Total War: Pharaoh was announced today, revealing its release date, early access plans, and what players can get by pre-ordering the game. In this new title, players will be able to wage war in the Bronze Age during events at the end of the Egyptian New Kingdom, defining the future of the whole region.
With a collection of over a dozen excellent titles, Total War has carved its name among the most successful franchises in the strategy genre. Developed by the British studio Creative Assembly, the series started back in 2000 with Shogun: Total War, and it has managed to keep its popularity high as time passed, with games set in famous settings such as Ancient Rome, the European Middle Ages, the Napoleonic Wars, and others.
The new Total War: Pharaoh will be out on Steam and the Epic Games Store in October 2023. Players who pre-order the title will gain access to two exclusive cosmetics packages: the Avatar of the Gods Cosmetic Pack, and the Heart of the Shardana Cosmetic Pack. More importantly, however, they will get access to the Early Access Weekend. During an unspecified upcoming weekend, players can try out the Early Access version of the title.
According to the developers, the game will be set during the end of the Bronze Age. It’s a time of full-blown collapse when several kingdoms are fighting for their survival. The story will revolve around Egypt, the Hittite Empire, and Canaan, and will see the player getting in the shoes of the new Pharaoh whose whole kingdom is in chaos.
Total War: Pharaoh will have epic dynamic turn-based tactics battles, which will not only feature tactical combat but also dramatic shifts in the weather, including events such as fires bursting out in camps or mighty sandstorms that may get in the way of the battle. Players may also get several options to customize their campaigns, ensuring that no game will ever be the same, and tweaking how challenging they want the war to be.
This will be the Total War game set farthest in the past. Before that, the farthest the series went was Troy with Total War Saga: Troy, which was set in the mythical Greek city during the famous Trojan War. So, the new game is a pretty good change of pace after several titles in Rome and the Middle Ages, though time will tell if it will become one of the best Total War games ever.
Total War: Pharaoh will be out for PC in October 2023.