In Systemic War, players will take control of various nations and work their way through conflicts on different, interactive levels that all have a part to play in how the battles will play out. From an RTS perspective, more than 150 units will be available to deploy across 25 hyper-realistic maps inspired by real conflict zones around the world. US airborne brigades, Turkish mechanized troops, tanks, IFVs, drones and EW units all offer their own tactical advantages, while Commanders gain experience and unlock additional abilities after each battle. 

From a grand strategy perspective, players will have to manage their nation through political and economic means as well as with their military, using diplomacy and crisis management to navigate and shift the balance of the world stage. Trade, inflation, investment and infrastructure will also have to be mastered to conquer the game’s macroeconomic models. Will you specialize in exports, become an industrial giant, or a tech pioneer?

Research and development will also play a key part in your overall strategy, with the ability to develop innovations in key military and technological fields. From improving logistics and production, to enhancing your combat capabilities or licensing technology from other nations —all of these choices will have weight and intersect with the core gameplay. 

In Systemic War, conflict takes place on much more than just the battlefield. Diplomacy is the other core gameplay pillar, offering players the chance to negotiate, balance tensions, build alliances and avoid escalation into open war — unless that’s your intention. The game offers scenarios based on modern and alternative history, which can be influenced through interactive choices, with players able to take advantage of information, media influence and even psychological warfare. 

Developer Play of Battle confirmed that an extensive, free demo will be made available as part of Steam Next Fest, taking place from October 13-20. 

Key Features:

• 25+ hand-crafted maps where you’ll command your forces in dynamic RTS battles. Engage in tactical clashes across focal real-world locations such as Hostomel (Ukraine), Warsaw, Aleppo, Taiwan, and Guam.
• Customize your military power on the grand strategy layer, and bring your best forces into the RTS battles that shape the outcome of the war.
• 150+ unique units are available to fight on modern battlefields. Adapt to the rapidly changing modern battlefield by investing in cutting-edge drone and electronic warfare technology.
• No provinces. No abstract regions: The strategic map is grounded in the real rail and road networks connecting towns and cities across the globe. It’s a living infrastructure model, mirroring the transformations that defined the early 21st century: Infrastructure shapes both the economy in peacetime and the conduct of war — from logistics to the movement of armies.
• Manage your nation's economy based on the modern IS-LM-BP economic model, balancing interest rate, GDP, and price levels. Shape monetary policy and control the value of your currency on the global money market to profit from international trade.
• Develop industry and decide whether your country will become a raw material exporter, a manufacturer of intermediate goods, or a provider of advanced technologies. It’s up to you to define your position within the global supply chain and determine your influence on the international market. Choose your path: turn your nation into an export powerhouse, invest abroad, or buy social prosperity on credit.
• Over 150 unique military units are organized into realistically recreated tactical formations such as the Polish 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade, U.S. 3rd Airborne Brigade "Rakkasans", Chinese 164th Marine Brigade, Turkish 70th Mechanized Brigade, and Russian 79th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment. Command iconic vehicles like the Leopard 2PL, T-90A, AH-64E Apache helicopter, and infantry fighting vehicles such as the Type 04 and PARS III. Support your tanks and infantry with the defining assets of modern warfare: reconnaissance, strike drones, and electronic warfare units. Test the effectiveness of various unit compositions across diverse battlefields — from open terrain to dense urban environments.
• Take part in selected battles set in hand-crafted, authentic locations — flashpoints in Central-Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Attack or defend objectives you can recognize from the real world. Systemic War recreates over 25 focal points from around the globe, complete with their distinctive architecture and landmarks. Maneuver your units through authentic layouts of cities, roads, and bridges. Use the real topography and natural obstacles to gain a tactical advantage over your opponent.
• The heart of our diplomacy is conflict escalation. Every decision can push it one step higher — from silent pressure to open war. Use hybrid actions to weaken your opponent or win the international community to your side. But don’t overplay your hand — an overly aggressive policy and humiliating a nuclear power may push the world to the brink of atomic annihilation, which means game over.
• Play through pivotal moments of modern history — both those that happened and those that could have. Understand how great power competition leads to conflict escalation — not through lectures or boring books, but through exciting gameplay. Experience world politics and war through stylized news reports, press conferences, and statements from real politicians - everything delivered as immersive video — no walls of text.
• Form and develop specialized research teams that allow you to conduct breakthroughs efficiently in their fields. Decide whether to upgrade existing weapon systems or invest in groundbreaking prototypes of the next generation. Civilian technologies matter as well — improvements in infrastructure, energy, and logistics strengthen the backbone of your nation. The key choice lies in balancing your own technology — enabling domestic production against reliance on imports and diplomatic dependencies.

Systemic War is coming to PC (Steam) in 2026.