What changed in Hearts of Iron IV in 2021

Fixed Armor 3D units from previous addons showing in the Tank Designer. The expected models can now be selected for tank designs.

Game executable should be properly signed again.

Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back will release on November 23rd, 2021.

The Barbarossa patch has been released alongside the No Step Back DLC, featuring a new checksum.

The No Step Back DLC is now available for Hearts of Iron IV.

20 new achievements added for the No Step Back DLC, including unique challenges for various nations.

An in-game profiler will be included to measure performance metrics such as render time and FPS.

The game will now support DirectX 11, allowing users to select it in the launcher settings.

René Nicod replaces Maurice Thorez as a leader in the French Communist focus tree, offering new gameplay options.

Old Linux and Mac platforms will be retired, requiring Ubuntu 18.04 and macOS 10.11 as minimum OS versions.

Preview of new focus and achievement icons coming in the No Step Back expansion.

Introduction of a new loading screen art depicting the Polish cavalry attacking German soldiers.

Announcement of feature streams showcasing new focus trees starting on October 27th.

Introduction of several new portraits for characters in the upcoming No Step Back expansion.

Updated tank designer to support dynamic chassis creation based on roles.

Added options for easier railway setup and scripting through the nudger tool.

Characters can now be defined with roles and recruited in the country history file.

Overhauled character handling to reduce bugs and confusion with distinct character roles.

Introduced new modifiers and effects like building_cost_factor and add_equipment_to_stockpile.

Strategic redeployment will now utilize railways for more realistic army relocation, affecting pathfinding choices.

Players can spend Command Power to disable railways during tactical retreats, damaging them and preventing repairs.

Generals can now earn a favored combat tactic at level 5, affecting all units under their command, in addition to the national preferred tactic.

Railway guns provide negative combat modifiers to enemies, similar to shore bombardment.

New railway guns can be researched and produced, appearing in the capital upon completion.

Railway guns can be captured and damaged through encirclement and damage to their railways.

Railway guns can only move to provinces with railways and can be attached to armies for support.

Distinct railway gun models for Germany, USA, France, and others have been added.

Players can now research different variants of trains, including armored trains that are more resistant to air attacks.

Trains are now a core component of the logistics network, essential for supplying troops beyond local state supply.

The train priority setting for supply nodes has been removed due to simulation issues.

New logistics strike mission for CAS and bombers to target enemy supply networks, destroying trains and damaging railways.

Adjustments made to how supply is distributed from hubs to divisions, including the removal of penalties based on weather and terrain.

Peter takes over as game director from Dan, with plans for future development.

Introduced changes to how weather affects gameplay, including org loss from movement and supply consumption.

Ground conditions now affect org loss on moving divisions, especially in adverse conditions.

Added animations for destroyed encircled divisions to provide feedback.

New feature allowing management of specific equipment usage by division template.

Visual improvements to weather effects on the map for better clarity and reaction time.

Introduced the ability to build certain buildings in the territory of faction members.

Introduction of new formable nations for the releasable countries.

New decisions to gain support from the Orthodox Church to undermine communist support.

Introduction of new branches for the Soviet Union focus tree, including non-Communist paths.

Addition of new releasable countries from the USSR, including SSRs and Okrugs.

New mechanics for preparing for a civil war, including obtaining equipment and spreading influence.

Introduction of alternative communist branches focusing on Trotsky and Bukharin's opposition to Stalin.

New mechanics for initiating and managing a civil war within the Soviet Union, similar to the Spanish Civil War.

New decisions available after defeating Stalin, including decentralization and leadership changes.

Players can infiltrate military and NKVD to gain advantages in the civil war.

Option to attempt to assassinate Stalin if the Right Opposition path is chosen.

Added server visibility settings to Steam MP (Public, Private, Friends)

Updated MS to keep version parity.

Completing the focus 'Found the COMECON' will unlock a decision system to aid allies.

Stalin has been given a trait to enhance gameplay.

Focuses related to the Third Five Year Plan will be locked once the Soviet Union enters a war against a major country.

