Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
The Great War: Western Front
Launch Day | Update 1.0.1 Patch Notes
Reporting in, Commanders!
We trust you are taking to your roles as Theatre and Field Commanders effectively as you begin your campaigns. In response to your feedback from early access, we have made the following adjustments:
Strategic AI (Theatre Commander)
Changed AI research into Income and Supply improvement technologies to better scale with game difficulty.
Increased the wait time between assaults (except for situations where a follow-up assault is mandated such as priority regions, surrounded regions that must be recovered, or regions which are missing stars and require pressure).
Reduced the tendency to attack weak region opportunistically. Adjacent enemy regions with large differences in troop stacks (e.g. 3 vs 1) are still likely targets.
Tactical AI (Field Commander)
Adjusted the Pre-Battle allotment of available Supply for emplacements (artillery and Machine Gun nests) to reduce overall construction.
Reduced the range of AI balloon vision to match expected values.
Adjusted AI vision in adverse weather conditions to be appropriately reduced.
Slightly reduced the artillery fire rate for targets spotted by companies as they approach.
Reduced usage of artillery on targets solely spotted by balloons.
Reduced the likelihood of approaching companies choosing the most appropriate target for artillery.
Reduced desire for companies to withdraw when low on morale/health.
Reduced the company reinforcement rate.
Miscellaneous
Set the default difficulty to Trainee to improve the new player experience.
Adjusted the Light Artillery suppression barrage indicator to better match the suppression radius.
These changes will help the efficiency of the AI to scale appropriately to your difficulty settings both in battle and the Theatre of War. Many of the effects of these changes will increase and decrease according to which difficulty you are playing on.
Thank you for your feedback, please continue to let us know about your experiences out on the front!
The Petroglyph and Frontier Foundry Teams
Today's Launch and Global Release Times
Hello Commanders!
We trust you are as excited as us for the full release of The Great War: Western Front later today. To confirm, the release is scheduled for 17:00 BST. For Europe, East US and West US, this means:
18:00 CEST
12:00 EDT
09:00 PDT
Please see the full global release times below for the release time in your local time zone.
The Store page currently marks the release time for 14:00 BST. Please be aware the correct launch time is 17:00 BST.
Early Access Feedback: AI Difficulty and Upcoming Changes
Reporting in, Commanders!
Thank you to everyone that has pre-ordered The Great War: Western Front and has been enjoying early access. We trust that your strategic experience as Theatre and Field Commander is growing as you begin your campaigns. Your feedback is invaluable to us, especially for planning future adjustments. In this post, we will outline the feedback that has been raised and our plans to address it. Some of the changes will arrive in a small update within the coming days while others will come in a larger update scheduled for April.
During early access, AI difficulty has risen to the top of the discussion. This topic can be broken down into several points which together give the impression that the AI has an unfair advantage. The intended design is to have an AI which poses a challenge that scales with difficulty settings, but only by using the same options as the player. To ensure this comes across at release, we will address each point individually:
Seemingly Endless Resources
Some of you have reported that the AI appears to have far more Supply than it should during battle. This is indicated by heavy troop reinforcements, a high number of emplacements, and relentless artillery bombardment. We can confirm that the AI is required to manage Supply in the same way players are. However, we are closely examining how efficient the AI is at distributing and managing Supply and adjusting this efficiency to ensure it scales to difficulty.
AI Visibility Through the Fog of War
AI visibility through the Fog of War is designed to be limited for the AI as it is for players. This means that any actions such as artillery fire must pass a “visibility check”. However, the AI often places observation balloons aggressively, granting a long range of vision. While destroying these balloons will limit this vision to infantry, the AI will remember seen information. To ensure that the AI’s visibility does not extend too far, we will examine the range provided by its observation balloons. This includes addressing cases where the AI’s vision is unaffected by weather conditions, which is under investigation.
