Beta Update: Last one before release!

Six days to go before the final release of Steel Division: Normandy 44 on May 23rd! As far as we are concerned, the past few weeks were quite busy, since we’ve relentlessly worked on improving our Pre-Order Beta’s balance and stability. We would like to thank you once more for being a part of this endeavor and for your nice and helpful feedback.

Oh, it also means that you only have one week to pre-order our game in order to get the exclusive Aces which you can discover in this blog article.

And don’t forget, tomorrow, to watch our usual stream on our Twitch channel! We’ll play with the two new divisions. You can also take a look right now at our new exclusive behind-the-scenes video!

 

---

Now, as promised, today’s update brings you the British 6th Airborne Division & the German 352. Infanterie-Division, as well as the new Odon & Carpiquet battlegrounds. This should end the Pre-Order Beta on a high note since all 15 maps and 18 divisions will be available next Tuesday at release.

And of course, the update features the usual balance changes, as well as new British unit voices!

MAPS: CARPIQUET & ODON

Carpiquet is a town near Caen, made famous in World War II for being the focus of some of the fiercest combat of Normandy campaign. Control of the village, but especially of its airfield, was a major Day One objective for the Allied forces. Vicious combats were fought between the Canadians & 12. SS-Panzer for its control. The airfield at the center of the map is an open ground with clear lines of sight for tanks. A field day for tank & anti-tank guns alike. The town next to the airfield has many buildings for close combat. There are also barracks all around the airfield, with aircraft hangars and some forests offering some cover.

The second map gets it name from the small Odon river and its peaceful valley… but in the Summer of 44 it was best known as the “Valley of Death“. Securing a bridgehead on the other side would bring the British one step closer to Hill 112, and whoever held Hill 112 controlled Caen. The task of crossing the Odon in the face of several elite German armored divisions fell mostly on the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division‘s shoulders. Of course, the Odon river in the center of the map is the major landmark on this map. Infantry units can ford it anywhere and surprise the enemy, but vehicles are stuck to the bridges. A perfect place for an ambush.

DIVISIONS: 6TH AIRBORNE & 352. INFANTERIE

Both divisions added today have been largely described in their dedicated blog articles and were also showcased during our last stream, which you can now find on YouTube.

The British 6th Airborne was the first allied division to get into action on D-Day. Its elite infantry, supported by airborne light tanks and naval artillery, owns Phase A. But AT guns and air support will really arrive from phase B to hold the conquered ground. As usual for an airborne division, many of its units doesn’t suffer from penalties when surrounded, this capacity being displayed by wings on the unit’s card.

A British Typhoon

The German 352. Infanterie-Division, on the other hand, relies on its numerous and cheap infantry and its defensive assets starting from Phase A. Its offensive capacities grow more powerful as the game goes on, rolling over its enemies with the support of artillery units and tank destroyers.

The dreaded Jagdpanter

NEW BRITISH VOICES

To make Steel Division: Normandy 44 more immersive, and based on players’ feedbacks, we have recorded new British soldiers’ voices.

BALANCING AND MORE

The update brings its share of balance and fixes including the autosetting system. You can check all the changes in our patchlog.