Independent developer Strategist’s Den Games has officially announced that War Footing, its incoming turn-based strategic defence management game, will launch on Steam for Windows on October 15, 2026. Priced at an accessible $11.99 USD, the title strips away the traditional frontline tactical view and instead places players directly in the high-pressure seat of a nation’s Minister of Defence.

If you’ve ever wondered whether wars are won on the battlefield or months prior in procurement offices and diplomatic summits, War Footing aims to give you a definitive—and challenging—answer.

Lead From the Top, Not the Front

In War Footing, victory isn’t about micro-managing individual tank squads or giving real-time attack orders. Instead, you are tasked with preparing an entire nation to survive an inevitable invasion by a hostile neighbour.

Every turn in War Footing represents one week of preparation. Players must carefully balance a fragile wartime economy across four main priorities: Procurement & Capital Funds, Industrial Investment, Homefront Stability, and Diplomacy.

When the invasion finally hits—typically around turn 68 of a 120-turn campaign—there are no magical emergency reinforcements. The army you built, trained, and positioned in the preceding weeks is the only force standing between your country and defeat.

Key Features Breakdown

• Procurement Under Pressure: Source gear from nine international supplier nations or invest in your domestic arms industry. You can buy equipment upfront or set up long-term production programs with interest rates over time.
• Massive Arsenal Variety: Access over 180 equipment types, ranging from small arms and armoured fighting vehicles to heavy artillery, combat aircraft, and ground-based air defence systems.
• Doctrinal Decisions: Adapt your military strategy with eight distinct doctrines. Choose wisely—adopting a new doctrine incurs a heavy 6-to-12-turn implementation delay, making pivot strategy a major commitment.
• Political & Diplomatic Tightrope: Diplomatic ties control foreign aid and equipment pricing, while neglect on the home front can prove fatal. If domestic political stability reaches zero, a military coup ends your campaign immediately.
• Fog of War & Operational Combat: Battles resolve sector-by-sector at the operational level based on equipment quality, unit readiness, doctrine fit, and initial deployment. With incomplete intelligence, you’ll have to deduce where the enemy’s main thrust will land without overextending your forces.
• High Replayability: Featuring eight distinct scenarios with varying starting conditions, resource constraints, and threat levels, campaigns are designed to be tough, tense, and focused.

Try the Demo Today

For gamers who prefer depth, logistics, and macro-level strategy over fast-paced micro-management, War Footing is shaping up to be a standout indie strategy title this autumn.

If you want a taste of the defence management chair before the full launch on October 15, a free playable demo is currently available on Steam.

Find out more here

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