Use of Artillery
As mentioned above, the way the AI currently uses artillery is likely linked to its efficient management and use of Supply combined with additional range of vision. In addition to the two changes mentioned above, we will take a closer look at the AI use of artillery, to ensure it is used and spread in a way that matches expectations. Any resulting changes will be designed to make the precision and targeting of AI artillery to feel more human and authentic.
The update which is expected in the next few days will improve the AI experience in each of the above areas. The April update will then build upon these AI improvements and include other fixes to cover additional feedback. Thank you again for your feedback and suggestions. We trust you are as excited as we are for tomorrow’s full release! Good luck out there on the front, Commanders.
The Frontier Foundry and Petroglyph Teams
Available Now in Early Access!
The Great War: Western Front is now available via early access to those who pre-ordered.
If you are having trouble downloading, please restart your Steam client (first by Exiting from the drop-down menu in the top left).
Launch Details and System Requirements
Are you ready to take command of the front? As we count down the days to launch, we hope you’re as excited as us for The Great War: Western Front's release on 30 March at 17:00 BST on Steam and the Epic Games Store!
Managing your supplies and equipment is crucial to taking full control of the battlefield. To prepare for you for engaging the enemy and ensure a smooth experience, we recommend the following system specifications:
It’s never too early to get ahead of the opposition. If you're too excited to wait for the 30th, pre-order either version of The Great War: Western Front to gain access three days early on the 27th of March at 17:00 BST.
A true strategist will gather all available intelligence to inform their strategy. Enhance your experience with the Victory Edition! This version contains:
The Great War: Western Front™ Full Game Download
A Digital Field Guide Containing Additional In-Game Intelligence
Five Wallpapers
Original Soundtrack Featuring 31 Tracks from Frank Klepacki
Making plans for when you can take command of the Western Front? Global release times for both the pre-order early access and full releases are as follows:
UK – 17:00 BST
EU – 18:00 CEST
US (East) – 12:00 EDT
US (West) – 09:00 PDT
You can also check out the map below with further territories:
We await your presence in the theatre of war, commander. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for more news and reveals from Petroglyph and Frontier Foundry.
Scoring the Western Front
The Great War: Western Front's powerful soundtrack will underpin your experience on the front and the greater theatre of war. Join award-winning Composer & Audio Director Frank Klepacki as he reveals the process behind creating the sound of the game.
Inspired by classical composers of the era, Frank Klepacki used a traditional orchestra of one hundred musicians to create the music for The Great War: Western Front. In the video, he explains the techniques used to match the emotions players will feel throughout the game. He then goes on to describe other ways the tone and expression compliment the experience such as using calmer music at the theatre level and pre-battle stages while intensity increases during combat.
Pre-order The Great War: Western Front now on Steam and the Epic Games Store, ahead of its launch on March 30 and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more news and reveals from Petroglyph and Frontier Foundry. Buy the Victory Edition to receive a copy of the soundtrack among other digital extras!
The Allied Nations and the Central Powers: Choose Your Faction
By July 1914, two rival powers had formed within Europe. The Triple Entente consisted of Britain, France, and Russia and was later joined by others, becoming known as the Allied Nations. The Triple Alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Both forces were fueled by suspicion of the other. In the eyes of the Triple Entente, Germany had become a political and military powerhouse at the centre of Europe, posing a significant threat. From Germany's perspective, it was surrounded by constant potential enemies to both the east and the west and under mounting pressure.
In The Great War: Western Front, you will command the armies of your chosen faction – either the Allied Nations or Central Powers. Each will present unique opportunities according to their strengths and weaknesses. Understanding and using these differences will be key to gaining an advantage over the enemy.
The Allied Nations
A coalition of countries including Britain, France, Belgium, USA, Australia, Canada, and India joined forces to fight against the Central Powers. These Allied Nations overcame language barriers and utilised varying expertise to battle across the Western Front; from the daring British fighter pilots to the ingenious French tank engineers, to millions of troops on the ground from across the globe. As Commander of the Allied Nations, you must make the best tactical use of these resources, manage morale and research new ways to turn your troops' proficiencies into victory on the battlefield. Each nation which enters the war later in the Campaign will have a point on the event timeline designating the earliest moment they can enter conflict. These events are known as National Arrivals. Anticipate the arrival of additional nations' troops and resources to manage your strategy effectively at the Theatre level.
