14 DAY TRIAL // The next major expansion of Hearts of Iron IV has just been revealed and judging by the list of new features this is going to be big. Dubbed By Blood Alone, the upcoming expansion will allow Heart of Iron IV players to explore alternate histories for Italy, Ethiopia, and Switzerland.
Veterans of the game will certainly want to know more about what’s really included in the expansion, so here are a couple of the new features players should expect. First off, there’s a new Italian focus tree available, which allows players to follow the historical path of Mussolini’s Italy or rewrite history by restoring power to the monarchy, leading a Communist revolution or promoting democracy.
On the other hand, the new Ethiopian focus tree puts players in a difficult spot as they will be to choose between defeating the Italian invader or resisting the conqueror from abroad using unique Government in Exile abilities.
Last but not least, the new Swiss focus tree challenges players to balance competing factions and overtures from the great powers that surround the country known for its neutrality: France, Germany, and Italy.
But wait, there’s more! New Peace Conference options will be available too, which will allow players to demilitarize zone or the map or entire nations, bid on the capital ships of defeated powers, or even claim control of enemy resources or factories as reparations.
By Blood Alone will also allow players to design their own aircraft, embargo their enemies with a new diplomatic interaction, as well as track each division’s performance and award medals to those that performed well.
In terms of new units, there will be 20 new pieces of unit art for Italian, Ethiopian and Swiss armies, 67 new plane models, as well as 12 new music tracks. Unfortunately, Paradox didn’t reveal a release date for Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone, but it did say it will arrive later this year.
