Hello, hello, hello!
In today’s post, we turn towards our Soviet comrade-in-arms and the Hungarian divisions. We have decided that both nations could use a little bit of love in the balance department. The team is currently buffing both the Soviet and Hungarian battlegroups as a whole in Steel Division 2. This update is in the works as we speak and will likely release before our upcoming expansion, Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.
Let’s see what’s in store.
The current status quo
Right now, Steel Division 2’s game balance is better than it ever was, with less than a 1% difference in win ratio between Axis and Allies in 1v1 and 2v2 games. The gap is a bit larger in 10v10 matches (in favor of the Axis), but we are closing this distance with every patch.
However, even with this roughly equal balance, there is some disparity, namely that among Allied divisions, our Soviet battlegroups are lagging behind the Western Allies’ ones in 1v1 and 2v2 win rates. And for the Hungarians, it has been made known that some reorganization of the divisions’ table of organization and equipment is in order.
What can the Soviets expect?
To boost the Soviets, we are developing or testing the following updates as we speak:
F-22 and ZiS-3 artillery
- Stemming from a community request some time ago, we will duplicate and split off the ZiS-3 into a new artillery variant. We’ll keep the existing AT version unchanged as the “ZiS-3 PT”. The F-22 howitzers will also be retained but reduced to one card in those battlegroups that used to have multiple cards of this unit. These extra cards will be replaced by the new ZiS-3 artillery unit. The trade-off is that the F-22 will now receive the Radio trait.
- Historically, Soviet artillery regiments didn’t feature even one radio per two-gun batteries, which is why we didn’t give them this trait in-game. By splitting the Soviet 76,2mm artillery into two distinct units (F-22 and ZiS-3) we can give the less numerous ones the Radio trait. This allows a Soviet player to choose between artillery with radio capability (F-22) and more accuracy; or deploy the new ZiS-3 guns without radio but with better RoF and AT capabilities.
The 72-K 25mm AA gun
- It was brought to our attention - through a well-documented report - that while officially not part of the Red Army’s TO&E in 1944, the Soviet Union kept producing and using its 72-K 25mm AA gun late into the war. It was used as a stopgap measure for the 37mm AA guns, which the Soviet industry couldn’t produce in enough numbers.
- We will reflect this in-game by replacing some (depending on the division up to one-third) 37mm AA guns with the new 25mm AA units. This will happen as soon as the model is ready - which is done simultaneously as the Tribute to the Liberation of Italy batch of models.
- This will give Soviet battlegroups more anti-aircraft options and a unit similar in performance to the Romanian 25mm AA gun. A detail, but this new 72-K 25mm AA gun is a single gun version of the truck-borne twin 25mm AA guns currently featured in-game with the 9th Cavalry Division and the 126th Light Mountain Corps.
T-34/85 obr. 1943
- Another detail brought to our attention: the T-34/85 obr. 1943 was only built in relatively low numbers, quickly replaced by the T-34/85 obr. 44 on the frontline. This is not well reflected in our current Soviet armored battlegroups.
- We will shuffle the T-34/85’s distribution in our divisions, with the obr. 44 becoming more numerous. The obr. 44 comes equipped with APCR rounds, which are now less impactful with the recent range update. This special ammunition will be passed from obr. 44 to the obr. 43, which will be rarer but hit slightly harder now.
Furthermore, we are considering some Action Point slot changes, unit distribution, etc. to make certain Soviet divisions more historical (based on the new research provided to us) and more efficient in-game.
What can the Hungarians expect?
We are rebalancing both 12. Tartalék and 1. Lovas. We understand that the Hungarian’s infantry organization, as depicted in Steel Division 2, follows the pattern as it existed in 1943, with 4-squad platoons where all the platoon’s LMGs are gathered in the fourth squad. Due to manpower shortages, by 1944, this historic layout had changed to 3-squad platoons, each individually equipped with their own LMG.
12. Tartalék
- This battlegroup’s infantry will be reorganized with Golyószórósok squads being removed entirely. Lövész squads will see their size reduced from 13 to 12 soldiers but with two of the rifles replaced by one 31M Solothurn MG and an extra Danuvia SMG.
- A new Tártalek Lövész squad will be added. This unit represents reservists not yet fully trained, with 12-man squads featuring a Madsen automatic rifle, useful for close-quarters combat.
- The battlegroup will also see a change from one 5/10/15 StuG card into two cards with 5/10/- availability.
- There will also be one card added of a German PaK 40 (3/5/8), as well as a German Marder III M (4/8/-).
1. Lovas
- We found out that 1. Lovas had replaced almost all its light AT guns with “heavy” ones (meaning 75mm) just before being sent to face the Soviet steamroller. As such, it will receive an additional card of PaK 40 (for a total of 3).
- The battlegroup will also get a card of PaK 97/38M 75mm AT guns.
- In turn, the 40M 40mm AT gun will be reduced to one single (A/B phases only) card.
- Since one cavalry squadron was entirely rearmed by the Germans, a new unit will be added: two cards of new Huszarok (MG-42) with MP-40, G-43 and MG-42, available in phase B/C only.
Additional generic changes include:
- Turan II’s HEAT round penetration will be increased from 75 to 90mm. This is the same as the PaK 97/38M.
- Turan II’s anti-tank rounds will be distributed evenly between AP and HEAT ammunition.
- PaK 97/38M’s anti-tank rounds will likewise also be distributed evenly between AP and HEAT ammunition.
See you around
That’s it for this week. We love to hear what you think. Do this through our Steam forums and Eugen forums, or check our (Facebook and Twitter). Looking for an online game? Visit the kick-ass Discord server or Reddit page.
Take care and see you soon!