Before we begin today, we wanted to just take a quick moment to once thank our incredible community for their overwhelming feedback generated from our Elite – Ghost Division announcement.
Facing the bombardment of hundreds upon hundreds of points of engagement across our various feeds is quite the humbling experience for us; it truly is amazing to really see that so many people have such passion for Panzer Corps. It’s an honor to read so many of your insights, ideas, and yes even criticisms, because it totally demonstrates how much our community really cares. So once again, our deepest thanks to all of our community, we’re absolutely going to continue to do our best to provide you the best Panzer Corps gameplay content we can make.
Now then, on to the Developer Diary!
Welcome to the Elite – Ghost Division Developer Diary and DLC preview.
As Ghost Division swiftly moves towards its May launch date, we wanted to do a little bit of a deeper dive into the upcoming content. We’ve got a whole bunch of cool stuff to showcase, from scenario analysis to revealing our internal thought processes, so let’s begin!
Something New, Something Familiar
One of the biggest internal objectives we have with these Elite campaigns is to bring back more focus on the classic Panzer Corps combat gameplay, while mostly regulating some of the more whacky and wild elements to optional aspects of the campaign.
The best way to explain this will be to look at some of the scenario design within Ghost Division, so let’s take a look at a couple of maps and see what that’s all about.
The first scenario will actually take place in Poland before the formation of the 7th Panzer Division with its predecessor unit that was known as the 2nd Light Division.
As you can see from that screenshot, Ghost Division is immediately starting on healthy sized maps with significant turn limits, so players can anticipate plenty of action through every step of this campaign.
From your starting positions, objectives are spread out before you in many directions, offering the player ample choice on where to focus their forces as the battle unfolds. And since someone is going to inevitably ask about it, we can talk about the various types of objectives because their design philosophy is important for allowing players the option to disable the turn limit, should you so choose.
Victory Objectives are the conditions that directly control your campaign progression:
These are objectives that must be met and they also instant award scenario victory upon completion, so if you’re hunting for bonuses, make sure to save the Victory Objective for last! These objectives are marked with solid outlines around such hexes.
Prestige Objectives are your primary source of prestige resource income, and they are marked with dotted outlines.
In the past, players have frequently struggled with predetermined prestige settings. Some players will find themselves starving of prestige that effectively ends their ability to repair their forces and continue to wage an effective campaign, while others find themselves so flush with prestige that they basically have unlimited resources at their disposal. By removing almost all predetermined prestige settings and instead populating each scenario with an abundance of bonus Prestige Objectives, we’re hoping to increase player agency in terms of economic management. If you’re starving for prestige, there are very specific tasks you can aim for that will provide huge prestige rewards, while players who feel they have enough prestige can instead bypass some of these objectives to give themselves extra time to tackle Special Objectives.
Special objectives are where we’ve put in some of the more complex and advanced DLC mechanics, and also really ratcheted up the difficulty.
These optional tasks will definitely test your mettle to complete, and they will always offer some pretty fantastic rewards, such as access to unpurchaseable equipment or perhaps a chance to custom pick a new hero’s abilities.
That’s just the beginning of your campaign, and as it progresses, you will find even larger maps with more options on how to approach them laid out before you.
Historical Context
Something else we’d like to aim for in the Elite campaigns is to keep the all important focus on history omnipresent without steering too far into heavy narrative or character-centric elements. While some players absolutely adore deep diving into the kind of writing that frequently colored the Axis Operations series, especially the alternate history branch, we definitely recognize that not everyone was a fan of seeing some briefing dialogue-only scenarios.
Instead, Elite campaigns are going to strive for maximum gameplay with minimum friction to get right into historical Panzer combat. The whole concept of this particular campaign design is to showcase the real history of some of the most elite and legendary divisions that fought during World War II, and we want their heroic exploits to really speak for themselves.
Ideally, we’re going to spotlight every major nation of World War II with this treatment, but of course that is highly contingent on producing campaigns our players really want to engage with, so we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves too quickly on talking about distant plans here.
The Art of Ghost Division
You have probably noticed some of the awesome imagery we’ve been embedding throughout the various Ghost Division articles, and we wanted to make special mention of them real quick. They’ve all been drawn by the artist Adrián Rodríguez, and we’re super stoked to have them to enhance the characters and events that populate the Elite – Ghost Division campaign!
Because generative AI artwork is such a hot topic though, we thought we’d better briefly talk about it. While generative AI artwork is an incredible technology that is improving by leaps and bounds at an unbelievable rate, we just didn’t feel comfortable utilizing it for any aspect of Panzer Corps 2, past or present. All of our artwork is human made, and all of our writing is human written. One single person wrote all of the base game briefings, and that same person wrote the entire Axis Operations saga without any AI aid. I know this, because that person is me, Kerensky!
