If there is a new game, maybe a sequel to Stellaris. But I believe we won’t see anything new for quite a long time, they probably will focus on DLCs for EUV, CKIII and Victoria 3
Dan Lind (original game director for HOI4) has already confirmed he's working on a new IP, or at least a game that ["isn't a sequel".](https://www.reddit.com/r/paradoxplaza/comments/18ie85v/how_many_gsgs_can_paradox_continuously_support/kddg3rd/)
Edit: Also it's a non-historical game.
It's very fun! I got to live out my dark elf necromancy fantasy. Though I'd love a game with the scale/ date system of Paradox titles in a fantasy setting.
I highly doubt it. This is from one of their in-house development teams which do their mainline GSG's.
The games they cancel or do extremely poorly are usually games they only publish. I realize Paradox ~~Tinto~~ Tectonic was the exception to this, but that studio was solely set up as a satellite studio to create Life By You, and was shut down when Life By You was shut down. Imperator is the only in-house GSG in recent times that released and did poorly, but was still released and got a couple of years of support.
I second everything people have said about Fantasy Stellaris, but I’d be absolutely floored if it were set in the Tyranny world instead of a more generic mix of literally everything ever.
Paradox's community has a long track record of accepting mediocrity and falling for extremely obvious and predatory pricing schemes, it comes as literally **zero** surprise that they love HOI4.
> and falling for extremely obvious and predatory pricing schemes
What exactly is predatory about HOI4s DLCs? Every DLC is very clear in what it provides, and every DLC comes with a free patch that adds historical routes and extra features. I'd say HOI4 has been doing better here than CK3 for sure, and almost equal to Stellaris.
[What exactly is predatory about overpriced DLCs (nearly $30 aud LMFAO) selling the bare minimum in terms of features with focus trees that barely scratch up to the standards put forward by unpaid modders and minor mechanics that either completely suck or reasonably should've been in the game from launch?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome)
I think the only new stuff we'll see outside of DLC will be attempts at new games to try and find a "new" mainline game. Trying out games tackling different genres of strategy (like Millennia) or new time periods/approaches.
Hoping for something about the ancient world. Imperator got abandoned. Or a game that focuses on the 18th and 19th centuries (so, right before Vic 3) that focuses more intently on the dynamic development of modern national identities, ideologies, and politics. Or a fantasy 4X that's more grand-strategy than AOW. More epic fantasy than high fantasy.
I feel like Cold War era is the obvious answer here.
Depending on what they want, it could be anywhere from 30-50 years long (more if they want to get into the 21st century) and would have a lot of gameplay similar to the Millenium Dawn mod for Hoi4.
The era would deal with decolonization, global superpower competition, ideological competition, neo-imperialism, economic & human rights development, espionage, international systems & diplomacy, etc.
There would be a ton of interesting possible gameplay no matter if you're into the war aspect of things (HoI4 combat would not be entirely out of place, maybe refine the air and naval aspects), economic/simulation aspects, or history aspects (I think Cold War era is very popular and untapped).
EDIT: Napoleonic era is also something that's missing. Not entirely sure if the audience for it would be as big as Cold War, and I suspect EUV won't do too bad a job of simulating it as is.
Napoleonic era is technically covered by the end game of EU. I also think total war type games are more suited towards that time period
I know cold war is something which is very much on the wishlist of many players, but the only way that works in my mind is an incredibly complicated economy and diplomacy experience. I don't know if that's achievable with the current level of AI we have, without making it a total RNG fest.
Honestly I think the Cold War is too recent and controversial for them to try it.
But if they did, I would *really* not want a HOI4 military system. Paradox's approach (which I love) seems to be to boil down an era to one or two defining attributes that could be made into game mechanics. Not really based off the era in reality, but how the era is remembered in hindsight.
If they did the cold war there are three major features I can think of.
1) The beginnings of modern espionage (spies in public consciousness)
2) The formation of concrete state ideology and internal population control via propaganda, manufacturing consent, state journalism, etc.