Players will start with the first five Marshals of the Soviet Union, with Kulik demoted to General and a new cavalry-specialized general introduced.

New focuses related to the Soviet Airforce have been added, reflecting historical challenges.

Completing Restoration and Development after a peace conference will unlock access to the Fourth Five Year Plan.

Initial War Support has been significantly reduced to make it harder to achieve War Economy early on.

A new Soviet focus tree has been introduced, offering a more flavorful and historically-accurate experience.

The Soviet industrial branch features the Second and Third Five Year Plans, impacting gameplay and national spirits.

The first focus grants a research slot and a bonus to research speed.

The advisor roster has been greatly expanded, including Genrikh Yagoda as a starting advisor.

The number of starting National Spirits has increased, including 'Home of the Revolution' and 'Trotskyite Plot'.

Players can move their supply capital to a new location to avoid being cut off, with a temporary supply penalty.

New options to control allied access to supply nodes to manage front lines more effectively.

Players can now set motorization levels for hubs and armies to enhance supply range.

Major overhaul of the supply system allowing divisions to supply from multiple hubs and improved supply flow visualization.

New floating harbors can be constructed for naval invasions, providing temporary supply hubs.

New feature to influence the likelihood of specific tactics being used in combat, enhancing strategic options.

New academy spirits allow players to generate commanders with specific personality traits and help them progress in desired directions.

New spirits that improve specific parts of units to match strategies and allow historical moves like using capital ships as surface raiders.

New feature allowing players to specialise their military branches with Officer Corps Spirits that provide various bonuses.

All military advisors will now generate experience appropriate to their branch, with adjustments to experience from combat.

Generals and Field Marshals can now be assigned advisory roles in addition to their command duties.

A collection of new features including a unique national interface for military branches.

Doctrines will now be unlocked by spending branch experience instead of being accessed through the technology window.

Advisor portraits for High Command and Military Theorists have been relocated to a new interface.

Infrastructure bonus indicators are now colorized for easier identification of the best states.

Players can now mark templates as old, preventing them from showing in the list while still allowing divisions to use them with a warning.

Added various controls to the army list for easier sorting and selection.

A new button added to the lend lease interface allows players to send their entire stockpile more easily.

Reduced the number of pop-up messages when multiple nations join a war, improving the gameplay experience.

Over 50 new airplane models for nations fighting in central and eastern Europe.

Includes various cosmetic touches for visual and audio detail.

Updated to include all available Hearts of Iron IV expansions.

13 new music tracks including the Soviet National Anthem and Lili Marlene.

A new radio pack themed around the countries fighting on the eastern front with 13 tracks including The Soviet National Anthem.

José Díaz portrait should now work in all combinations of DLCs, alternate universes, etc.

Fixed incorrect naval battle reports with convoys on one side.

Added Portuguese unit voice-over for La Résistance owners.

Ethiopia can now peace out Italy if they push them out.

Players can now control the equipment of garrison templates like with other templates.

Added a new animation to CAS attacks to enhance visual appeal on the battlefield.

Various planes of different types for Germany, Soviet, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia. 54 planes in total.

Added Tom Moore as a military leader for Britain, complete with a jungle trait.

The expansion aims to improve AI stability, particularly for the Soviet Union.

The next big expansion named 'No Step Back' was announced, focusing on the Soviet Union and the eastern front.

Plans to improve onboarding and tutorials for new players to enhance their experience.

Teaser visuals for the updated supply system were shown, indicating improvements in gameplay.

New unit type 'Railway Guns' will be added, functioning like naval bombardment support.

The expansion will refresh land warfare and logistics systems, including a new partisan system.

The development team plans to focus on smaller DLCs and free updates for better game flavor.

Introduced military and civilian government branches with unique decisions and focuses.

Introduced two starting focuses: Rally the Nation and Era of Silence, with unique gameplay mechanics.

New mechanics for forming alliances, economic unions, and historical occupation choices.

