Expansions & DLC for Hearts of Iron VI, Battletech, Stellaris, Imperator: Rome, & More Announced by Paradox

Today Paradox Interactive had a bunch of expansion and DLC announcements to make during its PDXCon keynote. This includes Hearts of Iron VI, Battletech, Stellaris, Age of Wonders: Planetfall, Prison Architect, and Imperator: Rome.

Luckily, they sent via press release all the relevant data you may want about each expansion, and there is a lot of it.

So let’s get started.

Hearts of Iron VI gets La Résistance, which focuses on what it says on the tin, on top of adding armored cars, new focus trees for France and Spain, and more.

“La Résistance introduces a new espionage system to the game, and also increases the range of interactions and options with resistance movements in occupied territory.”

• New Focus Trees for France: New National Focuses for Free France and the Vichy Regime, as well as an option for conservatives to restore the old French Monarchy.
• More in Depth Spanish Campaign: New National Focuses for Republican and Nationalist Spain, as well as an expanded Spanish Civil War that can spiral into a wider conflict..
• Espionage: Use you Intelligence Agency to train spies to specialize in certain types of information warfare and develop passive resistance to enemy espionage, then send them on special operations.
• Support Resistance: Use your agents to assist allied resistance movements, giving them what they need to damage the enemy.
• Collaboration Governments: Use your agents to prepare the ground for collaborators to fill the void once you’ve conquered your target.
• Code Cracking: Decrypt enemy communications to gain short term battlefield advantages.
• Recon units: Scout planes can provide useful information on nearby areas while armored cars help in detecting and suppressing resistance activities.

A free update will also be released at the same time including a reworking of the resistance system, interface improvements to battleplans and air operations, and quality of life improvements.

The expansion has no release date for now, and it’s simply “coming soon” for PC.

Harebrained Schemes’ Battletech is getting Heavy Metal, focusing again on what it says on the tin, new mechs. Yet, there’s more.

“Heavy Metal adds a massive amount of new gameplay options to the world of BATTLETECH, including seven classic ‘Mech designs from the original BATTLETECH board game and an additional ‘Mech designed exclusively for this expansion.

Players can also look forward to eight new weapons systems to destroy their foes in unique ways, along with a brand new Flashpoint mini-campaign.”

• One Original and Seven Classic BattleMechs: Seven classic ‘Mechs from BATTLETECH’s 35-year legacy make their triumphant return along with the first completely new ‘Mech designed exclusively for this expansion. Each classic ‘Mech comes with unique equipment that reflects the flavor and lore of the original board game.
• Eight Game-changing New Weapon Systems: Eight all-new weapon systems can be utilized to destroy even the most formidable opponents in a wide variety of unique ways. The ‘Mech Mortar is the first AOE weapon in BATTLETECH and can destroy multiple units at once, while the new COIL Beam generates more energy the further the attacker travels before firing, a perfect fit for light ‘Mechs.
• New Flashpoint Mini-Campaign: Come face-to-face with two legendary characters from BATTLETECH lore – the Bounty Hunter and the Black Widow of Wolf’s Dragoons. A derelict cargo ship has drifted into the Periphery from deep space; what secrets does it contain, and who will ultimately control its mysterious payload?

This one will come on November 21, and it’ll be priced $19.99 / £15.49 / €19.99 depending on your region. Of course, it’ll be included in the season pass.

Stellaris is getting two package. The first is Federations. 

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. With the Stellaris: Federations expansion, players can extend their diplomatic dominion over the galaxy like never before.

Use every trick in the book to gain an edge on friend and foe alike, with a host of new options to influence, manipulate, and dominate without firing a shot.”

• Expanded Federations: With expanded diplomacy capabilities, players can build up the internal cohesion of their Federations and unlock powerful rewards for all members. Whether you join a Trade League, Martial Alliance, or Hegemony, membership can be extremely advantageous. 
• Galactic Community: Unite the space empires with a galactic senate that can vote on a wide range of resolutions to drive legislative agendas. For example, players can pass a resolution to increase commitments to collective defense or funnel profit towards wealthy elites. Members can also sanction those who defy the community, and enact a single galactic focus. Sway the senate to position yourself as a leader, trading favors and maneuvering, doing whatever it takes to gain influence among schemers.
• Origins: Each empire has a story that shapes its path. Give your civilization deeper roots with the new system of Origins. By choosing an Origin, players can flesh out their empire’s background and alter its starting conditions. Whether it’s Void Dwellers who have abandoned their homeworld to live in perpetual orbit, or a society that worships and protects a powerful Tree of Life, you can lay the groundwork wisely for the seeds of your empire.
• New Constructions: Construct glorious new projects for your empire like the Juggernaut, a massive mobile starbase that provides a moveable repair base even in enemy territory, or the Mega Shipyard, a new megastructure that can churn out fleets with incredible speed. Offering both tactical advantages and a good dose of shock and/or awe, these are sure to be an asset to any space empire.

This one is also “coming soon.”

The second piece of content for Stellaris is the Lithoids Species Pack,  coming on October 24 for $7.99 / £5.79 / €7.99. 

“The Lithoids Species Pack features not only completely new gameplay but also a selection of new rock-based species portraits and ship models for players who take nothing for granite and are looking to unearth a more grounded civilization.