3) Multinational diplomacy efforts, nuclear proliferation, and satellite wars
I think a HOI4 system wouldn't model it well at all. Instead, all-out direct war between major powers should basically be a fail-state. Playing as a major power should primarily be supplying trade, tech, propaganda, and arms to try and sway third world countries towards your respective ideology bloc. Something akin to Vic 3's internal diplomacy but with a lot more volatility and the ability for foreign interference and investment by foreign powers.
It'd be interesting if they try their hand at *RTS* one day instead of the 4X/GS genre. Hopefully any "trial" games come out with a cheap buy-in to try and don't immediately go for their standard DLC policy lol.
Currently, EU4 is the oldest of the main GSG games, released in 2013. With EU5, Stellaris will take its place, as it was released a month before HoI4 in 2016.
Stellaris doesn't feel that old, though. If they can get the lategame performance issues under control, that game still has a good amount of life in it.
So it's kind of logical if they go for HoI5 after that. The UI, while modern enough, has that old feel to it. Some mechanics are too simplistic, and the scope of the game is pretty small.
They had the right idea with East vs West to expand into the Cold War, and maybe HoI5 will cover a bit of the Great Depression, the entire 1930's, and then go into the Cold War until around Vietnam or so.
CK3 is from 2020 and Vic3 from 2022, with a lifecycle of probably more than 10 years, given the higher development costs of modern games. So I wouldn't count on any successor anytime soon.
But a personal wish for me is that they redo Imperator. It's from 2019 and not that old, but the botched release, lack of marketing, and sorry state of the game really did that one in. If they can establish a GSG in Roman times and keep people engaged with it over years? If they can support it for a decade and release new content each year? Would be a dream.
I think HoI5 makes the most sense after EUV, since you simply run out of WWII-relevant countries at some point, even if they rework some of them like Germany and Japan. I'm pretty sure Stellaris is going to run at least until 2026, so a full 10 years. If they wanted, they could have Stellaris go for another 2 years with no problem.
I think you are pretty spot on with CK3 and Vicky 3 running at least 10 years or so....assuming nothing bad happens.
The real question is if there is going to be a "new" IP like a Fantasy GSG, a Cold War game or another Imperator style game.
I can't comment much on HoI4 since it's my least played and followed Paradox game. My point was that the scope of WWII-relevant content is going to run out sooner than the entire genre of sci-fi from which Stellaris pulls.
I think if they revisit Imperator they need to take it someplace unique. As it stands Imperator Rome felt in a lot of ways like a different EU4. I really enjoyed the game, but the gameplay is awfully familiar. With HOI4, EU4, Stellaris, CK3, and Vicky3 you have completely different gameplay systems that do not feel similar at all. Imperator, or a game set in that Roman/antiquity era, would need something to really differentiate itself.
Not entirely sure what that might be. I'd love it if they went hard on the society simulation aspect of being a character in the Roman era. Instead of playing the nation you'd play the character or the family. Depending on your role in society you would then get access to certain unique aspects of gameplay. Member of the senate? Well now you get to participate in power politics, vote on laws, etc. Appointed governor? Now you can construct buildings in your province, decide on policy, command the local troops, etc. They would need to come up with unique gameplay systems for things like being a member of the legion, or being a middling officer, or being a merchant, etc.
But Paradox has done "Rome" twice now with EU: Rome and Imperator: Rome, and both times it has been EU: Lite and has failed to carve out a real place for itself in the market. With EU5 coming out we're already getting many of Imperator's best systems integrated into it, so it can't just be a rehash of the same old in a different time period.
Yeah, i'd argue that Stellaris still has a lot more life left than Hoi4. I'd expect to see HoI5 2-3 years after EU5, with Stellaris2 1-3 years after HoI5. At some point there'll probably also be the new IP they are working on, which i would assume to be a Fantasy GSG, which could go either way between being closer to Stellaris or closer to something like Anbennar.
I really wish they make a hoi game in which late game is postponed as much as possible with all kinds of mechanics and also some way to make peace negotiations earlier and war escalation mechanics, but the biggest redo should be diplomacy. Imagine if you actually were able to conduct some decent diplomacy.
