Techmash

Tag: #History

  • Ave Imperator! Why Anno 117: Pax Romana is Our Most Anticipated City Builder

    Ave Imperator! Why Anno 117: Pax Romana is Our Most Anticipated City Builder

    The Roman Empire. A time of mighty legions, architectural wonders, and complex trade routes. And now, the next instalment in the beloved Anno strategy franchise, Anno 117: Pax Romana, is taking us back to this monumental era. Forget the Industrial Revolution—it’s time to don your toga and govern a province at the height of the Empire!

    With a release date set for November 13, 2025, and a recent demo giving us a tantalising taste, here’s why Anno 117 is poised to be a glorious return to form for the series.

    The Allure of the Ancient World

    Anno 117 transports players to the year 117 AD, a period of relative peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana. This setting is the earliest in the franchise’s history, providing a fresh canvas for city-building, trade, and expansion.

    What sets this entry apart immediately is the choice of starting provinces:

    • Latium: The Roman heartland. Think sun-drenched, fertile plains and classical Roman architecture. This offers a more traditional and perhaps easier start for newcomers.
    • Albion: The Celtic province, a wild, untamed frontier. Expect grey skies, marshlands, and a population with a unique culture to manage. This region promises a more challenging start, forcing you to adapt your Roman ways to the local environment.

    The core of the game is managing the clash of civilisations. As a Roman Governor, you must decide: will you fully embrace and enforce Roman culture, or will you allow local traditions to flourish? Your choices will have a significant impact on your population’s happiness, your relationship with the Emperor, and the overall narrative.

    Core Gameplay: Building a Roman Dream

    The classic Anno gameplay loop of BUILD, TRADE, EXPAND remains, but with compelling new layers:

    1. Complex Needs & Production Chains: You’ll be tasked with establishing intricate production chains to supply your populace, from basic food like porridge and fish to luxury goods and public services. A new Optional Needs system introduces more player agency—you can satisfy basic needs in multiple ways, each offering different bonuses to your city.
    2. The Governor’s Villa: This central structure is the first you build on any settled island. It can be extended with modules for bonuses (like specialist slots), and its defence is paramount, as it is a key target in military engagements.
    3. Active Research and Deities: Gone are the purely passive tech trees. Anno 117 introduces a new Active Research System tied to Knowledge Points generated by your populace. This allows you to research and unlock new buildings, upgrades, and military units, charting your own path for your province. Furthermore, a new Faith system allows you to select a patron deity for each island, granting powerful, customised bonuses to specific supply chains.
    4. Land and Naval Warfare: For those who prefer to govern with a strong hand, the military aspect is more fleshed out. The game introduces land troops (archers and swordsmen) and tactical land-based combat, complementing the naval warfare the series is known for. You can wage war, sign peace pacts, and navigate complex diplomacy with rival governors, where your dialogue choices directly influence their actions.

    A New Era of Strategy

    Ubisoft Mainz, the veteran studio behind the franchise, appears committed to both honouring the legacy of Anno 1800 and introducing fresh concepts. The modular design, simplified early-game management, and the crucial cultural choices ensure that Anno 117 is both welcoming to new Governors and deeply engaging for veteran players.

    Whether you choose to spread the glory of Rome across the Celtic wilds or focus on maximising the economic output of the Roman heartland, your legacy as Governor will define the future of the Empire.

    Mark your calendars for November 13, 2025. The age of the Roman Empire beckons, and the cost of peace is yours to decide.

    What are you most excited to build in Anno 117: Pax Romana? Let us know in the comments!

    Anno 117: Pax Romana https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/anno/117-pax-romana

    #Anno117PaxRomana #Anno117 #PaxRomana #ubisoft #games #gaming #gamers #history #citybuilder #romanempire #rebels #gameplay

  • Basim’s Journey Continues: Everything We Know About the Free Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC

    Basim’s Journey Continues: Everything We Know About the Free Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC

    Fans of Assassin’s Creed Mirage have a reason to dust off their Hidden Blade and return to the streets of 9th-century Baghdad. Ubisoft has officially announced a major free content update titled “Valley of Memory,” and it looks like a heartfelt anniversary gift to the community.