Lithoids are a bigger and boulder species type made entirely of sapient rock who eat minerals for sustenance, are long-lived, and can colonize in almost any environment. 

Players can look forward to trying out the entirely new Lithoid play style that focuses on mineral production, relentless colonization of even the most marginal worlds, and refusing to cede an inch of your empire – for sedimental value.”

The Lithoids Species Pack includes:

• Unique Mechanics for Lithoid Empires
• 15 New Portraits of Lithoids and 1 of a Lithoid robot
• New Mineral-based Ship Models 
• New voice pack

Moving on to Imperator: Rome, we’re getting a free content pack, The Punic Wars. 

Of course it focuses on the struggle between Rome and Carthage, but doesn’t have a release date or much information about it just yet.

Next on the list is Age of Wonders: Planetfall, which is getting an expansion titled Revelations. 

It’ll launch on November 19 for $14.99 / £11.39 / €14.99 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. 

“Revelations sets in motion the return of the entombed Es’Teq dynasty, whose Heritor descendents aim to use ancient technology and reincarnate billions of followers across the galaxy, establishing divine rule.

The Heritor wield strong Entropy weapons that are effective against machines and can awaken ancient Es’Teq minds. Claim ancient secrets or succumb to their power in a new campaign with tactical combat and in-depth empire building.”

• Anomalous Sites Mechanic – Explore 30+ mysterious sites filled with traps and powerful enemies to reap unique rewards and uncover great secrets. Encounter unique choices based on each faction or Secret Technology.
• Additional Campaign Missions – Experience the awakening of the Es’teq dynasty and the rise of their Heritor descendants with 10+ hours of new content across two campaigns.
• New Secret Tech: Heritor – Use ancient Heritor technology to drain the essence of enemies, fueling the opportunity to use powerful abilities, create strong Entropy weapons, and summon new units.
• Tomb World Scenario – Challenge yourself to complete this deadly new Scenario, where Heritor enemies create an onslaught of destruction. This scenario also includes a new multiplayer questline to allow more players to join in on the action.
• ‘The Forgotten’ NPC Faction – Broken, insane, or otherwise unfit for Heritor’s utopian society, The Forgotten were never meant to be resurrected.
• Threats to Your Empire – Reapers are robotic assassins created long ago to destroy those who were friendly to the Heritor cause, but now hunt all who walk the planet. Equally deadly are the Megasow and Piglets, bio-engineered wildlife gone rabid after the fall of the Star Union, which will devour anything in sight. 
• Locations, Pick-Ups, & Mechanics – Visit an Essence Gash or Es’Teq Well locations to supply new combat effects or abilities to your units. The Holopad pickup provides diplomatic rewards and additional influence over allies and enemies. Take over Imperial Defenses like the new Soul Beacon, Cluster Mine Launcher, or Firestorm Missile Silo to aid in combat.
• Free Content – All players will gain the ability to take over the new Imperial Defenses, unlocking Operations that boost the combat effect of your colonies. In addition, the Orbital Relays mechanic boosts your empire’s infrastructure to allow for nearly instant unit transportation between sectors – but beware of sabotage interference by enemies!

Last, but not least, Prison Architect is getting two expansions. 

The first is titled Psych Ward: Warden’s Edition, and it’s coming on November 21 to PC for $5.99 / £4.79 / €5.99.

This is actually a revised version of what is already available on consoles with additional content. It’ll come alongside a free content update for the base game.

The second expansion is unnamed and mysterious and is coming next year.

“Psych Ward: Warden’s Edition introduces unpredictable inmates with new behaviors, adds additional management features, and gives players more ways to customize their prisons.

Psych Ward: Warden’s Edition expands on Psych Ward’s console features and adds an additional warden, padded solitary cells, padded floors, Psychiatrist office upgrades, Orderly staff, and more.”

• Plead Insanity: Criminally insane inmates are unpredictable, require special care, and have their own Reputation traits for you to consider when building your prison. Let them co-exist with the general population or lock them away in a padded cell, how you manage their needs is up to you!
• Shrinks: Any prison holding the criminally insane needs a team of Psychiatrists and trained Orderlies to keep everything under control. These valuable prison staff can sedate rowdy prisoners or pull out the straitjackets when things get too rough.
• Doctor’s Note: Provide counseling to the criminally insane with the new Psychiatrist’s Office and new consultation Programs. Improve their sessions by upgrading the office with leather sofas, medicine cabinets, Rorschach tests, and more.
• Good Behavior: Your inmates now have a wide range of behaviors players will need to manage. They start out harmless, but if left untreated, they can turn violent or attempt to escape.
• It’s Gone Viral: Treat your regular inmates with care. Subjecting your inmates to excessive suppression or punishment can cause them to turn criminally insane. 
• Extra Padding: Psych Ward: Warden’s Edition adds padded cells and padded floors along with a bundle of other new objects, floors, and wall types to customize your prison. Now you can easily build a dedicated wing for the criminally insane.
• Tools of the Trade: Additional contraband, including Adrenaline Shots, Fountain Pens (Shanks), and Gold Pocket Watches, can be stolen by your prisoners, or by you in Escape Mode.

If you’re interested in games published by Paradox, today they also announced Crusader Kings III and released Surviving the Aftermath in early access.