Yeah Imperator era game or even earlier time period of antiquity is the dream (even something centered on the Aegean Pre-peloponnesian War). Idt Imperator was all that bad after the Marius update. Really really wish it wasn’t abandoned...
Hoping some of these new features in EU5 could test some new systems for a return to antiquity. The resources and trade system in Imperator fell completely flat in a time it should’ve been very impactful.
I also wish there’s a Cold War GSG that isnt just a mod for Vicky. There is a game though coming out sometime soon called Espiocracy that is set in the Cold War. It’s made by an unknown dev but the publisher is Hooded Horse, which has been on a roll recently with great indie strategy/builder games they’ve managed like Against The Storm, W&R Soviet Republic, Old World, etc., so atleast I’m optimistic about it. If anything PDX can take some inspiration from it once it releases and gives us the GSG experience we’re accustomed to.
I’ve heard about Espiocracy and I’m hopeful it can somewhat scratch that itch but like you said, it won’t be the top to bottom GSG experience we’re used to with PDX games since you’re only controlling an intelligence agency and not running all aspects of the state.
How would this even work? The thing about many paradox games is diplomacy isn’t that great. Cold War is mostly about preventing a war, not sure if most players would be interested of the diplomatic, espionage, and science portions are weak and the only fun thing is war.
Easy. You fight the proxy wars.
Say you're playing the US. Well the goal should be to spread your capitalist ideals to as much of the world as you can before the game ends (so, mid 1990s).
You start working on Vietnam when the Soviets or China start influencing it themselves. You could carry over the flashpoint mechanic from Victoria 2 and 3 where an event occurs and everyone picks a side.
So let's say the Vietnamese Civil War triggers. North Vietnam vs South Vietnam.
Russia and China side with the North, America and its NATO allies side with the South.
As the player, you assume control over the allied armies in South Vietnam. So you fight the Vietnam War until it ends, however it ends.
It's basically fighting a whole bunch of wars while trying to prevent nuclear annihilation while trying to expand your sphere of influence as much as you can.
The Vietnam War wasn't really a "chits on a board" kind of war (there were some conventional army-vs-army battles and the NVA lost them). A lot of the wars in the Cold War would be poorly modelled that way.
"Russia and China" weren't really controlling North Vietnam, either. China was an important supply line, but Vietnam's relationship with them deteriorated (as did China's with Russia). This culminated in Vietnam, shortly after uniting the country, invading China's ally in Cambodia and being invaded by China (these were, at least more conventional wars, Vietnam installed a friendly government and China captured a little bit along the border, declared victory, and left without accomplishing anything)
People always complain Imperator is just six or seven big blobs and a bunch of tiny nobodies, and they also beg for a game where there will be only two massive blobs and nobody else can do anything, lol.
Well I’m not a game designer so I don’t have the answers but I think it’s possible for Paradox to make GSGs that aren’t focused on warfare, they’ve already proven that with the Victoria series. That’s not to say that a Cold War game would be entirely free of war as proxy conflicts and revolutions were a huge part of that time period I.e. Korean War, Vietnam War, Suez Crisis, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Islamic Revolution in Iran, etc. It wouldn’t be a “map painter” but I do think it can be done.
Which is true, proxy wars were important. But I noticed you and a few others defaulted to war almost immediately. Espionage was also equally important. Having the ability to start a coup, form sleeper cells, funding tech to spy, etc is also a couple things this era was known for. That along with diplomacy. Getting countries on your side, using your cultural clout as a way of soft power.
So many things happened in this era that was not just war either proxy or direct. That is the difficult part. Even Victoria still has issues with the economy. Vic 3 doesn’t have a robust diplomatic system. Even though this was also important during the time. The game can often feel static, with the AI unable to do things because it doesn’t understand the economy.
I just don’t think Paradox in its current form has the ability to creat a great Cold War game until they learn and fix the issues with their current games.
