Renowned developers of the IL-2 Sturmovik series are proud to reveal their latest entry in the historical aerial combat simulator genre. Coinciding with the 74th anniversary of the Korean War, Korea. IL-2 Series pays homage to a pivotal moment in aviation and world history, continuing the franchise's legacy of excellence: delivering an unparalleled, immersive experience.

Sometimes referred to as The Forgotten War, this conflict marked a pivotal moment not only in aerial combat history, but in the history of international conflicts. The Korean War marked the first time jet engines served alongside their piston-powered counterparts and also signaled the end of close-quarters combat, as later on missile technology would greatly expand the engagement airspace. To this day, nearly 75 years later, no peace treaty has been signed by opposing forces. To encapsulate the gravity of soaring into this perilous battle, the developers have accounted for historical data, technical achievements, and the latest gameplay technology to deliver an accurate representation of this important era in aviation. 

Rise to the next level of flight combat simulators. Fly eight legendary aircraft such as the F-86A Sabre and MiG-15, with major systems intricately modeled inside and out, visible for better or worse, such as when taking damage. Immerse yourself further with options to exit and enter the cockpit, where you can pilot using your own flight controllers and gamepads. Revised radio communications and command systems help relay messages, while intelligent sortie recording keeps a close eye on your performance. To top it all off, the game features VR compatibility for an unparalleled, immersive experience.

Staying true to its legacy, Korea will once again push the boundaries of realistic flight simulation. The game features a cutting-edge physically based rendering (PBR) DirectX graphics renderer, offering breathtaking landscapes filled with detailed, visible landmarks—both natural and man-made. Players can explore cities, rivers, and airfields within a vast 440x440km airspace, enhancing the immersive experience.

1C Game Studios has presented their 2026 roadmap, teasing the post-launch support for Korea. IL-2 series and also sharing the surprise reveal of ongoing support for the Great Battles series.

The year’s key event will be the launch of Korea, ushering in the next generation for flight combat simulators, as well as the reveal that the first DLC for Korea is scheduled for the end of the year.

“I am confident that 2026 will be remembered by the community as a very eventful year and a landmark one. We are working on two big releases: Korea, a next-generation flight simulator, as well as a DLC for it. At the same time, the team continues to develop IL-2: Great Battles series, which is dedicated to the Second World War. At the end of 2026, we are planning to release one of the most anticipated DLCs, which will give our fans an opportunity to fly bombers.” said IL-2 series producer Daniil Tuseev.

Pre-orders, which will include early access to the game, are available only on the IL-2 series’ official website. 

Korea. IL-2 Series will launch at $99.99 on full release, and 1C has established a dynamic discount to reward early adopters: the current pre-order price is discounted to $79.99 and increases to $89.99 at Early Access launch. The Founders Edition ($139.99) includes all preorder content plus Year 1 DLC access, featuring five additional aircraft and new gameplay features to be revealed in the future.

Korea. IL-2 Series is a generational leap that honors the dramatic transition from propeller-driven aircraft to jet fighters in the 1950s. Built on an entirely new engine featuring enhanced damage and flight modeling, Korea delivers incredible immersion while maintaining the franchise's signature balance of authentic simulation and accessibility. 

Eight meticulously recreated player-controllable aircraft will form the core of Korea’s roster, each constructed from real schematics, historical photographs, pilot manuals, and museum documentation. Every gauge functions. Every gunsight operates as it did in the hands of the pilots who flew them.

 

Flyable Aircraft:

• F-86A-5 Sabre
• MiG-15bis
• F-51D Mustang
• IL-10
• Yak-9P
• F-80C-10 Shooting Star
• La-11
• F-84E Thunderjet

Korea's obsessive attention to detail extends far beyond the aircraft themselves. Dozens of AI-controlled planes — including B-29 bombers — vehicles, trains, and ships populate the battlefield with an exceedingly high level of detail, rarely achieved in flight combat simulation titles today.

Players will pilot these legendary aircraft across a 75,000+ square mile/200,000 square km) map, the largest in the IL-2 franchise’s history. It is not a modern Korea, either —  the team at 1C Game Studios referenced historical maps and documents to painstakingly reconstruct the landscape as it existed in the early 1950s, even accounting for dramatic changes like filled straits and altered coastlines that transformed the region over seven decades.

In addition to aerial combat, players will have hands-on responsibilities like managing personnel, supplies, and their aircraft, mirroring real-life wartime duties. You'll face various missions, from joining large-scale air raids to defending your people and planes. Whether it's naval units, ground units like infantry squads, or meticulously recreated aircraft such as the Tu-2 and B-29 bombers, you'll have a wide range of challenges. Thanks to advanced technology, air raids are now larger and more immersive than ever before, with better rendering of large groups.

Key Features:

• New physics-based DirectX 12: Physically accurate light ray propagation in the atmosphere model, city light halos, uneven airfields and 3D bomb craters, new graphical effects and vegetation, translucent water, next level of visual model fidelity with diverse damage and more.
• Eight aircraft with next level of damage: The gradually becoming obsolete piston-engined old rulers of the sky and the young lions of the atomic age - early jets including F-86A Sabre and Mig-15 - with all major systems modeled and more detailed damage: internal parts visible through the holes, aircraft skin sheets that can become loose, etc.
• New level of Combat Experience: Revamped radio comms and orders system, skip time on the route feature, ability to enter and exit the cockpit, walk and swim,, support for modern flight control devices and gamepads, mouse-free experience in VR, intelligent sortie recording and playback.
• All-season Korean peninsula in 1950s: 440×440 km of four times more detailed than before flyable area: cities, airfields and sea ports with people in them, mountains with cranky rivers, roads and tunnels, water reservoirs and dams, mining facilities and factories, scattered hilly islands with many straits, shallow and deep waters, military camps, electric lines, etc.
• Rich Game World: Ability to become a regiment commander and manage your unit supplies, personnel and aircraft, massive air raids on the current gen hardware thanks to simplified flight modeling of large bomber groups, functional radars, dozens of painstakingly recreated air including Tu-2 and B-29 bombers, naval and ground unit types including infantry squads to attack, protect and avoid.
• In-game Museum: Learn more about the forgotten war and cutting edge tech of the atomic era to the point of having detailed information on aircraft armament as you play

Korea. IL-2 Series is coming to PC (Steam) in Q2 2026.