch of ground must be earned.
[dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3508950/Panzer_Corps_2_Frontlines__Westwall/"]FREE SCENARIOS In addition, we're happy to come out with two new free scenarios as a symbol of gratitude for the continued support of our players. But before you jump into the game, here’s a brief preview into some of the unique gameplay gimmicks each scenario offers:[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/21d60412d167a0cbffb8705df828e7e31019cdb3.jpg"][/p][p]NERETVA[/p][p]The first new scenario explores the famous Yugoslav Partisans as a playable faction and covers the Battle of Neretva River. The year is 1943, and the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia enters its darkest hour as recent Axis offensives have managed to surround the Partisans in a death trap with their backs to the Neretva River.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/5bd2ea58b37f3b2ed2a650fda8a61f4c8aed1b86.jpg"]Facing total annihilation and relentless assaults from all sides, your only option will be to lead a desperate breakout attempt by crossing the Neretva River in a bid to link up with friendly forces in the mountains to the southeast. At the same time, the Axis and their collaborators will do everything in their power to thwart your escape.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/0b3c6de1da0948c5ac63d1fccd24f8141415644e.jpg"][/p][p]TARGU FRUMOS[/p][p]The second new scenario shifts the focus over to Romania and the Second Battle of Targu Frumos. As the Red Army threatens to isolate Iasi by targeting the crucial railway hub of Targu Frumos to the west of the city, you will get to command the determined Romanian resistance to the Soviet invasion of their country.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/8aa4af40dad61fe80931f73a8e5ff0b0ef3e80a4.jpg"]However, you will not stand alone against the Soviet war machine; the Germans have sent an elite tank formation to reinforce the beleaguered Romanians. Your Romanian force will have to coordinate with German armor to effectively counter the endless Soviet assaults.[/p][p]We would love to hear your feedback on the scenarios and the new theaters they explore!
DAILY DEAL [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/96c325799c4a8835a6c5a74e588d94273c833aa6.jpg"][TAG-180]To celebreate Panzer Corps Day, enjoy discounts starting today until July 18th. The entire Panzer Corps series is discounted up to 65% on Steam.
[dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1072040/Panzer_Corps_2/"]STREAMING SCHEDULE Lastly, here is the schedule with all the upcoming Panzer Corps 2 streams. [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/edb5dcdec023960c16b47b15c7645b193b50708b.jpg"][TAG-190]Enjoy, have fun, and let us know what you think about all these announcements![/p]
Westwall - Dev Diary #2
[p]Welcome to the second Dev Diary for Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Westwall. This part is all about campaign details: how long is the campaign, and what are the key battles included in this DLC? [/p][p]To answer the first question right away – the DLC includes 14 scenarios in a linear campaign. But before we go more into the details, let’s recap the situation you find yourselves in at the start… [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/26e322c24e735aa19323d63db30be73f97d21873.jpg"] [/p][p] Summertime, and the livin' is easy…[/p][p]It’s summer 1944. The Wehrmacht has suffered heavy defeats both on the Eastern Front, and in the West. Entire formations have been destroyed or suffered losses so heavy that they had to be rebuilt completely. [/p][p]Paris was liberated in August, and during the next weeks Allied forces were racing through France and the Low Countries towards Germany, meeting little opposition. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/98cd10cd1ae00a73629c39996cd58c2fb54f585a.jpg"] Optimism was running high in Allied circles these days. Ambitious plans for daring operations were brought up, to swiftly breach the Siegfried Line, or to get over the Rhine quickly after securing key bridges in a massive airborne operation. Could it all be over soon?[/p][p]Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Westwall begins when this - for the Allies easier - period slowly comes to an end. [/p][p]Where to start?[/p][p]But during the first battles in this campaign the Wehrmacht is still battered from heavy fighting in France before, so you encounter weaker opposition initially.[/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/801b7e36e10521dea44f872fe5988e86f33a43ef.jpg"][TAG-30][/p][p]The US First Army’s V Corps is the first American formation which hits the German border, and sends a small recon force into the later infamous Schnee Eifel east of St. Vith. This reconnaissance in force mission is the intro of the campaign. [/p][p]As it is meant to be an easier opener again we just throw you in here with a limited force of mechanized cavalry you cannot change initially. But this setup provides you with a couple of veteran units, and a few heroes. [/p][p]Don’t worry, you can change everything to your liking from the next mission onwards. The intro does not require you to hold large areas, you just need to probe the state of the German border defenses. [/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/9c419f9a72ed4ebfdeacd553519af552ccffecf0.jpg"][/p][p]Afterwards V Corps attempts the first determined drive into Germany, towards the city of Bitburg. [/p][p]This time the Germans react in a way that becomes a common sight late in the war – by throwing small, ad hoc battle groups of armor and infantry at you, which however can be a serious headache if you underestimate them. [/p][p]Heating up[/p][p]With the third battle we enter one of the hotspots of this campaign – the area between Maastricht in the Netherlands and the city of Aachen on the German side, which is covered by two separate bands of the Westwall. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/4f078b90cc002f03c7b002b224880776530140b5.jpg"][/p][p]Several maps deal with various US formations approaching, encircling, and finally taking Aachen. When these advances are delayed in late September due to supply problems and intensifying opposition, we spend some time elsewhere.[/p][p]However, even later, after the city has fallen, we return to this area as continued heavy fighting in the nearby Huertgen Forest requires your attention, and Allied forces aim to reach the Roer River.[/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/905f31fa22bc54b4820247aed845fa425e1714b0.jpg"] The supply issues mentioned above are only sufficiently dealt with after the port of Antwerp is reopened. This is primarily an Allied matter, especially for Canadian forces, so not depicted here.[/p][p]Neither is Operation Market Garden, the large British-led airborne assault to bypass the Siegfried Line by swiftly taking key bridges over the Rhine. [/p][p]Still those Allied operations hugely impacted US progress along the Siegfried Line both in terms of supply and troop deployments. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/1920480fa5234ec41b352bc01006b83588702910.jpg"][/p][p]As a result some US forces were fighting under British command in the Low Countries, so we included actions in support of the Battle of the Scheldt, and in the so-called Peel Marches near the German border.[/p][p]Some little side-notes at this point: as screenshots indicate, units are using historical names on a bigger scale than they did in Bulge. We do not aim to do this for every unit, but key formations, German and Allied, will often show correct names. [/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/c38a665ede6750c5565ef9cab87a102ba7307994.jpg"][TAG-80][/p][p]In rare cases the Germans are still using Beutewaffen, which display their correct Wehrmacht designations as custom names in this DLC.[/p][p]Some German supply dumps are placed on a few maps, and almost all of them can be captured for bonus prestige and enemy equipment. They are not meant to provide tons of German hardware, but taking a number of them may allow you to field full units at some point.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/bdf222a8a542d78a9259e00897125e92581d311d.jpg"][TAG-90][/p][p]Things go...south?[/p][p]Aside from the Aachen sector the second hotspot of this DLC is the Lorraine Campaign fought by the US Third Army and Free French forces, in the southern part of the front. [/p][p]Wait...Lorraine? Isn’t this about the Siegfried Line? History buffs surely are aware of it – the Lorraine Campaign was not treated as a separate effort in 1944, in fact the whole term was only created and popularized after the war.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/965730cdcc4cb3c1171c298f8dc7fc97758f81f1.jpg"][TAG-102] So when the US advance on Aachen is paused we make the first excursion to this side of the war: in the Battle of Arracourt US forces have to defeat superior German armor. In November 1944 we return to Lorraine in the Battle of Metz and subsequent US advances. [/p][p]The city, guarded by a ring of old, but massive fortifications, blocks access to the German border in the Saar region, where the player finally hits the Siegfried Line again at the end of this campaign. [/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/7f0892e876c8422306b41548abe5b69f229b1fcc.jpg"][TAG-108][/p][p]Let’s sum up[/p][p]Since the German side struggles to regain strength during the early battles of this campaign the overall increase in difficulty is more gradual. [/p][p]In Bulge, some of the most intense German attacks happened soon after the intro mission, when the Ardennenoffensive was in full swing. In this DLC there is no comparable onslaught, and most battles have the player on the offensive instead.[/p][p] [img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/7e4c420ace6f1b1a60e5e5e0aa95d25a8bb5187f.jpg"][/p][p]Still, there are two outright defensive missions, and some heavy German counter attacks in various battles.[/p][p]In several cases, but surely not always, players have to deal with various types of fortifications. Usually this is only happening in a part of any given map, while other parts allow for and even require armored advances. [/p][p]However, there is certainly one battle where infantry takes the lead, and armor plays only a secondary role.[/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/76e23bb571d954d41578c458089a33c8ced11ced.jpg"][/p][p]Conclusion[/p][p]So that’s it for the second part. We hope you welcome the additional info about the battles included, and the overall campaign progression. [/p][p]In the third and final part of this diary we focus on gameplay changes and additions, and share a lot more previews regarding visual enhancements and new units added to this DLC.[/p]