So again, while generative AI is pretty amazing stuff, it’s our official position that it won’t ever be utilized in the creation of official Panzer Corps 2 assets, files, or materials.
Now that said, there is no such restriction placed upon the custom modding scene, so if any aspiring modder out there is wondering, you are fully allowed to create mods of Panzer Corps 2 that invoke things such as AI generated briefing VO. In potential anticipation of that, in part of the Panzer Corps 2 update that accompanies the launch of Ghost Division we’re investigation the possibility for custom player mod campaigns to enable their own sets of VO audio files.
Conclusion
We hope you all enjoyed this sneak preview of the upcoming Elite – Ghost Division campaign. Get ready for its imminent release scheduled for May 29th, and then stay tuned for way more Panzer Corps 2 goodies to start rolling out right afterwards as we march towards July 11th Panzer Corps Day, marking our 14th year of working on the Panzer Corps franchise!
We have a surprise announcement to share with you today. Not content to remain resting on our laurels over the recently released dynamic Cyrenaica campaign, Panzer Corps 2 is powering forward with yet another new campaign. Since Panzer Corps 2 is still going strong more than 5 years after our initial launch, we’re looking to add some truly Elite content to our line up of awesome campaigns!
To herald this new campaign, we’ve picked none other than the venerated 7th Panzer Division, perhaps better known as Rommel’s Ghost Division.
A Potential New Beginning
There’s a few goals we’re aiming to achieve with Panzer Corps 2’s Elite campaigns, and since this is our first reveal, we wanted to lay them out for our community right off the bat.
The very first thing we want to say is that Panzer Corps 2 is going to join in the fight against increasing inflation, and therefore we’re working towards actually reducing the price of this campaign compared to the standard Panzer Corps 2 DLC price! Panzer Corps 2 wouldn’t be so active with new content and new updates after all this time without our amazing community, and the last thing we want to do is to just hike prices on our loyal community of awesome gamers.
Secondly, we’re aiming to use the Elite campaigns as a vehicle to more rapidly deploy more playable nations into Panzer Corps 2’s campaigns. Now some players of you might be asking why would we start with a German Division in this case, but we’ve got ‘Panzer’ baked directly into our game title and we really want to lean on our strengths for as strong an opening as possible. Something else we’re going be to experimenting with is longer gameplay timelines. We haven’t seen a campaign cover all of the technology and unit advancement that comes from a 1939-1945 journey since the stock Panzer Corps 2 campaign, and this focus on the achievements of a single division through the course of the war will finally bring that aspect back.
So while we certainly have our plans, in this particular case we’re actually very curious to hear from the community on which WWII faction you are most interested in seeing as a potential new campaign. Is it time for a Japanese campaign in the spotlight, or perhaps you are itching to take the fight to the Axis in a Soviet campaign? Let us know in the comment section!
The First Elite Division
In all of our research of the enormous amount of Axis and Allied divisions that fought during World War II, one absolutely stood out above the rest in so many ways. From the length of their service stretching all the way from September of 1939 to April of 1945 to some of their extraordinary accomplishments such as the drive to the Channel coast, their feats endure through time in real military analyses of their exploits, in our history books, in inspiring stories we tell, and even in the games we play.
To the Germans, they were designated as the Elite 7th Panzer Division. To their enemies, they were known as the Ghost Division!
Did you know that 2024’s Panzer Corps Day was a success way beyond our expectations? On that day, our active population of thousands of players were joined by a surge of over 100,000 viewers watching various Panzer Corps 2 Streams!
Our only regret then was that we didn’t have enough on offer to showcase to so many eyes focused on our game, and so we’re really looking to remedy that this year on July 11th.
In fact, Elite - Ghost Division was originally supposed to come out for Panzer Corps Day, but we put respect on their name and emulated their swiftness with the speed of our development to the point that we’re actually aiming for Ghost Division to launch in May, just this month!
But that also means we’ve got even more, and potentially even bigger, reveals still saved in store to make this year’s Panzer Corps Day celebration way more massive. Stay tuned for an upcoming Elite: Ghost Division Dev Diary and release date announcement, and get ready for a potential multitude of goodies later this year on July 11th Panzer Corps Day!
Frontlines - Cyrenaica is out now
Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Cyrenaica is finally available. This expansion immerses players in the North African Campaign, focusing on the strategic battles for Cyrenaica during Operation E and Operation Compass.
To celebrate the launch, the DLC is available at a 10% discount for two weeks.
Players can experience two distinct campaigns, leading both Italian and British forces through historically significant scenarios. Each mission is playable from both perspectives, offering diverse strategic opportunities.
