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A remaster that Sega itself says missed the mark, a console expansion for Crusader Kings III, and a stack of dated releases to plan around. What does that mean for your backlog this week? Here are the changes that actually matter for your next strategy session.
At a Glance
| Story | Category | Key Detail | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sega pulls Shogun 2 Complete Edition | Strategy | Launched 13 October, removal announced 15 October | Hold off buying until the original returns |
| Crusader Kings III Chapter IV | Strategy (console) | Out 15 October on PS5 and Xbox Series X | Great if you want to enjoy it on your console |
| Cities: Skylines Expanded Edition | Simulation | Switch 2, 28 October, $49 / £41.49 | Big loyalty discount for existing Switch owners |
| Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North | Strategy | 29 October, $19.99 | Two new civilisations and four Crucible missions |
| MENACE roadmap | Strategy | No dates, covers rest of 2026 and early 2027 | Balance overhaul and a slower campaign option |
| Dawn of War IV | Strategy | 3 December 2026 | Space Marines trailer firms up the wishlist case |
🎯 Quick Wins
Crusader Kings III Chapter IV is out on console. Paradox released it on 15 October for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It includes the Khans of the Steppe expansion, the Coronations event pack and a Crowns of the World instant unlock, while the China, Japan and Southeast Asia expansion All Under Heaven has no date yet. Check your regional storefront, as Paradox did not list prices.
MENACE has a roadmap. The next Squad Leader Update brings a new squad leader and pilot, and an extended campaign mode will halve progression for players who want a slower pace. A balancing overhaul is also planned, along with an expansion that takes the story to 60 percent complete. No dates were given, so do not start a new campaign just to beat the patch.
Naval Campaigns: Midway is 25 percent off. Wargame Design Studio’s pick of the week is $29.95 with 51 scenarios covering Pacific naval conflicts. That is a decent entry price if you like your wargames dense.
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🧠 Strategy Spotlight
Sega is removing Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition from sale just days after its 13 October launch. The publisher said the game “has fallen short of both your expectations and our own standards”, and it is working with platform holders to reinstate the original while it investigates. There is no date for either step, according to PC Gamer, and unconfirmed claims about undisclosed generative AI use are still unanswered.
If you have not bought it, wait for the original to return. If you bought it on Steam, check the usual refund rules (within 14 days of purchase and under two hours played), since you are inside the window now. Owners keep access either way.
For the wider 4X picture, PC Gamer also argues that Humankind 2 is making smart choices after Civ 7 stumbled. If you are weighing where your 4X time should go, our look at what the Civilization VII Test of Time update changed is a useful comparison point.
👀 Worth Watching
Cities: Skylines Expanded Edition launches on Switch 2 on 28 October at $49 / £41.49, with 70 percent off for existing Switch owners until 28 April 2027. It includes ten DLCs, a map editor and a building area expanded from 9 tiles to 25. On PC and consoles, the Holiday Getaways and Mansions & Manors packs ($5.99 each) and the Blueprint Beats Radio station ($3.99) land the same day.
Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North arrives on 29 October for $19.99, adding the Vikings and Scots, four Crucible missions and two new biomes. Dawn of War IV is dated for 3 December, and its latest trailer shows off the Space Marines.
💬 Community Corner
The Smoke and Steel trailer, an 18th-century grand strategy game with turn-based battles, has passed 70K views in a matter of days. Defilade, an old-school isometric RTS with a modern setting, has soldiers that use cover and act on their own. Neither has a release date, so wishlist now and wait for firm details before planning your time.
⏭️ Next Week’s Prep
Watch for Sega’s timeline on removing the Complete Edition and bringing back the original Shogun 2. Raiders of the North and the Cities: Skylines Expanded Edition launches are close behind, so next week’s roundup will cover pre-launch details.
Continue Your Journey
Planning a Cities: Skylines session before the Switch 2 edition arrives? Our Cities: Skylines II budgeting guide covers keeping a growing city solvent. Last week’s Strategy Sessions Weekly has the original Shogun 2 Complete Edition announcement.