    Here’s a breakdown of what this exciting new chapter means for Basim and the Hidden Ones.

    A Free, Major Update for a Two-Year Celebration

    Assassin’s Creed Mirage has been lauded for returning to the stealth-focused roots of the franchise. To celebrate the game’s two-year anniversary, Ubisoft is delivering a substantial piece of new content to all players for free. This is a great move for those who enjoyed Basim’s origin story and were hoping for an expanded look at his life as a full-fledged Assassin.

    What is the “Valley of Memory”?

    The DLC, which is a “free major update,” is confirmed to include:

    • A New Story Chapter and Missions: This is the most exciting detail. The update promises to expand the narrative, offering players new quests and a continuation of Basim’s journey.
    • A New Location: Al-Ula: The story content is confirmed to be set in the ancient city of Al-Ula, which is located in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The teaser trailer hints at a desolate, monumental landscape featuring a mysterious, giant ancient structure, suggesting a trek into the open desert and old ruins outside of Baghdad. This new environment will offer a different flavour of exploration and potential dangers compared to the dense urban sprawl of the capital.
    • A Familiar Face: The teaser also features Basim alongside Dervis, the vendor and quest-giver from the main game who usually handles the collectable side quests. Fans are speculating that this could mean a more significant role for Dervis in the narrative, allowing players to finally flesh out their relationship with the side character.
    • Gameplay Improvements: Beyond the new content, the update is also slated to bring general gameplay improvements to the base game, which is always a welcome addition for an already solid foundation.

    When Will We See More?

    While a short teaser has been released, the full details for the Valley of Memory DLC are expected to be unveiled soon.

    The full reveal, likely in the form of a detailed trailer or showcase, is an event all fans will want to tune into to get a better look at Al-Ula and the new narrative direction.

    Returning to Basim’s Roots

    The addition of this new chapter, seemingly set sometime during the events of the main game (as suggested by Basim’s appearance in the teaser), is a fantastic opportunity to deepen the lore and character development of Basim Ibn Ishaq before his fate is intertwined with Eivor’s in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

    Mirage successfully brought back the “Black Box” assassination missions and classic parkour. The Valley of Memory provides a chance to apply those refined mechanics in a wholly new and mysterious environment, one that may just hold a few more secrets about the history of the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients.

    Are you excited to join Basim on his new adventure into the desert of Al-Ula? What kind of ancient secrets do you hope to uncover in the “Valley of Memory”? Let us know in the comments!

    Assassin’s Creed Mirage https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/news/bpuzp-WC5Yk/assassins-creed-mirage-valley-of-memory

    #AssassinsCreedMirageValleyofMemory #game #gaming #gamers #scifi #ubisoft #history #AssassinsCreedMirage #ValleyofMemory #AssassinsCreed #gameupdate

  • Lost in the Chrono-Chaos: Our First Look at Out of Time

    Lost in the Chrono-Chaos: Our First Look at Out of Time

    The fabric of reality is shattered. Knights duel with mechs, dinosaurs roam neon-lit streets, and the clock is always ticking. Welcome to Out of Time, the chaotic new co-op roguelike from Manticore Games, which just blasted onto the Epic Games Store.

    If you thought time travel was confusing, wait until you dive into “The Shattering.”

    Dinosaurs, Cyberpunk, and Everything In-Between

    What sets Out of Time apart immediately is its utterly absurd, yet brilliant, concept. The “Shattering” has smashed all eras together, creating a beautiful mess of timelines you and your squad must fight through. Imagine tackling a boss that’s a mix between a prehistoric beast and a giant automaton—because that’s exactly the kind of mayhem you’ll find.