The DLC introduces new units, including the Italian Moto Guzzi TriAlce motorcycle and British Gloster Gladiator biplane, enhancing tactical gameplay. Players must navigate harsh desert conditions, manage supplies, and adapt to dynamic weather challenges like sandstorms.
Innovative mechanics, such as diminishing core slots and hero-based gameplay featuring historical generals, add depth to the strategic experience. Decisions made in one scenario influence subsequent missions, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning.
Additionally, the Panzer Corps 2 saga is discounted by up to 50% for a limited time. Don't miss out and check out our Complete and Frontlines bundles:
The wait is almost over. Frontlines: Cyrenaica, the upcoming DLC for Panzer Corps 2 launches next week on Tuesday, March 11th. Get ready to dive into new battles, expanded content, and exciting strategic challenges.
Yesterday, we showcased Cyrenaica for the very first time on our official Twitch channel. Richard Yorke played the first two missions using GB forces, giving viewers a thrilling first look at the gameplay. If you missed the live stream, don't worry, you can re-watch the entire showcase here: TWITCH
In addition, The Historical Gamer has released an exclusive gameplay video featuring the first mission using the Italian forces. Check it out here:
Stay tuned, another video is coming very soon on his channel.
Frontlines - Cyrenaica | Dev Diary #3 - Balls to the Walls - Major Features
Good morning Generals!
We love the smell of coffee and cigarettes in the morning (yes, that’s our usual breakfast) and here we are with the third and final dev diary, ready to go balls to the walls!
First things first — mark your calendars. Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines - Cyrenaica DLC launches on March 11th. Stay tuned and don't miss it.
So, no more chatter—or as we say in Italian, "bando alle ciance"—let’s jump straight into the major features we’ve introduced in this DLC.
Side note: This diary will tend to be more technical.
MAJOR FEATURES
First of all, let’s take a look at the features that apply to both campaigns.
New weather condition We’re in the desert, and what’s worse than something unpleasant, tedious, and unavoidable like sand? A storm of sand. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new weather condition: the Sandstorm. Gameplay-wise, it will do what a sandstorm does: be a pain in the... ahem... reducing visibility, slowing down unit movement, and preventing airplanes from flying. Of course, it will also come with brand-new and beautiful VFX, with the usual two weather effects options: subtle and strong.
New gameplay dynamics/Custom Objectives We’ve also managed to introduce new types of gameplay dynamics, such as intercepting enemy units, escaping, and finding lost units, alongside the already familiar ones like deploying mines, protecting or destroying units, and much more. In short, we’ve included a variety of missions that make the gameplay dynamic and never repetitive. But let’s dive a little bit deeper on the new ones: escape, intercept and find lost units.
Escape In this type of mission, you’ll need to move specific auxiliary units to designated escape hexes. Once they reach one of the designated hexes, they will disappear, and a message will update you on the current Objective status. Protecting those units is a key factor to complete the mission.
Intercept On the other hand, you’ll need to intercept some units that are trying to escape or reach specific hexes. Their behaviour remains the same as the escape: the unit disappears, and the current Objective status updates. They can be very deceitful.
Find lost units Last but not least, as we mentioned in the previous dev diary, you’ll need to locate some lost units in the desert. In both campaigns, you’ll need to find them before the enemy does, or… well, let’s just say it could get worse.
Adaptive AI What we mean by adaptive AI is that it dynamically adjusts its behavior based on your performance and the evolving situation in the game. For instance, if you're performing exceptionally well and overpowering your opponents, the AI may escalate its response by calling for reinforcements, or switching to more aggressive tactics to regain control of the situation. Conversely, if the AI finds itself in a losing position, it might prioritize defensive strategies, such as taking cover, retreating to a more secure location, or regrouping with allies to form a stronger front. This type of AI doesn’t just react passively but actively tries to adapt to your style of play, challenging you in new and unpredictable ways.
Integrated Image System Thanks to the addition of this system in Fall of Poland, we are excited to include the image system in our DLC as well!
We are happy to use it since it enhances the immersion and conveys the events in a more visual and compelling way.
ITALIAN CAMPAIGN - UNIQUE FEATURES
Now let’s land on the Italian perspective and see what are the unique features that characterize this campaign.
New Mechanic: Core Slot Reduction This is the first time this type of mechanic is used in Panzer Corps 2. We aim to reflect the struggles of the Italian army and replicate their massive losses. As a result, during the Italian campaign, starting from the Operation Compass (scenario 5), the number of Core Slots will be reduced from one scenario to the next. Don’t panic! We know you may feel like General Graziani in this portrait, but by completing secondary objectives, you’ll be able to gain bonus Core Slots. Additionally, some hero traits, like Zero-Slot, will help you compensate for these losses.