Nationality Bonuses
Each country for the Allies has a unique bonus which applies to all of their infantry companies:
Britain: Crack Shot - Infantry have 10% additional vision and rifle range.
France: Home Advantage - Infantry companies cost less supply to field as reinforcements
Belgium: Unbreakable - All negative morale modifiers are reduced by 50%
USA: Tank Fans - Infantry gain better morale bonuses and less penalties when around any tanks.
Australia: Stone Wall - Companies receive 10% additional cover from firing trenches.
Canada: Synchronized - Infantry gain additional benefit from Smoke or Rolling barrage cover bonuses.
India: Gurkhas - Base infantry are less effective in the French climate, but corps gain Ghurka raiders.
National Arrivals
Co-ordinating the arrival of additional nations, taking advantage of nationality bonuses, and deploying specialised units effectively can all give the Allies' an advantage. However, you will suffer one key weakness. While the Allied Nations are working to a common goal, they are not unified enough to allow for joint leadership of their troops. As such, some units from different nations will face a morale penalty when stacking together. Place and transport your troops intelligently to minimise the disruption within your ranks. The following nations’ troops belong to a set can be stacked together without penalty: Britain, Canada, India, and Australia. American and French troops will receive a penalty when stacked with any other nation’s troops (with one exception). Meanwhile, Belgian troops can stack with British or French troops without penalty.
The Central Powers
A homogenous army, well-drilled and efficient in their fighting, the Central Powers were led by Germany, citing a need to defend themselves from the mobilisation of forces in Russia from the east and France from the west. Whilst the Central Powers lack the diverse expertise of the Allied Nations. Lead the Central Powers and turn the Western Front into German territory with Paris as your primary target.
Unlike the Allied Nations, the Central Powers are a homogenous force fighting under the same flag for the same Generals. They share language, culture, and goals for the war. As such, they do not suffer from any morale penalties when stacking troops in a region. Use this to your advantage when positioning your troops along the front, forcing the Allies to group troops together and receive a morale penalty. While receiving National Arrival events is unique to the Allies, the Central Powers still have access to other events throughout the Campaign which grant additional troops.
Conscript Infantry
The Central Powers have access to a roster of unique units. One of these are Conscript Infantry which may be less effective than standard troops individually, but may be deployed in overwhelming numbers to outlast the enemy as casualties mount.
We trust that as both Field and Theatre Commander, you still strategise according to your faction's strengths and exploit the enemy's weaknesses. Make sure to adjust your strategy and develop technology through the tech tree to achieve this. Doing so will be crucial to tipping the needle in your favour in battle and ultimately winning the war.
Pre-order The Great War: Western Front now on Steam and the Epic Games Store, ahead of its launch on March 30 and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more news and reveals from Petroglyph Games and Frontier Foundry.
Commanding the Western Front
We hope you enjoyed the first behind-the-scenes video, Defining the Front Line, where we heard from Petroglyph about The Great War: Western Front's key aspects and goals. Now, our second behind-the-scenes discussion moves on to Commanding the Western Front as we dive deeper into the Campaign and the difficult choices you will have to make to lead your chosen faction to victory:
In The Great War: Western Front, you will command either the Allied Nations' or Central Powers' forces with unique strategy required for either side. Each have their own set of features, presenting unique advantages and challenges. In the video, Petroglyph examine the ways you can make history your own through the events system, tech tree, and more, ensuring that no playthrough is ever the same.
They go on to discuss The Great War: Western Front's dual roles. Throughout the Campaign, players will play at the Theatre and Field levels, each of which involve crucial decision making and planning. The Theatre Commander role demands careful planning and management of the Western Front as you attempt to push the front line forward while maintaining your economy. As Field Commander, you must make the most of your resources and apply your tactics and trench warfare knowledge to win the war of inches. Each role affects the other and mastering the interplay between them is the key to victory.
