The Massive 2026 Update Is Here
Nine years after its original release, Civil War: Battle of Petersburg has received by far its biggest update ever.
The game has been rebuilt and massively expanded for 2026. Fight with animated 3D battle units, challenge a completely new enemy AI, battle other players online, create and share your own scenarios, play with native controller support, and for the first time take command of the Confederate forces.
For everyone who already owns Civil War: Battle of Petersburg, the major base-game update is free.
Play as the Confederates
The original 2017 release was played exclusively from the Union perspective. In 2026, you can finally take command of the Confederates.
Fight from either side of the Petersburg Campaign with historical formations and objectives. Defend Richmond and Petersburg as Confederate forces, or take command of the Union armies attempting to break through their defenses.
This is not simply a change of uniform. Playing from the opposite side changes your objectives, deployments and tactical problems across the battlefield.
A Completely New Battlefield
Civil War: Battle of Petersburg has received its biggest visual overhaul since release.
The armies can now be represented by fully animated 3D infantry, cavalry and artillery. Historical uniforms, equipment and unit variations bring the formations fighting across Petersburg to life.
If you loved the appearance of the original game, that experience has not been taken away. The classic tabletop visual mode remains available, letting you choose how you want to command your army.
Massively Improved Enemy AI
Enemy AI has been massively improved for 2026, providing a much more capable and challenging opponent across the entire game.
Enemy commanders make better tactical decisions, prioritize important objectives, use terrain and supporting formations more effectively, and take advantage of battlefield opportunities as they develop.
The result is a much stronger opponent that puts your positioning, timing and battle plan to the test.
Battle Online
For the first time in the history of Civil War: Battle of Petersburg, you can take the fight online.
Online Versus lets two commanders fight across the game's battlefields from opposite sides. You can also play over LAN or use traditional local Hotseat play.
Online multiplayer includes public and private games, Steam friend invites, match chat and configurable turn timers.
Two New Grand Campaigns with Headquarters
The original game featured four battles. The new Grand Campaigns dramatically expand the scale of Civil War: Battle of Petersburg.
The Union Grand Campaign features 15 missions following the Union campaign against Petersburg and Richmond.
The Confederate Grand Campaign features 15 missions fought from the Confederate perspective, from the defense of Richmond and Petersburg through the desperate final stages of the campaign.
Between missions, Headquarters lets you manage resources, equipment and the condition of your army as the campaign develops.
Together, the two Grand Campaigns provide 30 new campaign missions and allow you to experience the struggle for Petersburg from both sides.
Create Your Own Battles
The new Scenario Editor puts the battlefield in your hands.
Create your own scenarios, position armies, configure objectives and play your battles in Solo, Hotseat or multiplayer.
Steam Workshop integration also lets you publish your creations and download scenarios made by other players. Community scenarios can be freely played by owners of the base game.
Native Controller Support
Civil War: Battle of Petersburg now features native controller support.
The battlefield, menus and game interface have been designed to work with a controller as well as traditional mouse and keyboard controls, giving you a new way to command your army.
Modernized for 2026
Almost every part of the game has received attention.
The update includes Steam Cloud support, Steam Workshop integration, modern display support, expanded graphics options, improved controls and interface, new visual effects, extensive quality-of-life improvements and numerous refinements throughout the original battles.
Windows and Linux are supported.
Welcome Back to Petersburg
Civil War: Battle of Petersburg originally launched in 2017. Nine years later, the battlefield is bigger than ever.
The original battles and turn-based foundations remain, but there are now more ways to play, more ways to command, and an entirely new Confederate perspective on the campaign.
To everyone returning after all these years, thank you for playing.
And to the new commanders joining us for the first time, welcome to Petersburg.
Choose your side. Take command. The battle begins again.