Hero-Based Gameplay Since these operations involved many Italian generals, we designed the gameplay, objectives, and rewards based on actual figures who fought or were prominent in these operations, included as Heroes. Therefore, in the Italian campaign, Heroes are a key feature that allow you to create synergy in your army by exploiting their traits, while also helping to manage enemy units. Finally, to stay as historically accurate as possible, the hero traits are primarily based on the characteristics and actions they performed on the battlefield. For example, General Annibale 'Electric Whiskers' Bergonzoli was partly known, after recognising that the situation in Bardia was hopeless and that it would fall into enemy hands, for having traveled on foot through the desert, retreating toward Tobruk with a few thousand soldiers with him. As a result, the traits we assigned to him reflect these actions, with Fast Retreat and Phased Movement.
Another example is Enrico Pitassi Mannella, an artillery specialist known among his colleagues as the ‘King of Artillerymen’. Consequently, the traits we assigned to him are Lethal Attack and Expert Support.
To summarize, in the Italian campaign, you will find many Heroes who will be useful for managing different dynamics, with each one specializing in specific areas, as reflected by their traits.
Retreat and destroy A general dynamic of the Italian campaign is what we called Retreat and Destroy.
Throughout the Italian campaign, the general feeling will be to retreat toward friendly lines and… destroy. Destroy? While retreating? Well, yes. On some occasions, there were back-and-forth battles where you will be tasked with destroying some enemy units, but also missions that require you to destroy your own supplies, with one of the most notable being the scuttling of the San Giorgio, which we’ve included as a special type of mission.
New bonus mission As mentioned in the previous Dev Diary, we’ve added a mission specifically for the Italian campaign, that replicates the dynamic of the ship San Giorgio. Just to refresh your memory, during the attack on Tobruk, the San Giorgio was surrounded by British ships and remained stationary in the port of Tobruk. In order to prevent the resources from falling into British hands, the decision was made to scuttle it.
Therefore, we replicated this dynamic, abstracting it and dividing it into two steps: we assigned a specific truck to collect the materials needed to scuttle the ship—namely explosives—and then deliver them to the area around the ship in the port to sink it.
And then…Kaboom!
BRITISH CAMPAIGN - UNIQUE FEATURES
Landing on the opposite side, let’s see what characterizes the British campaign.
Coordinate multiple factions To be accurate, instead of talking about the British faction, it is more correct to talk about the British Commonwealth and its colonies and allies, which includes a vast array of nations supporting them. During this period and in the area of conflict we are covering, we can find some of them: Free France (allied), British India (colony), and Australian divisions (part of the Commonwealth).
For this reason, you'll encounter these factions in some scenarios, allowing you to purchase their units as support and include them in your army.
Scenario Consequences Consequences will stem from your actions in the current scenario and/or the next one, depending on whether or not you completed the Bonus Objectives. For example, in this case, defeating the unit led by the hero Enrico Pitassi Mannella not only grants a prestige reward but also causes the morale of the other Italian artillery to drop, lowering their strength, reflecting the chaos and sense of disorientation caused by the lack of leadership—as if they didn’t already lack it…
Completing some Bonus Objectives will not only reward you instantly, but also influence future scenarios, creating tactical and strategic advantages. Sometimes, even failing an Objective could have consequences.
Protect and destroy A general dynamic of the British campaign is what we called Protect and Destroy. Throughout the British campaign, in addition to the more common objectives related to cities, there will be objectives focused on protecting your units in the early stages of the campaign, gradually shifting more toward the offensive phase, where you'll focus on destroying enemies, as well as supply dumps, ships, minefields, and anything else that might hinder your progress toward your goal. All for a greater good, of course.
Additionally, on a couple of occasions, you'll be tasked through Bonus Objectives to defeat or destroy some Italian Hero units. Sometimes they’ll try to fight you, and sometimes they’ll prefer to escape.
So, unlike the Italian campaign, which is much more focused on defense and retreat, the British campaign is much more centered around invasion, which we've reflected through more attack-focused objectives.
As they say, the best defense is a good offense, right?
CONCLUSION
Thanks again for joining us for this third and last Developer Diary on the latest upcoming Panzer Corps 2 DLC Frontlines - Cyrenaica. You now have what it takes to enter the fray and guide your army to victory… or almost!
Frontlines - Cyrenaica | Dev Diary #2 - Environment and Historical Events
Good morning Colonels.
We are back and we hope you packed your bag because today we will land in the desert environment, exploring a little bit deeper what happened in Operation E and Operation Compass with an overview on the peculiar historical events, and how we managed to include them in this campaign.
ENVIRONMENT
Let’s start talking about the desert environment: a place where resources are scarce, and sand is your best friend or your worst enemy—mostly because you find it even in places you wouldn’t want to.
