Katarzyna Petru
The Total War series is returning to its most iconic roots. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the franchise, Creative Assembly has announced Total War: Medieval III – a project that aims to not only continue the series but also completely redefine how historical entries look.
Announcement made exceptionally early to showcase “the entire game development process”
The first video material is more of a statement of ambition than a full-fledged trailer – it doesn’t contain a second of gameplay. During the broadcast, the creators only showed simple concept art, revealing the atmosphere of medieval locations. The reason? Medieval III is only entering early pre-production. Creative Assembly states clearly: for now, the “foundations” of the game have been established, and this early announcement is intended to allow the team to regularly share progress and respond to player feedback from the very early stages of production. This is a completely new approach compared to previous installments.
“The Definitive Experience of Total War in the Medieval Era”
The studio's ambitions are exceptionally high. Medieval III is not just meant to recreate well-known events, but to allow players to completely redefine the course of history. The decisions made during the campaign will impact, among other things, the:
consequences of the fall of the Byzantine Empire,
fate of Rome after its expansion,
key political and military points of the late Middle Ages.
The creators promise that this will be the most extensive and historically informed Total War – based on broad sources and collaboration with experts.
Action in the 12th–15th century, but the exact starting point is still in the works
Medieval III will be set in the late Middle Ages – roughly between the 12th and 15th centuries. The exact start date of the campaign has not yet been established, but Creative Assembly emphasises that they are considering moments that will allow for dynamic geopolitical changes and significant opportunities for alternative historical outcomes.
Over the coming months, we are to be introduced to a series of dev-blogs, in which the studio will gradually present the various elements of the game, leading up to the full reveal of the mechanics. If the promises are kept, Medieval III could become the most significant historical installment since Shogun 2.
