The new Front Line mechanic is the bedrock of exciting dynamic encounters, where the push-and-pull of each skirmish directly affects territory borders. Manage attritional battles and break through undefended lines to advance the areas of maps under control, digging trenches and supporting troops in newly won territory.

Assume greater command of the battlefield with the enhanced Direct Vision feature to focus solely on one unit at any time and upgrade, change, or repair equipment on the fly. Level the theater of war with powerful armor and artillery capable of destroying buildings and weapon emplacements, while choosing from an arsenal including 45 battalions and more than 300 vehicles, all painstakingly designed with complete historical accuracy.

Two story campaigns – playable in single-player or up to five-player online co-op – let commanders engage in battle on both the Western and Eastern Fronts. Take control of the courageous Allied Forces pushing their way through a devastated France, and the steadfast Soviets defending their lands from the menacing Third Reich army. In returning to World War II, Best Way shines a spotlight on battles and scenarios never-before-seen in the series, with conflicts such as the Battle of the Falaise pocket and Operation Bagration.

Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way announce that a multiplayer tech test for Men of War II is now available to download for free via Steam. The test will run from Thursday, March 23 (3pm PDT / 6pm EDT / 10pm UTC) until Monday, March 27 (10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 5pm UTC).

Announced during the Future Games Show: Spring Showcase, the multiplayer tech test is the first time Men of War II has been publicly playable. The test features four multiplayer modes (of seven that will feature in the full game) and five varied maps, in addition to a set of nine single player tutorial missions that will take players from the basics through to advanced gameplay mechanics and systems.

Players will be able to choose from the 1st Infantry, 1st Tank or 1st Artillery battalion from the Soviet, German and U.S. armies, allowing them to try out over 80 units from the full game’s total roster of over 300. Each battalion features its own gameplay style and unique strategic opportunities resulting in a deeply rewarding experience that is easy to pick up, but difficult to master. Furthermore, the full game will feature individual battalion customisation and additional unit unlocks via in-game progression, expanding the level of control players have on the battlefield.

The tech test includes only a small sample of the content Men of War II will feature on release, but already proves the depth and variety of gameplay and dedication to historical accuracy that will make it the most immersive depiction of World War II battles in franchise history. The four multiplayer modes available during the tech test are as follows:

• Combat - a classic Men of War mode featuring an all-out brawl between two teams. Victory goes to the team that can destroy the most enemy units, while keeping their own most valuable units alive. (Available on the Borovaya River and The Winter March maps).
• Assault Zones - opposing players go head-to-head to earn victory points by capturing and holding strategic points on the map. (Available on the Bazerville and Borovaya River maps).
• Front Line - a brand new, strategic mode, that sees teams using infantry to push their Front Line into enemy territory resulting in a tense tug-of-war style match-up in which teamwork is paramount. (Available on all five maps).
• Incursion - an asymmetric game mode utilising the Front Line mechanic, in which one team needs to capture a number of highlighted zones held by the opposing team. (Only available on The Coast map).

Men of War II will feature 22 multiplayer maps when it launches later this year, until then players can experience the following five maps in the tech test:

• Bazerville - a map with very little elevation, easy to navigate, open terrain, only sporadically peppered with lone buildings. Ideal for long-range fighting or exploiting weaknesses with fast-moving units.
• Borovaya River  - a very rugged map, featuring many hills and valleys in its terrain. The map is split in half by a large river, giving players many tactical options to try out and experiment with.
• Farmland - a complex map that at first glance seems deceptively simple due to its flat terrain with no elevation to speak of. This rural environment features many farmsteads and even greenhouse buildings, as well as deep ponds with narrow crossings, creating natural chokepoints for heavy vehicles.
• The Coast - while there is no naval combat present in Men of War II, in this map the sea plays a role, as it takes a significant part of the map, leaving a narrow strip of flat, level land to fight over.
• The Winter March - set in harsh winter conditions, this map combines rolling countryside terrain features with many village buildings showcasing the destructible environment elements of Men of War II and forcing players to utilise smart positioning to get a clear line of fire on their enemies.

Enlisting in the tech test is simple; players need to head over to the Men of War II Steam store page where they will have the option to ‘Request Access’ for a Men of War II Playtest - doing so will grant instant access to the multiplayer build.

Once downloaded, players can battle it out in 1v1 up to 5v5 matchups via custom lobbies or PvP matchmaking. The former offers full customisation over the game mode, map and team sizes, as well as private, password protected lobbies. While the latter will automatically group players by their real-world location and ranking based on their past games, and set them up in Front Line mode.

Prepare to face enemy armies in intense bouts of all-out war in the series’ most advanced online multiplayer mode yet. Select the Allies, Soviets, or Germans and engage against other commanders’ armies. Choose from a wide range of skirmish and challenge maps, each created with strict attention to detail, making each arena authentic to the time period. Commanders can also join forces with other armies in online co-op, sending combined units against the new-and-improved AI in bloody mass combat.

The ravaged battlefields of Europe are enhanced with realistic physics and fully destructible objects, letting generals shape the warzone to their liking. Immersive sound design captures the guttural, terse, and chaotic cacophonies with lifelike explosions, the chattering of machine guns, and the treads of German Panzers. Full mod support gives commanders endless opportunities in creating new battle scenarios with a special level design and modding toolset.

Men Of War II will be available for PC (Steam and other stores) in 2023.