We wanted to capture that feeling, and we shaped the terrain to let you make the most of it: dunes provide high ground, escarpments offer cover and vantage points for ranged units, and the map features a good mix of open desert and narrow passages.
Of course, this can be a double-edged sword. Moving across the map isn’t always easy, especially for heavily armored units. It’s all about balance: you have to maximize what you have based on the terrain and never, ever push your army into an area where it will move too slowly and become an easy target for the enemy.
Let’s get practical In the first Italian map (Sollum), the Regio Esercito is tasked with launching a swift attack to capture the city of Sollum, currently under British control.
The terrain features a vast stretch of dunes, partially enclosed by escarpments in the central and southern parts of the map, while a minor road runs east to west, cutting across the battlefield. This time, the Italian commander has several options—and they’re outlined directly by the briefing officer himself, General Mario Berti. One approach is to use the central road, which allows for rapid movement but is guarded by a British outpost and is likely patrolled by additional enemy units. So, what to do? The obvious answer: cut through the open desert and try to surprise the enemy by attacking from an unexpected direction! But it’s not that simple…
Moving through open desert is slow and treacherous, and the player risks losing momentum, stretching their forces too thin, and becoming an easy target for enemy recon units and tactical bombers. All in all, as Berti himself suggests, a coordinated attack from multiple fronts might be the key to solving this puzzle. But, as always, success depends on multiple factors—many of which are in the player’s hands: what units are in the core army, which traits have been assigned to the commander, and which heroes are available…
In the end, there’s no single “correct” solution—only strategies that align with your playstyle and the resources at your disposal. But whatever approach you choose, it all comes down to a careful analysis of the terrain.
Realism To maintain historical accuracy, we aimed to stay as true as possible to the real terrain layout, as well as the distances and proportions between key locations. We did our research and based our scenarios on both historical maps and Google Earth to ensure maximum accuracy. That said, this is still a game, so we took a few creative liberties here and there—but only when they enhanced the gameplay.
Additionally, to reinforce immersion, we kept the original place names as they were used by each faction. For example, in this context, Tobruk is referred to as "Tobruch" by the Italians.
Not only sand We are in North Africa, it’s all desert and sand! Well, not quite. In fact, along the Cyrenaica there are the so-called “Green Mountains”, that gave us the opportunity to explore variety and create a couple of scenarios where the mountains play a big role. Narrow passages, strategic placements, ambushes and encirclements are the main characteristics of these scenarios. With the British faction you will have to try to penetrate the holdout defense of the Italians, whilst in the opposite case, you’ll have to manage the British rush while covering and retreating when needed. In both cases, these scenarios offer a different approach to the environment, and, as always, you will have to understand and exploit it to not be doomed.
Additionally, the closer we get to the Green Mountains, the more rivers we encounter. Therefore, we wanted to include them in a few maps, giving them an important role as obstacles to be overcome.
All in all, we can consider the desert environment as a third faction. Making it your ally is up to you!
HISTORICAL EVENTS
For the ones who like history—but also for the ones who don’t like it—you are in the right paragraph. We want to give you an overview of the historical events that inspired us to create some missions and situations in this DLC of Panzer Corps 2.
Operation E and Operation Compass - A rapid overview
Operation E was Italy’s attempt to invade Egypt from Libya in September 1940. Led by Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, the Italian forces advanced about 100 kilometers into Egyptian territory but halted at Sidi Barrani, lacking supplies and strategic coordination. This slow and hesitant advance left them in a vulnerable defensive position.
Operation Compass was the British response, launched in December 1940 under General Richard O’Connor. Despite being outnumbered, British and Commonwealth forces executed a swift and well-coordinated counterattack. They routed the Italians, pushing them back over 800 kilometers, capturing key positions like Bardia and Tobruk, and taking over 130,000 prisoners.
This victory marked a turning point in the North African campaign and exposed the weaknesses of the Italian military in the region.
Peculiar events and historical facts Throughout these operations, we encountered some peculiar events, which we incorporated as missions within the gameplay. Here are a few of them:
Where are my units? Starting from one that made us smile a little bit: the lost Italian units in the desert. When the Italian invasion of Egypt began in September 1940, the Maletti Group, [Raggruppamento Maletti, Major-General Pietro Maletti], lacking experience of desert conditions, got lost leaving Sidi Omar, disappeared and had to be found by Italian reconnaissance. So we wanted to include this particular episode as a bonus objective in the first map, in both campaigns.
Exploiting the momentum The Italian plan was to attack Marsa Matruh, but scarce resources forced Marshal Graziani to halt the invasion. The British were prepared for the Italian advance, but when it did not materialize, they decided to launch a counterattack. Wavell ordered a limited operation to reconquer Egypt.
