We are happy to reveal our release plans for the CAOS: Operation Husky update! Because of the sheer volume of content and systems coming in Husky, we’re going to split the update into three stages so everything can be properly tested and debugged before it hits the live game. The systems such as paradrops, amphibious landings, historical scenarios, and editor coming in Husky will ultimately make it possible for us to expand CAOS into the Russian Front and later the Pacific, so it’s essential that we give this update the time it deserves. All parts of the Husky update will still be completely free, they’ll just be spread out over more time than originally planned to allow ourselves to properly test and polish everything.
Stage 1: Systems and Content
Operation Husky Stage 1 focuses on adding new gameplay systems, maps, and orders of battle, to custom scenarios in CAOS.
Paradrops: Paradrops as a selectable scenario option. When enabled either side can conduct paratroop drops if they possess air superiority. See the paradrop dev blog for more info.
Amphibious Landings: Amphibious assaults in a new Invasion scenario mode designed specifically for naval invasions. Units conducting amphibious landings enjoy powerful naval fire support and barrage bonuses. The mechanics and restrictions of amphibious landings, and the commando landing variant will be discussed in a separate dev blog.
New Maps: Two new maps, Sardinia and Corsica, playable in all custom scenario types.
Historical Orders of Battle:
The historical orders of battle which will be used in the coming historical and hypothetical scenarios will also be available in custom scenarios.
- Allied Operation Husky, featuring US 7th Army and UK 8th Army as they stood during Operation Husky in July/August 1943.
- Allied Operation Avalanche, featuring US 5th Army (composed of US 6th Corps and UK 10th Corps) as they stood during Operation Avalanche in September 1943.
- Axis Operation Husky, featuring the Italian 6th Army and elements of Germany 14th Panzer Corps as they stood during Operation Husky in July/August 1943.
- Axis CorSard, featuring all Italian and German forces on Sardinia and Corsica on September 8, 1943.
Stage 2: Historical/Hypothetical Scenarios and Dynamic Air Zone:
Stage 2 focuses on Historical/Hypothetical Scenarios and the crucial Dynamic Air Zone feature.
Scenarios:
See our upcoming scenarios dev blog for more details.
- Sicily: Operation Husky (Historical and Free Deployment variants)
- Sardinia: Operation Brimstone (May, July, and September variants)
- Sardinia: Case Axis
- Corsica: Operation Firebrand
Dynamic Air Zone: Air zone dynamically projected from controlled airfields. Paratroop drops and (non-commando) amphibious landings will only be available inside friendly air space.
Allow Players to Disable Nation-Locking: Scenario creation option to allow nations to be played against themselves. For instance, Germany versus Germany matches will be possible.
Stage 3: Scenario Editor
Stage 3 will focus on adding a scenario editor and integrating the new alternate counter set.
Scenario editor: This editor will let you create scenarios on existing maps, you’ll be free to choose both side's nations/years, place units, objectives, supply points, starting zones, requisition points, forts, minefields, etc. These scenarios can then be saved to your scenario list or shared with your friends.
Alternate counter-set: The alternate counter-set will be made available for direct download (likely via steam workshop) before Stage 3 for players who prefer a non-NATO look and want to use it early. But the option to swap between the NATO versus Alternate counter-sets will be added in stage 3.
Here's an example of the current in-development alternate counter-set, most of the vehicle/artillery graphics are based on either US or German weapons for easy identification.
When will the stages be released?
We expect to make a public beta build of Husky Stage 1 available around Christmas, with a full release following soon after. Each stage will be released when it’s ready. We look forward to sharing Husky with the community and we hope you're looking forward to a very merry Christmas!