Welcome back, commanders!
In today’s DevBlog, we’ll get a new lay of the land and survey a bunch of exciting new environments and maps coming courtesy of the upcoming major expansion, WARNO - Tropic Storm!
Onwards!
Cuba: A New Operational Setting
For the first time, with WARNO - Tropic Storm, we’ll move away from the familiar battlefields of Western Europe and instead introduce the beguiling, palm-fronted tropical environs of communist Cuba. It’s not only a massive ocean-jumping shift in location but also in atmosphere and a very important step in Eugen’s artistic and technical work and expertise.
Putting the “Tropic” into WARNO - Tropic Storm meant a new goal of delivering exotic, contrasting, and lush visuals, while still maintaining the tactical readability of the landscape. It also allowed us to explore a completely new set of environments with tropical coastlines, large industrial estates, and dense urban areas (inspired by real locations in Cuba).
New Environments
Let’s take stock of the new environments introduced with WARNO - Tropic Storm?
Green Hell
One of the main areas we focused on in this expansion is vegetation. That’s right: shrubs, plants, weeds, trees (big and small) with the aim to introduce more variation and density.
WARNO’s soldiers will be fighting in a new “green hell”, more humid and organic, filled with foliage and creepy crawlies!
Roots, Bloody Roots!
We are introducing newer, thicker, and more vertical tropical forests.
With the variety of trees and undergrowth suited to Caribbean environments.
Beach Resorts
We will also introduce fully reworked coastlines, which will play an important role in WARNO - Tropic Storm. From beaches to mangroves and port zones, all will be updated.
This includes:
- More natural and varied beach textures.
- Smoother and more believable land-to-sea transitions.
- More detailed (and lively) harbor areas.
Architectural Digest
To really let the Cuban identity swing and dazzle, we also developed new building sets. These assets will be among the big movers of European architecture toward a more lived-in Caribbean style, while maintaining the same gameplay experience.
New models include:
- Caribbean housing.
- Denser urban areas.
Inspired by Real Cuba
Sounds like a travel log, but it is really true: WARNO - Tropic Storm’s environments are based on several real locations in Cuba, which served as key references during development. The goal was not to reproduce these places exactly, but to capture their atmosphere, visual identity, and other characteristics.
Among the real-life locations, we looked at the industrial port region of Cienfuegos, with its large-scale refinery, logistics areas, and coastal infrastructure. Expect to find things like docks, warehouses, workshops, and other dense industrial sections.
Another place of inspiration, especially its coastal areas, was the area around Bahía with its open coast, beaches, and tropical vegetation. This section in particular helped shape the transition from sea to sand, forests, and small villages.
Lastly, the urban and semi-urban areas located in the central and southern parts of Cuba, such as the outskirts of Alonso de Rojas, influenced the design of denser urban terrain.
New Terrain, New Way
Now, for another change in the way we make maps and how you play them. The new Cuban maps will be playable by all but only hostable by owners of WARNO - Tropic Storm.
What does this actually entail for players not owning WARNO - Tropic Storm?
- They can play the new expansion maps on an official Eugen or privately owned server (provided that the owner of said server owns WARNO - Tropic Storm).
- They can join a private game hosted by someone who owns WARNO - Tropic Storm.
- But they won’t be able to launch a Skirmish game (vs. AI) or host a multiplayer match using the new maps.
The main consideration from Eugen for this step, is that the creation of a whole new set of terrain and maps takes a considerable amount of time, resources, and effort. We decided that integrating them into the expansion would make the most sense, and provide an extra reward to our players who get the new major expansion as well. As WARNO keeps on growing, and hits new theatres of war with ever-more interesting units, divisions, and weapons, we want to ensure that each new DLC gives the best value proposition to our community.
As you can see, these new maps (as do divisions as part of Nemesis DLCs or expansions) can still be encountered and played on (and against) by all players. You’ll still be able to play on the new environments online, but unless you own WARNO - Tropic Storm you won’t be able to host or check out the new maps, be it in multiplayer or in Skirmish against the AI.
WARNO - Tropic Storm in Brief
WARNO - Tropic Storm will give you access to 6 new divisions from this brand-new theater of operations, including 4 new nations, and a host of new units, models, weapons, new terrain sets, and maps, and more. And equally important: it will contain 1 new Army General campaign. More details will come in the coming weeks.
Check out all the previews for WARNO - Tropic Storm divisions below:
- First up is the Western-aligned U.S. 4th Marine Division earmarked for the Cuban invasion. Check out all the details in this preview here.
- The Communist-aligned Cuban 1a División de Tanques gets its place in the tropical sun in this detailed preview.
- The combined U.S.-Colombian division 7th Infantry Division (Light) also contains a hefty covert CIA contingent. Read more about it in this DevBlog here.
- The “red” Venezuelan IV División de Infantería receives its preview in [url=]this dedicated DevBlog[/url].
Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency Out Now!
In case you missed the news: Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency is also available now!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4579490/WARNO__Nemesis_7__State_of_Emergency/
Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency highlights two defensive battlegroups tasked with protecting their state’s vital infrastructure, as well as internal security and rule of law during WARNO’s World War III. Bringing their unique arsenal and hard-hitting infantry, Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency contains the French Zone de Défense - Paris and the Soviet DON-100 battlegroup.
Nemesis #7 - State of Emergency lets you lead an arsenal of new units to battle, from GARDES RÉPUBLICAINS, BROUSSARD MH-1521 recon planes, GIGN operators, and the MSC prototype, to MVD security infantry, OMON troops, first-generation Mi-24A gunships, and advanced MiG-29S fighters.
Until Next Time
We’ll return for the next DevBlog with details about the Brazilian division coming with WARNO - Tropic Storm.
Don’t forget to check out the ever-awesome WARNO community. Find the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commanders.
