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One of the most flat-out ambitious strategy modes ever arrives today for Total War: Warhammer III, with the Immortal Empires beta.
Immortality, across 3 games
It’s a banner day for fans of what Sega and Creative Assembly have put together with Total War: Warhammer III. The real-time strategy title has a series of DLC hitting, along with what might be the most impressive additions to any game (series) we’ve ever seen.
More on that in a second, but first we’ll get the more minor stuff out of the way. Not that it’s also not pretty slick stuff, it’s just not as cool as Immortal Empires. But again, more on that in a second.
The Lords Pack arrives
One of the many pieces of content arriving today for the game, the Lords Pack delivers a set of Chaos Legendary Lords. And of course, each one of those is devoted to one of the wicked Chaos gods.
The Champions of Chaos have risen through the ranks thanks to their infamous deeds to become the favoured of the four Dark Gods, they are; Valkia the Bloody, the deadly but daemonic consort of Khorne. Festus the Leechlord, the deranged plague-doctor of Nurgle. Azazel, Prince of Damnation, the ecstatic heir of Slaanesh. Vilitch the Curseling, the conjoined sorcerer-twin of Tzeentch.
Sega press release
Along with the Lords, the pack also serves up a campaign experience. That includes the city of Zanbaijin, a place where the servants of Chaos clash with each other, vying for dominance. This mode puts players in the role of one of the title Lords, trying to earn the gaze of their evil patron.
They won’t be alone in this task though. Remember, this is a strategy game, and so you’re gonna need units. How’s 50 of them sound to you? Actually, it’s over 50, as the game adds the likes of the Warshrine of Chaos, Chaos Knights, and the Chosen.
Then there’s also Blood… for the Blood god
While you’re knee deep in daemons, don’t forget that Blood for the Blood god III also lands today. This new addition is exactly what it sounds like, and adds in a whole mess of the red stuff.
This gory effects-pack brings several mature-rated animations to Total War: WARHAMMER III such as blood spurts, limb and head dismemberment, blood-drenched UI elements, global campaign events that generate greater carnage in battle, and much more. It will be free to owners of Blood for the Blood God I or II.
Sega press release
And finally, about those Empires
While all of the above is great, it’s Immortal Empires that’s the meat and potatoes of this new dose of Total War. The fresh mode is a massive undertaking, that actually stretches back into both previous Warhammer titles in the franchise.
Technically still in Beta, The Immortal Empires is “a new grand-scale campaign mode for Total War: WARHAMMER III”. Though again, it’s not limited to that game. The mode is actually available for anyone who’s got a copy of parts one and two as well. And yes, it’s free.
“Immortal Empires represents the world-encompassing vision we’ve been aiming towards since we first partnered with Games Workshop®, and it’s great to see that become a reality”. Said DLC Director, Richard Aldridge. “It’s the most ambitious game mode we’ve ever worked on and will usher in years of post-release content for Total War: WARHAMMER III”.
Sega press release
Sound ‘big’? Well, it is. Immortal Empires includes a massive 86 Lords (including Be’Lakor), spread out across “23 wildly distinct races, from noble High Elves, ingenious Dwarfs, and the imperious dragons of Grand Cathy to the undead pirates of the Vampire Coast, the mysterious Lizardmen, and the apocalyptic hordes of Chaos.”
Set in the classic Warhammer Fantasy Battles World, Immortal Empires is a reimagining of that iconic fantasy realm. It should still be familiar for fans though, as players will wage war across the jungles of Lustria, the Southlands deserts, the mountains of Naggaroth, and of course “the corrupted Chaos Wastes”.
But this sandbox goes even deeper than that. Immortal Lords serves up “several new features and quality of life improvements”, and that includes a new mechanic called Sea Lanes. That’s exactly what it sounds like, allowing players to navigate the Olde World via a meow aquatic route.
Those who have experience in Total War: Warhammer I and II will also find updates factions from those titles, “fresh lore-inspired victory conditions for the campaign”, new End Games, “and much more”.
Yes, it’s gigantic, and almost sounds like an entirely new game. Again too, all of the above is available from today, so if you’re itching for a scrap in the Warhammer realms, get ready to dive back in.