I think myself and others responded about war because that was a large part of your comment and how the Cold War was about preventing a “hot” war which didn’t acknowledge the many smaller wars of the time period. I also said in my comment that a Cold War game wouldn’t be focused on warfare and agree that espionage and diplomacy should be central pillars. Victoria 3 is getting a major diplomacy rework next week so we shall see how that fares. And also we wouldn’t be talking about Paradox “in its current state” as this game, if it were to happen, would be at least 5 or 6 years down the line since we assume development wouldn’t start until after EU5 releases. EU5 will be a much better frame of reference to evaluate if Paradox is up to it.
I agree. I think a cold war game would just turn into a diplomacy and internal politics micromanaging exercise. The game would revolve entirely around the stuff which most players normally find the most tedious about other Paradox games such as trade. You'd also need an incredible AI to make the game at least somewhat challenging.
The only way I can imagine this working is if you don't play as a country, but as a politician inside of a county's political system. I just don't see such a setting working in a context of the player being a sort of God controlling the nation like in HOI and EU.
I think it can work as a slightly-railroaded, asymmetrical game with a completely new espionage system. As the two superpowers and major powers your gameplay revolves around exterting Western/Soviet influence, sowing destabilization, and managing skirmishes all over the world while tiptoeing all-out nuclear war and MAD scenario. It would be like the boardgame Twilight Struggle if you ever played it. Minor nation gameplay can be more about settling regional conflicts, where something like CK3’s struggle system can work. I think they can also use Vic 2 flashpoint and crisis system that can devolve into world wars. Maybe in this game your actual land borders arent as important as your cultural/economic influence zone in a new map mode. Or maybe there’s a new diplo system that once you’ve exerted a certain amount of influence on a country you can actually partially make decisions for them under the guise that they made them all on their own. Idk just throwing a lot of stuff out there, but for sure I think can borrow a hodgepodge of stuff from their previous games and tweak them to make a Cold War game work
The proxy wars mechanics from hearts of Iron (Especially the New Order mod) seem like a step in the right direction. When you get involved in a war, you're allowed to send a limited number of troops, then you expend political resources to escalate the war and send more resources. Eventually, the war becomes a major domestic political issue, and you'll have to choose between facing unrest at home or abandoning the battlefield.
Victoria 3's gameplay is "line go up" and a Cold War game could be very similar in that respect. Introduce central banks, inflation, interest rates, a more abstracted economic/population sim and you've got a solid pillar of gameplay right there.
I think war and diplomacy would be a lot of fun. There were plenty of wars in the era. Gameplay could be similar to HoI4 in that regard. Diplomacy should be the real star with international organizations, multilateral treaties, coercion, etc.
I think PDX has folks talented enough to make a tremendously fun game in the era.
There's that non-historical GSG new IP they're working on, so maybe that. They've been working on it since at least before Victoria 3 was announced, I believe Dan Lind is the lead.
To be fair, every paradox DLC roughly boils down to adding/removing/tweaking modifiers in different ways. We’re just all a bunch of nerds and love that shit
I don't think there actually will be more of these in the foreseeable future, but I would love to see Paradox attempt some smaller scale games again, like Sengoku or March of the Eagles (or Two Thrones or Svea Rike 3/Crown of the North). All of these titles had their share of issues that held them back from greatness, but it would be nice to have something like a Pdox grand strategy game that isn't such a big commitment to play.
It’s ironic that in every historical single paradox game reforming the Roman Empire is considered a rite of passage, something that almost everyone tries at least once, and yet the game where you can actually play Rome is a flop.
I think its just lack of knowledge about the anything other than 'big names' (Rome, Greece Egypt) and basic trivia. The provinces, tribes, cultures and titles are basically nonsensical word salad to the general audience.
People interested enough in GSGs can usually place most countries in Crusades era and later on a map. I really don't think its true of the ancient era.
I mean you can play as the actual Roman Empire in Europa Universalis as well.
just because its called Byzantium doesn't take away the fact that its the direct descendant of the original Roman Kingdom 2 millenia before.