Operation Compass, for administrative reasons, was originally planned as a five-day raid but consideration was given to continuing the operation to exploit success, pushing forward into Libya.
On 28 November, Wavell said: “I do not entertain extravagant hopes of this operation but I do wish to make certain that if a big opportunity occurs we are prepared morally, mentally and administratively to use it to the fullest.”
They truly were, and they seized the opportunity.
Wait, are they attacking us? But I’m still in my pajamas! During the British advance on Nibeiwa, the Italian air reconnaissance spotted British vehicle movements in the area, but Maletti, who was in command of the Nibeiwa camp at the time, was apparently not informed.
Under cover of the noise from the British artillery bombardment on the east side of Nibeiwa, British tanks and lorries drove around the west side of the camp, misleading the Italians. The Italian tank crews had no time to react before their tanks were knocked out. The British tanks broke down the walls and drove into the camp, where the Italians had just breakfasted; Maletti held the ground armed only with a machine-gun in his hands and died in battle still in his pajamas.
If we can’t have it, neither can you. Another episode that highlights how poorly the Italians were prepared and disorganized: the sinking of the San Giorgio ship. This episode stands as a symbol of the challenges faced by the Italian forces during the campaign. The San Giorgio, a heavily armed cruiser stationed in Tobruk, was considered a valuable asset for coastal defense.
However, due to a lack of coordination, proper planning, and efficient execution, as well as being encircled by British ships, the Italians were forced to scuttle the San Giorgio to prevent its resources from falling into British hands.
The sinking not only reflected the broader logistical and operational shortcomings of the Italian military but also demoralized the forces stationed in the area, further complicating their already precarious position in the war.
Visual Addition To enhance immersion, provide an overview of events between maps, and give more context on army movements, we have added visual elements between certain scenarios. These additions will help you understand the geographical positions and support the narrative layer.
CONCLUSION
Thanks for joining us again in this second Dev Diary. Now that you know what you will face and you have your bags packed, we are ready to go balls to the wall! See you in the third and final Dev Diary.
Frontlines - Cyrenaica | Dev Diary #1 - On the Double - Factions and Units
Good morning, Lieutenants!
Welcome to the first Developer Diary exploring the upcoming Frontlines - Cyrenaica DLC Campaign for Panzer Corps 2. There’s all kinds of interesting details to be found in the latest upcoming Panzer Corps 2 Campaign, so let’s dive into it!
FRONTLINES CAMPAIGN
The campaign depicts the Battle of Cyrenaica from mid-September 1940 to mid-March 1941. In the summer of 1940, a German attack on Great Britain seems imminent. Seeking a place among the victors, Italy launches a surprise offensive from Libya into British-controlled Egypt. This marks the beginning of the North African Campaign. This campaign covers the operations known as Operation E (the Italian invasion of Egypt) and Operation Compass (the British counterattack to the Italian invasion, and the successive invasion of Libya).
In line with the Frontlines series, these campaigns will be shorter but highly intense. This focused approach allows us to present specific operations in greater detail.
These operations are often overlooked in history books or quickly summarized to focus on the “core” events of World War II. However, these operations were crucial in shaping the decisions of both sides and were pivotal to the events that followed. So, we want to dive deeper into them as we believe they are worth being shown and played in a dedicated DLC Campaign.
Given their nature as “rapid battles”, the Frontline series is perfectly suited to showcase their importance, as these battles are primarily fought in cities or within a few kilometers, offering a zoomed-in and more detailed approach.
DOUBLE CAMPAIGN
For the first time in Panzer Corps 2, we want you to experience the same battles from both perspectives, each one with their own perception of the events and different objectives to achieve victory (well, almost!). For each campaign you will create and command your core army for both factions: the Italians and the British Commonwealth.
FACTIONS
Talking about Italians and British Commonwealth, you will primarily face off against the 10th Army for the British and the 7th Armoured Division for the Italians, along with the Commonwealth forces that supported them: the Free French, the 4th Indian Division, and the 6th Australian Division.
Although the Italians had numerical superiority, their vehicles and firepower were far less effective than those of the British Commonwealth. We’ve aimed to capture this dynamic in both campaigns.
On top of that, we want to give space to all the prominent personalities present on the battlefield. You will encounter —and be able to use— a variety of heroes who played key roles in these battles, each one with traits that better reflect their real-life actions and contributions.
PORTRAITS
In this campaign, we want to give more depth to the personalities who shaped the events at a higher level. We’ve created detailed portraits of key generals and governors, each with multiple expressions that reflect different situations. These figures will not only appear in briefings, but will also provide a narrative thread throughout the campaign, offering more immersion and context.
