Hello commander!
Alongside the launch of the Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October, we’ll also be releasing free Reinforcement Pack for all our Steel Division 2 players. These packs will individually contain a bunch of shiny new things, foremost the new Smart Orders mechanic, as well as in-depth tutorials for both the Army General and the tactical game and two new soundtracks.
But that’s not all: the Reinforcement Packs will also contain three new maps. They come in different sizes and allow for 1v1, 2v2, and 4v4 player counts (solo, cooperative and online multiplayer). All three take place in the eastern territories of occupied Poland, and will feature in the new Historical Battles of the Death on the Vistula DLC.
In today’s article, we’ll look at the new maps in detail: Brest West, Zbuczy and Gora Kalwaria.
Brest West
As the name implies, this map represents the countryside to the west of Brest, a former Polish city close to the Belarussian border. Most history buffs might recognize Brest as the place where the Treaty of Brest-Litowsk was signed, which signaled the end of Russia’s participation in World War 1. Also well-known is the 19th-century fortress located nearby, which under Soviet control held out against the Wehrmacht for six days at the start of Operation Barbarossa.
Steel Division 2 focuses on the Red Army’s massive strategic campaign, Operation Bagration, which took hold of the region three years later. Brest lay right on the path of the 1st Belorussian front as they advanced towards Warsaw and the Vistula river.
Brest West is a 2v2 map which can also be played in 1v1 mode. A river crosses the battlefield with large plateaus influencing the waterway’s course. There are two distinct environments that will influence a player’s style of fighting. Running the length of the river, a village provides a welcome level of cover for your infantry and allows for some intense close combat assaults. The second environment comprises of various low-level plateaus that rise above several open plains. This terrain supports long-range engagements. The hills provide plenty of cover, obstructing sightlines, and allow a player to sneak up vehicles and tanks using the ridges and hillsides.
Battlegroups based on mechanized and armored divisions will find themselves most at ease on Brest West. Infantry needs to watch out - charging across the open terrain on this map is not recommendable!
Zbuczy
The second map carries the name Zbuczyn and will be playable both in 2v2 mode and 1v1. As an asymmetrical map, dense forests and various hills surround a small village at the heart of the battlefield.
While we usually balance a map between the two opposing sides, which frequently results in some kind of mirroring, in the case of Zbuczy we opted to go for something different.
Depending on their deployment, a player will either have the advantage of being closer to the lines of reinforcements off-map or a quicker route to capture the forested plateau and railway station at the center. This gives an unprecedented dynamic as it allows for one side to push the middle of the map, while the other has the opportunity to flank and encircle the enemy player.
To capture the town in the middle of Zbuczyn, infantry and mechanized divisions are best used. However, long-range artillery should be employed to besiege and harass any enemy troops in the vast woodlands that make up most of the environment.
Gora Kalwaria
The Gora Kalwaria map is our special effort in recreating on a 1:1 scale a part of the major Polish river, the Vistula. As you might know, the Vistula was a significant objective of Operation Bagration: establishing bridgeheads on the western banks would significantly help the Red Army liberate Poland. Likewise, crossing the Vistula would be of immense value in any subsequent offensive aimed at Germany itself.
As a large 4v4 map, Gora Kalwaria is also available in 1v1 mode. We designed this map to recreate the violent battles that occurred when the Soviets crossed the Vistula. The battlefield is split into three distinct areas. One sector features two villages that run in parallel to each other, as well as an extensive forest. The second area is swampy, making it difficult for vehicles to maneuver and likely location of long-range engagements. The third is the mighty Vistula itself, a large river that also sees some built-up areas, including factory buildings.
In the 1v1 variant of the map, the Vistula is the centerpiece. There are several shallow river crossings, which are visible thanks to a different shader used. Infantry and amphibious vehicles can use these fords to creep into an opponent's rear and surprise the enemy player with well-placed ambushes.
Any kind of battlegroup, from close combat infantry to hard-hitting armored, can be used on the map the size of Gora Kalwaria.
Death on the Vistula DLC coming soon
The free Reinforcement Packs will launch with the Death on the Vistula DLC on the 17th of October. In total, we’ll release four Reinforcement Packs.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/988171/Steel_Division_2__History_Pass/
Don’t forget to get your hands on the Steel Division 2 History Pass. By getting this Pass you’ll receive access to all three History DLC’s, including the upcoming Death on the Vistula. The first History DLC will feature a massive new Army General campaign centered on the Red Army’s advance on the Vistula and Warsaw, four new Historical Battles, over 200 new units, new Aces, and much more!
Keep an eye out on our Steam and Eugen forums and social channels (Facebook and Twitter).
See you soon, commander!