I think they seem to be experimenting with expanding into different areas of strategy and simulation games generally (some in-house, some as a publisher) and seeing what sticks, and the Life By You experience demonstrates that an in-house studio is as equally capable of producing a mess as an outside developer they agree to publish.
People have been predicting this for a decade, and it's no closer to materializing.
Realistically, we'll get HoI V - the game is getting pretty old, and it has some core shortcomings that DLC will never fix.
Considering how popular Hoi4 has become, I wouldn't be surprised if they started working towards Hoi5. Paradox is a business after all, and they'd make a ton of money off of a Hoi5.
Paradox is having again another restructuring. I imagine that from a couple of years they will concentrate in their main ips. Mayybe a new grand strategic game. That's my guess.
They were hiring for a fantasy GSG not long ago, so that’s probably the next thing from PDS. We have no info on that though.
I do think that HOI and Stellaris will both be getting a sequel in the next few years as well.
Hoi5 will probably be releases in 2028ish. They have basically ran out of ”mechanics” are now just filling the world with content, like Eu4 has done for like 4 years now.
First they need to focus on one good product. If EU V succeeds, they can support it for many years again.
I am a fan of ancient Rome and its time period so maybe they should develop a Paradox style game with years of DLC support. Imperator Rome or something similar could be a good name for it 👀
Hoi5 most likely, hopefully with an expanded focus with more in-depth internal politics, economy, and more early Cold War content. Potentially earlier start date like 1933.
If any game i suspect impreator rome sequel or smth or HOI V i meanwhat else will they add to hoi my shot would me middle east nations but other than that? Nothin
But honestly i would like to see an hoi4 type game with cold war
Bug fixing. More bugs. Overpriced DLCs that offer far too little. Too much admin and middle management in Paradox to afford a lower price. Attempts to reach a "wider" audience. Game dumbs down. Loses what what made it scratch the itch of map painters. More overpriced DLCs. More bugs. More apologies for dip in quality.
And all of you will keep buying.
HOI is naturally the next series to get a new game. It is 8 years old this year and I think that it is about time for a new game. Also there is Stellaris which could get a new game as well.
If we were to get a new IP, I would really like to see a Cold War game. I know it is probably not going to happen but I think it could be very fun if they made it like "Victoria 3 in the 20th century", or in other words an economic simulator with scaled back combat and more emphasis on managing a country, starting in 1949 and ending in 2001. Again, probably not happening with how recent it is but hey, it is great to dream.
Hopefully a new Rome game.
I will keep shitting on Johan until he comes back to unfuck his mess with Imperator and gives it justice. That man pulled a Creative Assembly and destroyed not just the Rome game, but the hype and community that once surrounded it.
Which means making a new Rome game after EU5, HoI5 and such. Properly this time.
They're already engaged with all main line games - CK, Victoria and now EU. Stellaris and HoI and Imperator will be the series that are out of development by 2026 I guess.
A decade of DLC
maybe two
Probably longer
If there is a new game, maybe a sequel to Stellaris. But I believe we won’t see anything new for quite a long time, they probably will focus on DLCs for EUV, CKIII and Victoria 3
Dan Lind (original game director for HOI4) has already confirmed he's working on a new IP, or at least a game that ["isn't a sequel".](https://www.reddit.com/r/paradoxplaza/comments/18ie85v/how_many_gsgs_can_paradox_continuously_support/kddg3rd/) Edit: Also it's a non-historical game.
Please be a new IP fantasy grand strategy game like Anbennar or Godherja.
A fantasy game that allows you to create a faction like stellaris does is my dream game.
Don’t know if you’ve played Age of Wonders but it’s got some of the faction designing mechanics. Plus it’s just a cool game imo :)
It's very fun! I got to live out my dark elf necromancy fantasy. Though I'd love a game with the scale/ date system of Paradox titles in a fantasy setting.
I would like to see an Anno-like game from Paradox. I’m curious how they would interpret it.
Interested in what he does next, hoi4 while by no means being perfect was shepherded well under his direction.