We hope you enjoy the developers' insights and we'll see you on the Front, Commanders.
Pre-order or wishlist The Great War: Western Front ahead of its launch on March 30 on Steam and the Epic Games Store! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube for the latest news and reveals from Petroglyph and Frontier Foundry.
Steam Next Fest Demo: FAQ
Thank you all for taking part in our demo at Steam Next Fest and sharing your experiences with us. We are delighted that so many of you have enjoyed taking command of the Western Front for the first time and we appreciate your support.
We’d like to take a moment to address several frequently asked questions and provide information to help you succeed on the battlefield:
How can I maximise performance?
We would like to remind players that the demo version of the game is not fully representative of the final product launching on March 30.
However, if you are experiencing reduced performance during the demo, we recommend that you consider lowering your graphical settings to ensure an enjoyable gameplay experience. We also advise checking that your primary GPU is being recognised.
To receive support for the above or any persistent performance issues such as low FPS, stuttering, or long loading times, please see this article for troubleshooting tips:
If these do not help, there is a link to a form you can use to contact our support team.
Why do my infantry die so quickly?
True to history, troops in WW1 are extremely vulnerable outside of the trenches. This is especially true when exposed to artillery fire and machine gun nests. Plan and time your charges carefully to avoid heavy losses. Knowing which artillery type is best suited to the current situation can also help keep your men alive. Here are some tips to using each artillery type effectively:
Siege Artillery: Best used to soften up the enemy before an attack. Can be called in to deal massive damage during a battle but at a great supply cost.
Heavy Artillery: Best used against enemies in the open or to destroy a specific position. Deals heavy heath and moral damage.
Light Artillery: Best used to cover advancing troops. This artillery deals significantly less damage then Heavy but is perfect for suppressing enemy positions.
Note that a rolling barrage is far more effective at providing cover and suppression for your charging infantry than as a defensive tool against incoming enemy troops.
Which modes will come in full release?
The full release will include the following game modes:
Campaign: manage your resources and plan carefully as Theatre Commander to enact your grand strategy across the breadth of the war as either the Allied Forces or the Central Powers. Also take on the role of Field Commander and tip the odds of battle in your favour in real-time on living, persistent battlefields.
Skirmish: a “sandbox” mode where you can determine the conditions of the battle. In Skirmish, you can grant access to late-war technologies or choose to face down overwhelming enemy forces among other options.
Historic Battles: relive or redefine history in six defining battles of WW1. In this mode, you will earn medals based on your achievements in the battle.
Multiplayer: an online 1 vs 1 mode where you will test your strategic prowess against other players in individual skirmish battles. Similar to Skirmish mode, you will be able to customise battle conditions before deploying your forces.
Will the game support different languages?
While the demo is only available in English, the full release will support English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Turkish.
Which nations’ troops will be in the full release?
The Allied Nations consist of a multi-continent coalition between Britain, France, Belgium, USA, Australia, Canada, and India. Leveraging the unique strengths of each nation as well as handling the “Disunity of Command” will be crucial.
The Central Powers are a homogenous well-drilled army representing Germany’s united front. As such, this side suffers no “Disunity of Command” penalties to morale.
We hope you find these answers helpful as you continue to enjoy our demo! Thank you for all the feedback so far, please continue to share your experiences with us. Stay up to date on all our announcements here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/2109370
The Great War: Western Front Team
Steam Next Fest Demo: Update 1
We hope you're enjoying the demo of The Great War: Western Front at Steam Next Fest!
To improve the experience, we're implementing the following fixes:
A softlock in Chapter 4 was fixed
Some of the most common causes of crashes were fixed
The undermine detonation button not being available without siege artillery was fixed
Known Issues:
The Control Point UI will flash up briefly upon capturing any Control Point.
Thank you for all of the feedback and support thus far! We look forward to hearing more about your time trying out the game.