Westwall - Dev Diary #1
[p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3508950/Panzer_Corps_2_Frontlines__Westwall/?curator_clanid=4563585"]Welcome to the first Dev Diary for Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Westwall, the newest entry in the Frontlines series. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/26e322c24e735aa19323d63db30be73f97d21873.jpg"][/p][p]To get things started we explore the broad idea for this new campaign and share some more general info about it. As this is the second US-themed DLC we’ll also highlight similarities and differences compared to the earlier Frontlines-Bulge campaign.[/p][p]More Dev Diaries with details about campaign progress, specific battles included, and new additions to the game will follow soon. As with Bulge, the full campaign path, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions are provided later separately [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/eacfecedf6ffa206c57a5f972a8e8eacc562839b.jpg"]Several details seen in this preview are not final and may still change.[/p][p] Border Wars[/p][p]Frontlines - Westwall is played once again from the American side. The DLC depicts the Siegfried Line campaign from ca. mid-September 1944 to early December 1944.[/p][p]But while the Battle of the Bulge is a quite compact subject – happening in a timeframe of ca. 8 weeks, and in a rather limited area – the Siegfried Line campaign is a somewhat different beast, so let’s get a bit more background first. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/03f3669a02f02d3b860a8af86350467cfdd24f34.jpg"][/p][p]Siegfried Line is the term usually used in English for the German border defenses built in the late 1930s. In German these were simply called the Westwall, which made it back into the Anglosphere as the West Wall.[/p][p]These fortifications were not as extensive as World War I trench lines, nor as impressive as the French Maginot Line with its sophisticated underground installations. Still the Westwall, made of several fortified zones littered with mines, anti-tank obstacles and a myriad of pillboxes, soon posed a serious problem for the Allies.[/p][p]Outside Germany the existence of those defenses was certainly known, but the Allies had only a vague understanding of the exact locations and depth of the fortifications. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/884e7a96bc4c482b557b6558261758050bc36612.jpg"] As the Westwall covered nearly the entire German border from the Netherlands down to Switzerland almost everything that happened in fall 1944 on the western front is either part of the Siegfried Line campaign, or at least somehow linked to it.[/p][p]So in a broad sense this DLC depicts Allied efforts to liberate Western Europe as far as possible – notwithstanding isolated locations still held by the Wehrmacht – with the goal to approach and breach the Siegfried Line to finally enter German core territory. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/d734611277aba7dddddbfa9b670da9d7fdcee117.jpg"][/p][p]To the wall...[/p][p]We will go more into the details of the campaign in the next diary, but for now only this: Frontlines - Westwall offers a larger variety of battles compared to Bulge. [/p][p]Players get to fight in the Low Countries, France, and in Germany, in vastly different settings and conditions ranging from rather open areas with towns and villages in between to heavy terrain covered by dense forest or larger swamps that restrict movement. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/e27f07e701b6c3e91dda24b3932b49513c354e1b.jpg"][/p][p]Often maps are a mix of the above, and on top of that several scenarios include larger urban areas protected by extensive fortifications.[/p][p]Players don’t have to destroy each and every bunker on the map, but may get tasked to clear specific areas or simply need to break through fortified lines to be able to reach the mission objectives.[/p][p] …and into Germany[/p][p]But once you are past those fortifications things are not always easier, as German armored reserves may just be waiting there to make their move.[/p][p]That requires players to balance their cores – of course heavy hitting tanks and tank destroyers rule in the open, but without experienced infantry and artillery support they can quickly get stuck. [/p][p]However, if you overdo it on the infantry side to get through the fortifications more easily you may suffer once you get into tank terrain again. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/9bfaff416c72d0120588e4ae2a1bb761ab10ea63.jpg"][/p][p]Since we start in late summer the USAAF can play a bigger role in this DLC. On the other hand the Luftwaffe might become a more frequent problem soon, even if it does not have the numbers to challenge Allied air superiority. [/p][p]As the campaign progresses adverse conditions like rain and even the first snow may temporarily hamper air operations, but this never gets as serious as in the early stage of the Battle of the Bulge. [/p][p]The more things change, the more they stay the same[/p][p]Despite all these differences this is still part of the Frontlines series, so it should be no surprise that there are also similarities to Bulge: [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/803d6db7844f7400753d45a04fa4bf88646a8bfe.jpg"]Frontlines - Westwall includes more battles than Bulge. Since players often ask for longer campaigns this DLC offers a linear campaign, and so the longest campaign path is, well, longer. [/p][p]But map scope and detail are very much similar to Bulge, so you can expect detailed maps, and a consistent or near-consistent scale in many scenarios of the campaign. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/4c991b50d7535b952a111372c64a815db0795cc1.jpg"][/p][p]Most battles are based on historic developments, so there are no outright ahistorical scenarios. Only the intro is more loosely based on the first US actions at the Westwall, but still has a historic core. [/p][p]Sometimes details are changed or added purely for gameplay reasons in various battles - that is no different from any other content for Panzer Corps.[/p][p]As in Frontlines - Bulge the timeframe of this DLC is somewhat challenging with key developments happening simultaneously, especially early in the campaign. [/p][p][img src="https://clan.akamai.steamstatic.com/images/35018759/f95fb4b924f7abcbde0706ad7638364bd5bf20e7.jpg"][TAG-102][/p][p]To deal with this we give players the chance to experience many of these developments in consecutive scenarios, where we just jump in at a certain date, and join the next battle a bit later.[/p][p]This too is very similar to the approach taken in Bulge, so individual scenarios often focus on key aspects or crucial stages of certain battles. [/p][p]Conclusion[/p][p]That’s all for the first part of this Dev Diary. Hopefully this appetizer gives you a good impression of the new campaign. The next part with more details about campaign progress and some of the battles is not too far away, so watch this space![/p]
Frontlines - Westwall | Announcement + Beta
We’re excited to announce Panzer Corps 2 – Frontlines: Westwall, the next chapter in the Frontlines series, focused on the critical battles along the Siegfried Line between September and December 1944.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3508950/Panzer_Corps_2_Frontlines__Westwall/ After the collapse of German forces in the Falaise Pocket and the liberation of Paris, the Allies turned their attention to the heavily fortified German border. As commander of US Army formations, you’ll lead the charge through fortified zones, dense forests, and urban strongholds, from the outskirts of Aachen to the Saar region in southern Germany.
Frontlines: Westwall introduces a dynamic campaign that evolves in intensity. Early progress will come quickly, but the deeper you advance, the tougher the resistance becomes. The DLC features a wide variety of mission types, fortified enemy positions, and several new units and visual elements to enhance immersion.
If you’re interested in helping us test this upcoming content, beta sign-ups are now open. This is your chance to gain early access and provide feedback on the campaign before release.
Panzer Corps 2: Elite – Ghost Division is now available for $4.99, inviting you to command one of the most iconic units of World War II through a new nine-scenario campaign. This DLC follows the full combat history of the 7th Panzer Division from its early battles in Poland as the 2nd Light Division, through the breakthrough in France, to brutal fighting on the Eastern Front.
Famous for its speed and surprise tactics, the Ghost Division campaign emphasizes momentum and historical accuracy, offering a mix of classic objectives and challenging bonus goals that reward you with rare prototype gear.
The Introduction from the book “The 7th Panzer Division”
The Ghost Division DLC for Panzer Corps 2 is deeply rooted in real historical events, with the developers carefully tracing the 7th Panzer Division’s wartime path to shape the structure, scenarios, and tone of the campaign. As a tribute to that legacy, here’s an excerpt from the introduction of The 7th Panzer Division in World War II, a book written by veterans to preserve the memory of their unit and offer future generations a deeper understanding of its history.
Thirty years after the surrender of 1945, we published the book “The 7th Panzer Division in World War II,” which won admiration inside and outside of Germany. We did it to remember, and to express our thanks to the men of our division whom we have buried on the battlefields for their final sleep.
Today, another thirteen years later, the contours of war experiences have become less clear through the long passage of time, and even in our own memory many a picture of the service and sacrifice of Rommel’s onetime “Ghost Division” has faded away. Although the reality of the present day surrounds us and the fast pace of time wipes out one memory after another, the general striving for clear historical portrayal has grown stronger, even the younger people want to understand the reality of the war’s events.
For these reasons, there arose the plan to portray the war history of the old 7th Panzer Division once again. By presenting this work, our wish is fulfilled that it may be accepted not only a contribution to the better understanding of our history, but rather this volume of pictures should cause us to reflect and, through constant striving and mutual understanding, be able to build a good future.
Gerhard Hohensee Honorary President Tradition Society of the 7th Panzer Division Summer 1978