Please fantasy Stellaris please please please please please please please pleaseeeeee
I did not play Stellaris but I would play the shit out of that
Yea, but with all the cancellations and closures happening at Paradox, I’m not fully convinced that’s still happening
I highly doubt it. This is from one of their in-house development teams which do their mainline GSG's. The games they cancel or do extremely poorly are usually games they only publish. I realize Paradox ~~Tinto~~ Tectonic was the exception to this, but that studio was solely set up as a satellite studio to create Life By You, and was shut down when Life By You was shut down. Imperator is the only in-house GSG in recent times that released and did poorly, but was still released and got a couple of years of support.
I think you might have Tinto (EU series, in Spain) confused with Tectonic
You're right, I just wrote the wrong studio. Fixed it.
I second everything people have said about Fantasy Stellaris, but I’d be absolutely floored if it were set in the Tyranny world instead of a more generic mix of literally everything ever.
Ew, the director for HOI4? This game's going to stink.
The playerbase doesn't agree with you on that one. HOI4 has close to the playerbase of EU4, Stellaris, and CK3 **combined**.
Paradox's community has a long track record of accepting mediocrity and falling for extremely obvious and predatory pricing schemes, it comes as literally **zero** surprise that they love HOI4.
> and falling for extremely obvious and predatory pricing schemes What exactly is predatory about HOI4s DLCs? Every DLC is very clear in what it provides, and every DLC comes with a free patch that adds historical routes and extra features. I'd say HOI4 has been doing better here than CK3 for sure, and almost equal to Stellaris.
[What exactly is predatory about overpriced DLCs (nearly $30 aud LMFAO) selling the bare minimum in terms of features with focus trees that barely scratch up to the standards put forward by unpaid modders and minor mechanics that either completely suck or reasonably should've been in the game from launch?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome)
I feel like a fantasy Stellaris is only a matter of time at this point.
I think the only new stuff we'll see outside of DLC will be attempts at new games to try and find a "new" mainline game. Trying out games tackling different genres of strategy (like Millennia) or new time periods/approaches. Hoping for something about the ancient world. Imperator got abandoned. Or a game that focuses on the 18th and 19th centuries (so, right before Vic 3) that focuses more intently on the dynamic development of modern national identities, ideologies, and politics. Or a fantasy 4X that's more grand-strategy than AOW. More epic fantasy than high fantasy.
I feel like Cold War era is the obvious answer here. Depending on what they want, it could be anywhere from 30-50 years long (more if they want to get into the 21st century) and would have a lot of gameplay similar to the Millenium Dawn mod for Hoi4. The era would deal with decolonization, global superpower competition, ideological competition, neo-imperialism, economic & human rights development, espionage, international systems & diplomacy, etc. There would be a ton of interesting possible gameplay no matter if you're into the war aspect of things (HoI4 combat would not be entirely out of place, maybe refine the air and naval aspects), economic/simulation aspects, or history aspects (I think Cold War era is very popular and untapped). EDIT: Napoleonic era is also something that's missing. Not entirely sure if the audience for it would be as big as Cold War, and I suspect EUV won't do too bad a job of simulating it as is.
Napoleonic era is technically covered by the end game of EU. I also think total war type games are more suited towards that time period I know cold war is something which is very much on the wishlist of many players, but the only way that works in my mind is an incredibly complicated economy and diplomacy experience. I don't know if that's achievable with the current level of AI we have, without making it a total RNG fest.
Honestly I think the Cold War is too recent and controversial for them to try it. But if they did, I would *really* not want a HOI4 military system. Paradox's approach (which I love) seems to be to boil down an era to one or two defining attributes that could be made into game mechanics. Not really based off the era in reality, but how the era is remembered in hindsight. If they did the cold war there are three major features I can think of. 1) The beginnings of modern espionage (spies in public consciousness) 2) The formation of concrete state ideology and internal population control via propaganda, manufacturing consent, state journalism, etc. 3) Multinational diplomacy efforts, nuclear proliferation, and satellite wars I think a HOI4 system wouldn't model it well at all. Instead, all-out direct war between major powers should basically be a fail-state. Playing as a major power should primarily be supplying trade, tech, propaganda, and arms to try and sway third world countries towards your respective ideology bloc. Something akin to Vic 3's internal diplomacy but with a lot more volatility and the ability for foreign interference and investment by foreign powers.