    The environments are a kaleidoscopic blend of past, present, and future, from medieval castles to futuristic cyberpunk utopias. It’s a sensory overload in the best possible way, ensuring no two runs feel quite the same.

    Gear-Defined Chaos: No Classes, Just Loadouts

    Forget rigid class systems. In Out of Time, your gear is your role.

    Players are encouraged to mix and match from a whopping variety of weapons and armour that spans all eras. Want to stack a rocket launcher with a healing buff and tank armour? Go for it! The game boasts millions of gear combinations, allowing for genuine build experimentation.

    Abilities are tied to your loot, creating unique, gear-defined playstyles. Whether you’re blasting enemies with a plasma cannon or warping reality with “Portal Pants,” your creativity fuels the chaos.

    The Power of the Tether

    The core mechanic that transforms the co-op experience is the Tether System.

    To survive the run, your team needs to stay relatively close. The Tether System actively rewards proximity with shared buffs, stats, and healing. Stray too far, and you risk not only losing your shared benefits but also endangering your entire squad.

    It’s a brilliant feature that forces coordination and adds a tense, strategic layer to the frantic action. This isn’t just about four people shooting; it’s about moving as a cohesive, temporal fighting unit.

    Infinitopia: The Hub Between Runs

    When you’re not battling through a collapsing timeline, you’ll be gathering in Infinitopia, a unique MMO-style hub. This social space is where survivors meet, plan their next run, flex their newly acquired gear, and apply permanent meta upgrades. It’s a vital pit stop to strategise and evolve your character before diving back into the fast-paced, 15-minute mayhem loops.

    Out of Time is a bold, frantic, and genuinely fresh take on the multiplayer roguelike genre. It embraces chaos, demands teamwork, and offers an almost endless array of build possibilities.

    Ready to jump into the Tangle? Grab your squad and brace for a wild ride through history!

    Out of Time https://epic.gm/out-of-time

    #OutofTime #games #gaming #gamers #scifi #mmo #coop #cyberpunk #ManticoreGames #EpicGamesStore #history #survivors

  • Total War: Empire – A Flawed Masterpiece in an Age of Muskets and Sails

    Total War: Empire – A Flawed Masterpiece in an Age of Muskets and Sails

    The year is 1700. The world is on the cusp of a new era defined by gunpowder, colonial expansion, and radical political change. For strategy enthusiasts, this is the perfect playground, and in 2009, Creative Assembly delivered a game that, for better or worse, aimed to capture it all: Empire: Total War.

    More than a decade and a half later, Empire remains a unique entry in the Total War series. It’s a game of immense ambition, a sprawling grand campaign that stretches across three continents and the vast, untamed oceans in between. It was the first Total War to truly embrace the global scale of empire-building, and in doing so, it introduced some of the series’ most iconic and revolutionary features.

    The Grand Campaign: A World of Opportunity

    The core of Empire is its Grand Campaign, a turn-based strategic map that lets you guide one of the great powers of the 18th century. You can choose to lead Great Britain, France, Spain, or any of the other playable factions, each with its own unique challenges and starting positions. The scope is breathtaking. You’ll manage your economy, navigate a complex web of diplomacy, research new technologies, and, of course, build and command your armies and navies.

    The campaign map introduced a new level of complexity. Regions were no longer just single provinces; they now included sub-settlements like farms, mines, and colleges that could be developed and, crucially, raided by enemy forces. This decentralised system of infrastructure added a new layer of strategy, forcing players to protect not just their capital cities, but the entire countryside.

    The Rise of Gunpowder and Naval Warfare

    What truly sets Empire apart are its real-time battles. The shift from sword and shield to musket and cannon fundamentally changed the tactical gameplay. Line infantry, artillery, and cavalry all had to be used in new and innovative ways. Gone were the days of massed charges and flanking manoeuvres of earlier titles; now, victory belonged to the general who could maintain a steady line of fire, utilise terrain to their advantage, and master the new formations required for gunpowder warfare.

