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 today announce additional details of the plethora of multiplayer content available in upcoming Men of War II open beta - including brand new modes, and never-before-seen maps - all of which which will be available via Steam on May 11 through to May 15.

Players can expect to experience a generous amount of content in the upcoming beta - though just a slither of that available in the full game - including a new PvP and PvE mode, new maps and single player missions, in addition to all the content previously available in March’s multiplayer tech test.

Combined Arms is a brand new, PvP battle mode that supports up to six players (3v3), in which they are not limited in unit selection to specialised Battalions, but can instead customise their regiment from all the units of their selected nation. This mode sees the maximum number of Command Points increase from 30 to 50, allowing players to control more units on the battlefield at the same time. Combined Arms will be playable in the Front Line competitive mode via match-making or in Front Line, Assault Zones, and Combat via the lobby.

Also making its debut in the beta is Line Defence, a dynamic new PvE mode in which players have to defend three zones against AI opponents, who are trying to capture them by pushing the Front Line around them. Victory points are awarded for time spent controlling each zone.

 

The open beta will also introduce two new maps, Airfield, and Carpathians, to the mix. Airfield sees players take the fight to the sandy dunes of North Africa, in a battle for control over a strategically important airport. While Carpathians sees players visit calm, forest-covered hillsides and idyllic villages from a bygone era, as war brings ruin and destruction to the lush countryside.

Both maps can be played in both Front Line and Combat mode (Standard or Combined Arms), while Carpathians can also be played in the new PvE Line Defence mode.

Furthermore, all the content from the previous multiplayer tech test will be available, including the Front Line, Combat, Assault Zones, and Incursion PvP modes, all of which support up to 5v5 matchups. Front Line is available via matchmaking, while all modes can be accessed via the lobby. The maps Borovaya River, Winter March, Bazerville, The Coast, and Farmland will also be making their return.

In addition to multiplayer matches, players can take on three single player missions during the beta - Battle of Coisson, Towards Freedom, and Ambush - all of which can also be played in co-op. A full list of content in the open beta can be found below:

Men of War II - Open Beta Content

• 4x PvP Competitive Multiplayer Modes

  • Assault Zones

  • Combat

  • Front Line

  • Incursion

• 1x PvP Competitive Battle Mode

  • Combined Arms

• 1x PvE Mode

  • Line Defence

• 7x Maps

  • Airfield

  • Bazerville

  • Borovaya River

  • Carpathians

  • The Coast

  • Farmland

  • Winter March

• 3x Single Player / Co-op Missions

  • Ambush

  • Battle of Coission

  • Towards Freedom

Sign ups for the beta are now open; interested players need to head to the Men of War II Steam page where they will have the option to ‘Request Access’ for a Men of War II Playtest - doing so will guarantee access to the beta. Everybody that signs up before May 11 will also receive an email notification once the beta has gone live.

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, Epic Games Store and other stores) in 2023.