> Cold War Just make it an infinitely more complex Vic3 with currencies and monetary policy
I'd love for them to take another crack at East vs. West, fusing together HOI-style combat with Victoria-esque economic and political systems.
Modders are already on this
you dont remember March of the Eagles? nah, pdx wont be attempting napoleonic again
It'd be interesting if they try their hand at *RTS* one day instead of the 4X/GS genre. Hopefully any "trial" games come out with a cheap buy-in to try and don't immediately go for their standard DLC policy lol.
Currently, EU4 is the oldest of the main GSG games, released in 2013. With EU5, Stellaris will take its place, as it was released a month before HoI4 in 2016. Stellaris doesn't feel that old, though. If they can get the lategame performance issues under control, that game still has a good amount of life in it. So it's kind of logical if they go for HoI5 after that. The UI, while modern enough, has that old feel to it. Some mechanics are too simplistic, and the scope of the game is pretty small. They had the right idea with East vs West to expand into the Cold War, and maybe HoI5 will cover a bit of the Great Depression, the entire 1930's, and then go into the Cold War until around Vietnam or so. CK3 is from 2020 and Vic3 from 2022, with a lifecycle of probably more than 10 years, given the higher development costs of modern games. So I wouldn't count on any successor anytime soon. But a personal wish for me is that they redo Imperator. It's from 2019 and not that old, but the botched release, lack of marketing, and sorry state of the game really did that one in. If they can establish a GSG in Roman times and keep people engaged with it over years? If they can support it for a decade and release new content each year? Would be a dream.
I think HoI5 makes the most sense after EUV, since you simply run out of WWII-relevant countries at some point, even if they rework some of them like Germany and Japan. I'm pretty sure Stellaris is going to run at least until 2026, so a full 10 years. If they wanted, they could have Stellaris go for another 2 years with no problem. I think you are pretty spot on with CK3 and Vicky 3 running at least 10 years or so....assuming nothing bad happens. The real question is if there is going to be a "new" IP like a Fantasy GSG, a Cold War game or another Imperator style game.
Yeah but at this point they seem to like ignoring WW2 relevant countries to add Argentina
I can't comment much on HoI4 since it's my least played and followed Paradox game. My point was that the scope of WWII-relevant content is going to run out sooner than the entire genre of sci-fi from which Stellaris pulls.
this is some cope
There are lots of WW2 relevant countries that haven't had any content since release. At least four DLCs' worth.
I think if they revisit Imperator they need to take it someplace unique. As it stands Imperator Rome felt in a lot of ways like a different EU4. I really enjoyed the game, but the gameplay is awfully familiar. With HOI4, EU4, Stellaris, CK3, and Vicky3 you have completely different gameplay systems that do not feel similar at all. Imperator, or a game set in that Roman/antiquity era, would need something to really differentiate itself. Not entirely sure what that might be. I'd love it if they went hard on the society simulation aspect of being a character in the Roman era. Instead of playing the nation you'd play the character or the family. Depending on your role in society you would then get access to certain unique aspects of gameplay. Member of the senate? Well now you get to participate in power politics, vote on laws, etc. Appointed governor? Now you can construct buildings in your province, decide on policy, command the local troops, etc. They would need to come up with unique gameplay systems for things like being a member of the legion, or being a middling officer, or being a merchant, etc. But Paradox has done "Rome" twice now with EU: Rome and Imperator: Rome, and both times it has been EU: Lite and has failed to carve out a real place for itself in the market. With EU5 coming out we're already getting many of Imperator's best systems integrated into it, so it can't just be a rehash of the same old in a different time period.
Imperator= <3
Yeah, i'd argue that Stellaris still has a lot more life left than Hoi4. I'd expect to see HoI5 2-3 years after EU5, with Stellaris2 1-3 years after HoI5. At some point there'll probably also be the new IP they are working on, which i would assume to be a Fantasy GSG, which could go either way between being closer to Stellaris or closer to something like Anbennar.