    But the biggest leap forward was the introduction of true 3D naval combat. For the first time, players could command vast fleets of sailing ships, engaging in epic broadside duels on beautifully rendered seas. The physics-based sailing, the devastating cannon fire, and the ability to grapple and board enemy ships created a spectacle that was, and in many ways still is, unmatched in the series.

    The Legacy and The Flaws

    Empire: Total War was a landmark game, but its ambition came with significant flaws. The launch was notoriously buggy, and while patches have addressed many of the initial issues, the game still has its quirks. The campaign AI can be frustratingly poor at times, and some of the game’s mechanics, like the simplified regional settlement system, have been criticised for their lack of depth.

    Yet, despite its problems, Empire holds a special place in the hearts of many Total War veterans. It’s a game that dared to be different, to tackle a complex and fascinating period of history with a scale never before seen. The feeling of marching a disciplined line of redcoats into battle, the roar of cannon fire across a battlefield, and the satisfaction of building a global trade empire is an experience that few other games can replicate.

    Is It Still Worth Playing?

    So, is Empire: Total War worth playing in 2025? The answer is a resounding “yes,” but with a caveat. If you’re looking for a perfectly polished, bug-free experience, you might be better served by its spiritual successor, Napoleon: Total War, or a more modern title. However, if you’re a fan of the time period and are willing to embrace its flaws, Empire offers a grand strategic sandbox unlike any other.

    The modding community has also worked wonders on the game, with mods like DarthMod providing significant overhauls to the AI, gameplay, and historical accuracy. These community-driven projects have transformed Empire from a flawed gem into a truly great game, breathing new life into a title that many felt was abandoned too soon.

    Empire: Total War is a monument to what the series is capable of. It’s a testament to the fact that ambition and scope, even when imperfectly executed, can create a truly memorable and enduring gaming experience. It’s a game that lets you rewrite history on a truly global scale, and for that, it will always be a masterwork in the pantheon of grand strategy.

    Total War: Empire https://www.feralinteractive.com/

    #TotalWarEmpire #TotalWar #Empire #FeralInteractive #games #gaming #gamers #history #gunpowder #navalcombat #iOS #Android #strategy #tactics

  • Reverse: 1999 x Assassin’s Creed out now on PC and mobile

    Reverse: 1999 x Assassin’s Creed out now on PC and mobile

    If you were going to crossover two popular games, what would they be? Well, in this case, it’s the Reverse: 1999 x Assassin’s Creed, Reverse: 1999 being a strategic time travel role-playing game and Assassin’s Creed the open world stealth adventure game based on two ancient and secret societies. So already this is looking good. The missions are ready and it is your duty to carry them out. The Reverse: 1999 x Assassin’s Creed crossover game is available now on PC and mobile.

    To find out more about the Reverse: 1999 x Assassin’s Creed crossover game or to download it, go to the official games website here https://reverse1999.onelink.me/Rh0f/vioitfu1

    #Reverse1999xAssassinsCreed #timetravel #games #gaming #gamers #crossover #history #Reverse1999 #AssassinsCreed #rpg #combat #pcgames #mobilegames #Bluepoch

  • The Fall of Rome is out on Monday

    The Fall of Rome is out on Monday

    There were many factors leading to the collapse of the Roman Empire, but here is a chance to shape history using tactics and cunning in this turn-based game. The Fall of Rome is in your hands. Maybe the Roman Empire will survive under your direction. Are you ready to take control of the empire? The Fall of Rome is launching on PC through Steam on Monday.

    To find out more about the Fall of Rome, go to the developer’s website here https://billionworlds.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/cypmR

    #FallofRome #romans #romanempire #history #warafre #games #gaming #gamers #newgames #Billionworlds #DaedalicEntertainment #politics #steam #pcgames

  • Get Valiant Tactics on Steam today

    Get Valiant Tactics on Steam today

    History, battles, tactics and an uprising are what players can expect to find in the Valiant Tactics game. Players form a group of fighters whose mission is to free the land from tyranny and live a free life. Don’t be fooled, though this is no easy task, the fight will be long and dangerous. Valiant Tactics is now available on PC from Steam.