For the Italian forces, among others, you'll encounter Generals Mario Berti and Giuseppe Tellera, Commanders of the Tenth Army, and General Rodolfo Graziani, the Governor of Libya. Graziani’s controversial decisions had significant consequences in the desert battles, and you will directly experience the consequences of his choices.
On the British side, General Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, and General Richard O'Connor, known for his bold leadership during Operation Compass, will guide you through the campaign. By integrating these historical figures into the narrative, we aim to enrich your experience, providing both strategic guidance and an immersive story that brings the decisions of the generals to life.
MAJOR UNITS
Last (for now) but not least, here are some of the units from both factions that you can expect to encounter.
The primary armored vehicles used in these battles were the M11/39 and the M13/40 for Italy, and Cruiser Tanks and Matilda II for the British.
Talking about the air force, you will find the Fiat CR.42 Falco and the Gloster Gladiator, which often engaged in 1v1 aerial duels over the skies of Cyrenaica.
But overall, a very important role was played by the recon units, such as the British Morris CS9 or the Italian AB40. Their high mobility in the challenging and hostile desert terrain provided a significant advantage to the factions that used them most effectively.
In addition to them, we wanted to add some new and peculiar units that played a main role in these operations.
ITALIAN UNITS
Moto Guzzi TriAlce The Moto Guzzi TriAlce was a versatile and nimble motorcycle designed for quick maneuvers and transport. Produced in 1939 to replace the Moto Guzzi GT 20, it was used extensively in all three of its versions: single-seat, two-seat, and sidecar. Armed with a Breda M37 8mm machine gun, the TriAlce saw action in almost every battle. A very useful and, in fact, used Recon unit.
Ascari del Cielo (Black Devils) The Ascari del Cielo, also known as the “Black Devils,” were the first paratroopers of the Italian Army, although they were never used as airborne units in combat situations. They were composed of Libyan personnel of Arab-Berber ethnicity, with extensive knowledge of the terrain and the desert. During the North African campaign, they were heavily deployed as infantry.
Mortaio da 81 mod.35 The Mortaio da 81 mod.35 was one of the most versatile and widely used weapons by Italian forces during the North African campaign in World War II. Developed in 1935, this 81mm mortar was praised for its combination of mobility and effectiveness on the battlefield. Its relatively lightweight made it easy to transport across the challenging desert terrain, where speed and adaptability were crucial for providing vital indirect fire support to Italian infantry units.
Cannone da 65/17 The Cannone da 65/17 was a lightweight and versatile artillery piece used by the Italian Army. Designed as a mountain gun, it was highly portable, easy to dismantle, and well-suited for challenging terrains, like the North African desert. This gun served as both an artillery piece and an anti-tank weapon, though its effectiveness against modern tanks was limited. However, its simplicity, mobility, and durability ensured its continued use, despite being pretty outdated by World War II standards.
BRITISH UNITS
RR Armored CarThe Rolls-Royce Armored Car was a robust vehicle designed for both mobility and firepower, primarily used as a recon unit due to its high mobility. Rolls-Royce played a significant role in the construction of this vehicle, as well as in the development of the Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine, which powered some of the most iconic aircraft of World War II, including the Spitfire, the Hurricane, and the Battle.
Cruiser Tanks (MKII - MKIII) Cruiser tanks were a series of fast and agile tanks, each one improving upon its predecessor. Since various types of Cruisers were used, we aim to “complete the series,” adding the MKII and MKIII to offer more choice and enhance historical accuracy.
The Cruiser MKII, also known as the A10, was a heavier version of the MKI, armed with a QF 2-pounder 40mm gun and two BESA 7.92mm machine guns. Designed to be an infantry tank, it lacked the necessary characteristics and was instead used as a heavy cruiser.
The Cruiser MKIII, also known as the A13, was the first tank of its class to use the Christie suspension system, which significantly enhanced speed and cross-country performance. This innovation made it faster and more maneuverable than its predecessors, allowing it to operate effectively as a medium cruiser and play a key role in the desert campaigns of North Africa, where mobility and speed were crucial.
Bofors 37mm PortéeThe Bofors 37mm Portée was an adaptation of the Bofors 37mm anti-tank gun, modified to increase mobility in the challenging terrain of North Africa. The gun was mounted on vehicles, such as trucks, allowing for quick transport across the battlefield. Its armament was capable of penetrating the armor of light and medium vehicles with relative ease, but its effectiveness decreased as tank armor improved, and it was gradually phased out during the course of World War II.
NEW UNITS LIST
To wrap things up, here is the complete list of new units arriving with this DLC, expanding your strategic options on the battlefield.
