Ascension remains true to the long-running franchise’s Grand Strategy pedigree as it expertly brings to life one of the most provocative, complex, and dramatic times in Japanese history.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension highlights some of the most epic battles and notable events of Sengoku Era Japan, when myriads of military officers and lords fought for domination over the land. Players will be able to experience all the events that led from the fracture of the country to the establishments of clans and the forming of alliances before the inevitable clash that led to the emergence of the first Shogunate. Allowing for deeper immersion and insight into these events as well as providing a closer look at the development of strongholds and armies, Ascension provides players with the extra option to begin the game from the position of an officer and ascend through the ranks to become an important warlord—perhaps even the overlord of Japan!

Players who pre-order Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension from Amazon, Best Buy, EB Canada and GameStop will receive the Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII 30 Face CG Set, providing players with 30 CG portraits of legendary and fan-favorite characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII, as well as the William Adams and Megohime Officer Data which unlocks the historic characters for use in gameplay. 

Alternatively, purchasing through the PlayStation Store will grant Officer Data for the key retainer of the Sanada clan, Oyamada Shigemasa, and the wife of Shigemasa, Lady Muramatsu.

For the first time in the long-running series, players can advance from a retainer to a Daimyō – a feudal lord – with Officer Play. This mode opens a world of possibilities in which players can rise through the ranks by conquering the land, following orders and advancing in status, allying with and receiving aid from other clans, or by claiming independence and leaving their own mark on this chaotic yet compelling period of Japanese history.

The exciting new Officer Play mode also affects the way battles are experienced, as players will have the opportunity to witness thrilling and historic battles first-hand through the eyes of an officer. Aiding in victory or defeat, every command made will affect the outcome of battle, and bonuses are awarded for successful deployment of a new strategy. This installment also introduces Combat Quests:  extra missions that appear during the course of battle and provide extra rewards upon completion. These dynamic objectives change based upon the tide of war and allow for more in-depth and dramatic battle experiences.

Players will be able to exploit the entire breadth of strategic options available to them in Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascensionwith the introduction of two new types of warfare: Siege and Naval battles. Full-scale Siegebattles create strategic situations that allow blockades to be deployed as a defensive mechanism, as well as the use of tunnels and cannons to gain an advantage over a defending opponent. Navalbattles provide the option to carry out skirmishes and strategic blockades on oceans to overcome the enemy from every angle.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension will also offer history aficionados the opportunity to experience that same era as a historically-accurate simulation game. Players will be able to take control of their favorite officers and lords, as Ascension boasts a massive array of over 2000 diverse characters to choose from. A number of well-known individuals will offer unique events and exclusive missions, with special attention given to Yukimura Sanada, the famous Japanese samurai whom many of his time heralded as the strongest warrior in Japan. Beginning his journey at the age of 16, players can follow the life of Yukimura and the challenges he faced during the Sengoku period until his eventual defeat at the Siege of Osaka.

Other prominent figures will also receive specially tailor-made content, including feudal lords such as Ieyasu Tokugawa, who rose to become the Shogun at the end of the Warring States period; Mitsunari Ishida, who played a pivotal role at the decisive battle of Sekigahara towards the end of the war; Masamune Date, the lord known as the One-Eyed Dragon; as well as individuals such as Nyosui Kuroda and Morichika Chosokabe whose intriguing stories unfold throughout the game.