    To find out more about Valiant Tactics, go to the official game website here https://valiant-tactics.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/TqIq5

    #ValiantTactics #Valiant #Tactics #games #gaming #gamers #newgames #rpg #rng #FelidEntertainment #indieio #steam #turnbasedgames #roguelite #battles #warfare #history

  • Watch the latest trailer for 83

    Watch the latest trailer for 83

    The Cold War never ended, it actually escalated into a full-out war between the East and the West. This is the 83, a classic 40v40 squad battle game where players choose between taking on the role of NATO or Warsaw Pact forces. This is your chance to rewrite history. Which way will it go? The 83 game will be launching on Steam for PC later on this year.

    To find out more about the 83 game, go to the official game website here https://83thegame.com/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/hVpfA

    #tacticalshooter #pcgaming #coldwar #83 #warfare #history #alternatehistory #BlueDotGames #games #gaming #gamers #newgames #soviets #americans #40v40 #battles #warfare

  • Bellfortis conquer and build a new empire

    Bellfortis conquer and build a new empire

    The time has come to build an empire by conquering the lands of your enemies in the Bellfortis game. Players will take a step back into to history, the middles ages to be more precise where politics, power, tactics and strategy will all come into play. But be careful because while you are building an empire others are plotting against you. Bellfortis will be lainching on PC via Steam on the 19th of June.

    To find out more about the Bellfortis game go to the offciial game website here http://www.rakeingrass.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/MBT85

    #Bellfortis #games #gaming #RakeinGrass #empirebuilder #citybuilder #indiegames #strategygames #turnbased #army #kingdoms #history #middleages #pcgames #steam

  • Lotus: Lost Memories Visual Novel Official Trailer

    Lotus: Lost Memories Visual Novel Official Trailer

    Welcome to historic Japan, which is ruled by the swords of the samurai. This is the Lotus: Lost Memories game with its classic look and retro feel. The game will take players on a journey of discovery, adventure and to find out the truth. The Lotus: Lost Memories game will soon be available on PC through Steam, along with a free public demo game.

    To find out more about the Lotus: Lost Memories game, go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/Ikuz9

    #LotusLostMemories #Lotus #LostMemories #japan #games #gaming #gametrailer #2Dpixelart #retrogame #classicgames #newgames #samurai #FenyxDigital #demogame #history

  • Old Skies now available for Nintendo Switch

    Old Skies now available for Nintendo Switch

    In the Old Skies game, players will time travel to New York City over a period of two hundred years as part of the ChronoZen Time Travel Agency, whose job it is to prevent anyone from changing history. There are seven interesting missions to complete and now the game is available for the Nintendo Switch.

    To find out more about the Old Skies game, go to the official game website here http://www.wadjeteyegames.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/WG9WV

    #OldSkies #WadjetEyeGames #scifi #timetravel #pcgames #NintendoSwitch #games #newgames #gametrailer #history #newyorkcity #changehistory #ChronoZenTimeTravelAgency

  • Victory At Sea Atlantic launching on Early Access

    Victory At Sea Atlantic launching on Early Access

    Take command of your fleet in the Victory At Sea Atlantic game. This will require some skills in warfare, battles and tactics to get through this game in one piece. Take part in some of the most important and decisive battles of the war. This is a chance to see how things could have been different or maybe just the same. The Victory at Sea game will be going into Early Access on Steam tomorrow.

    To find out more about the Victory At Sea Atlantic game, go to the official game website here https://www.victoryatseagame.com/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/nvIKh

    #VictoryAtSeaAtlantic #gameplay #games #gaming #WWII #Warfare #NavalBattles #Battleships #history #strategy #seabattles #EvilTwinArtworks #worldwartwo #fleet #command #ships