Introduced various political focuses including options for appointing a Prime Minister and pursuing external politics.

All three Baltic states can form the Baltic Entente faction and have access to an exiled government branch.

Implemented a system to automatically compact the Polish focus tree for easier navigation.

Players can establish communism through war or Soviet intervention, leading to the formation of the United Baltic SSR.

Changes made to the Polish focus tree, including the removal of an off-map reactor.

Introduction of new focus trees for Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia in the upcoming expansion.

Players can choose to rely on democratic nations or Axis powers for economic support.

Baltic states can attract workers and develop their research sector to modernize their industry.

Introduction of Karl Albrecht as an option for monarchist Poland with unique traits and branches.

Baltic states will share branches in their focus trees, including industrial and communist political branches.

Hearts of Iron IV will participate in the Grand Campaign on 7th May from 12:00 to 22:00 CEST.

A new system for designing tanks, allowing players to specialize designs based on mobility, firepower, and protection.

Introduction of various engine types, including gasoline, diesel, electric hybrid, and gas turbines, each with unique benefits.

New visual icons for tank designs to make them more distinct in the production view.

Reliability will affect both breakdown likelihood and repair effort, while the armor system will become less binary.

New automation features for tank design, allowing players to auto-design and auto-upgrade tanks based on research.

Addition of special modules like radios, smoke launchers, and amphibious drives to enhance tank functionality.

Poland can now gain an offmap nuclear reactor that produces one nuke per year.

Poland gains new political paths including monarchist, socialist, and fascist options.

Poland can now assemble a Regency Council and choose from three claimants to the throne.

Players can now initiate the Peasants' Strike to restore democracy or embrace communism in Poland.

Poland can now manage a government in exile, gaining unique leaders and bonuses.

Completing the Warsaw Uprising operation triggers the uprising sooner than usual.

Poland gains access to the Mastermind Codebreaker advisor, Marian Rejewski.

Failure to enact agricultural reform may lead to a peasant's strike, impacting stability and industry.

Danzig is represented as a demilitarized zone, affecting Poland's access to resources and manpower.

New focus allows Poland to join the Allies, maintaining historical accuracy.

New ambition allows Poland to create a major alliance if they are a faction leader and have a large army.

Expanded focus path for the Sanation Left to gain alliances with Baltic states and Czechoslovakia.

Introduction of a reworked focus tree for Poland as part of the upcoming Barbarossa patch.

A new political focus branch allows players to navigate factionalism within Poland's dictatorship.

The industrial branch now includes more focuses that grant extra factories and bonuses, improving factory acquisition.

Players can start military preparations earlier, but must complete one plan before starting the other.

Expanded focus branch for the Sanation Right, allowing for the annexation of Lithuania and restoration of the Commonwealth.

Poland starts with the 'Embargoed Economy' trade law, limiting trade until certain conditions are met.

Join the teams of Crusader Kings III, Europa Universalis IV, Hearts of Iron IV and Stellaris for the largest event this side of PDXCON Remixed.

A new supply system focusing on railways and trucks to enhance logistics and player interaction.

Rivers will function like basic railroads for supply transport, needing control of both banks.

Supply is now drawn from Supply Hubs, which include cities and naval bases, linked to the network.

Weather and terrain will now significantly impact supply flow and logistics.

Logistics will play a more critical role in planning campaigns, affecting combat strategies.

Railways can now be captured to supply troops, requiring control of railway hubs.

A new system where admirals serve as military leaders in the pirate state, affecting naval composition and loyalty.

Malta now starts as a proper colony of the UK, requiring sandstone for construction and establishing shipping lanes.

Players can now build vertically in Malta, with multiple levels and unique focuses for each level.

Players can transform Malta into a pirate state, gaining unique naval mechanics and gameplay options.

A new focus tree specifically for Malta has been introduced, allowing players to explore unique gameplay mechanics.

Join the Hearts of Iron team for a multiplayer clash over who can call themselves truly 'the Masters of the Mediterranean' on 10th and 11th March.