That’s all for this first Dev Diary, thank you for joining us. Start packing your bags and get ready to face desert conditions, sandstorms, and tackle the unique events you’ll encounter. In the next Dev Diary, we’ll dive deeper into the environment and some key historical events, exploring how they’re integrated into this Panzer Corps 2 DLC. See you there.
Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines – Cyrenaica and Beta Sign-Ups
Step into the heart of the North African Campaign with Panzer Corps 2: Frontlines – Cyrenaica, the latest DLC for Panzer Corps 2. Covering the critical battles of Operation E and Operation Compass, this expansion brings the harsh desert warfare of Cyrenaica to life like never before.
Experience two expansive campaigns, commanding both the Italian and British forces. Relive the Italians’ fleeting victories and chaotic retreat, or lead the British in a masterful counteroffensive. Iconic units, real-life generals, and innovative gameplay mechanics will challenge your tactical skills as you navigate Cyrenaica's unforgiving deserts.
Beta Sign-Ups Are Open
We’re excited to announce that beta sign-ups are now live. The beta will begin before the end of December, and we’ll keep you updated as we get closer.
Prepare your strategies and join us on this tactical journey into one of World War II's most iconic theaters.
We have a grab bag of goodies to share in this news update today.
In the latest Panzer Corps 2 patch, we’ve got some general fixes and improvements for the game, some fine tuning adjustments for the recent Fall of Poland campaign, but most excitingly and also the focus of this announcement is the release of four brand new scenarios for all owners of Panzer Corps 2 to enjoy... at no additional cost and with no DLC ownership required. Consider these scenarios as our holiday gift to you, our players and community, who have kept Panzer Corps going and going for over 13 years and counting. Thank you once again, and we hope you enjoy the scenarios even more than these previews of them we have for you today.
Change log:
Added 4 new single scenarios: End in Poland, Attu, Imphal, and Rhone River
Fixed a few minor issues in War Stories: Fall of Poland campaign
The first scenario we’d like to cover is fittingly set to the current season and takes place during a stormy winter battle, the Battle of Attu. In this scenario, you’ll get an opportunity to lead a joint US and Canadian force in the struggle to liberate Attu, part of the Aleutian islands off the coast of Alaska, which had been occupied by the Japanese in June of ’42.
Be prepared for a very unique amphibious landing battle that actually takes place during a snowstorm, definitely a one-of-a-kind battle with that element in it. But that’s not the only surprise in store in this historical scenario, and we don’t want to spoil every surprise here in this reveal...
The second free scenario takes you back to Poland in 1939, but unlike the recent fall of Poland DLC, in the Battle of Kock you’ll be commanding German forces in the final battle of the Polish Campaign that marked the absolute end of organized Polish Resistance.
Expect to see many of the brand new units added during the Fall of Poland DLC to make their appearances here, as all of those units are included with the base game of Panzer Corps 2 and they are not directly tied to the campaign DLC purchase.
The next scenario in this free content pack moves to India, with the opening stages of the crucial Battle of Imphal, as played from a Japanese perspective. A large roster of Japanese units has been added to Panzer Corps 2 ever since the release of Axis Operations 1946, and that makes this scenario the first ever Panzer Corps 2 scenario with the Japanese as the playable faction.
In the Battle of Imphal, you’ll be fighting a very different kind of war compared to fighting across the plains of Europe or Steppes of Russia. Between your Japanese forces and their ultimate goal of Imphal are thick jungles and mountainous terrain that characterized the border between India and Burma. Good air support and plenty of units capable of fighting in dense terrain absolutely characterize the opening act of this battle. But as for what happens after the breakthrough, well that would be another spoiler...
And last but not least, we have one fictional scenario to join the previous three historical scenarios of this free content package. This one is set during June of 1940, at the end of the Battle of France. In this scenario, you’ll actually be playing as a French force, attempting to stall both German panzers and also Italian invaders from capturing more and more of France before an armistice is reached.
We hope you all enjoyed this preview of the pack of free scenarios being included in this latest Panzer Corps 2 patch. And to further celebrate, we’ll be putting Panzer Corps 2 on sale for anyone new who is interested in picking up the game to enjoy its wealth of hundreds of scenarios and many historical World War II campaigns.
Thank you once again to all our awesome players and to the community as a whole. We wish you all Happy Holidays and best wishes through the rest of winter. We’ll be right back with more news and updates to share very early next year.
Panzer Corps 2 - Lets Play with DasTactic and Gamer_1745
The entire Panzer Corps 2 franchise is on sale on Steam with discounts of up to 60% off. Don't miss out and complete your collection, the sale runs until October 21st
The primary armored vehicles used in these battles were the 
Talking about the air force, you will find the 
But overall, a very important role was played by the recon units, such as the 
The 
The 
The 
The 
The 
The
The 
The 