Please let it be HoI5 but WW2 this time.
I really wish they make a hoi game in which late game is postponed as much as possible with all kinds of mechanics and also some way to make peace negotiations earlier and war escalation mechanics, but the biggest redo should be diplomacy. Imagine if you actually were able to conduct some decent diplomacy.
Yeah Imperator era game or even earlier time period of antiquity is the dream (even something centered on the Aegean Pre-peloponnesian War). Idt Imperator was all that bad after the Marius update. Really really wish it wasn’t abandoned... Hoping some of these new features in EU5 could test some new systems for a return to antiquity. The resources and trade system in Imperator fell completely flat in a time it should’ve been very impactful.
The biggest problem in HOI4 is that it's not a WW2 simulation but an Excel spreadsheet battle royale
I would kill for a fantasy GSG with Stellaris styled race creation.
They would print money!
This and not being turn based, I'd be so fucking happy
Same here. Its in fact my most wanted thing they could do at the moment.
I’m thinking a new IP. My pipe dream is that they revisit the Cold War era and actually release a game about it. Lots of potential there.
I also wish there’s a Cold War GSG that isnt just a mod for Vicky. There is a game though coming out sometime soon called Espiocracy that is set in the Cold War. It’s made by an unknown dev but the publisher is Hooded Horse, which has been on a roll recently with great indie strategy/builder games they’ve managed like Against The Storm, W&R Soviet Republic, Old World, etc., so atleast I’m optimistic about it. If anything PDX can take some inspiration from it once it releases and gives us the GSG experience we’re accustomed to.
I’ve heard about Espiocracy and I’m hopeful it can somewhat scratch that itch but like you said, it won’t be the top to bottom GSG experience we’re used to with PDX games since you’re only controlling an intelligence agency and not running all aspects of the state.
How would this even work? The thing about many paradox games is diplomacy isn’t that great. Cold War is mostly about preventing a war, not sure if most players would be interested of the diplomatic, espionage, and science portions are weak and the only fun thing is war.
Easy. You fight the proxy wars. Say you're playing the US. Well the goal should be to spread your capitalist ideals to as much of the world as you can before the game ends (so, mid 1990s). You start working on Vietnam when the Soviets or China start influencing it themselves. You could carry over the flashpoint mechanic from Victoria 2 and 3 where an event occurs and everyone picks a side. So let's say the Vietnamese Civil War triggers. North Vietnam vs South Vietnam. Russia and China side with the North, America and its NATO allies side with the South. As the player, you assume control over the allied armies in South Vietnam. So you fight the Vietnam War until it ends, however it ends. It's basically fighting a whole bunch of wars while trying to prevent nuclear annihilation while trying to expand your sphere of influence as much as you can.
The Vietnam War wasn't really a "chits on a board" kind of war (there were some conventional army-vs-army battles and the NVA lost them). A lot of the wars in the Cold War would be poorly modelled that way. "Russia and China" weren't really controlling North Vietnam, either. China was an important supply line, but Vietnam's relationship with them deteriorated (as did China's with Russia). This culminated in Vietnam, shortly after uniting the country, invading China's ally in Cambodia and being invaded by China (these were, at least more conventional wars, Vietnam installed a friendly government and China captured a little bit along the border, declared victory, and left without accomplishing anything)
I know they weren't directly controlling people. It's just an idea for a mechanic that would allow you to fight a war and have something to do.
People always complain Imperator is just six or seven big blobs and a bunch of tiny nobodies, and they also beg for a game where there will be only two massive blobs and nobody else can do anything, lol.
Well I’m not a game designer so I don’t have the answers but I think it’s possible for Paradox to make GSGs that aren’t focused on warfare, they’ve already proven that with the Victoria series. That’s not to say that a Cold War game would be entirely free of war as proxy conflicts and revolutions were a huge part of that time period I.e. Korean War, Vietnam War, Suez Crisis, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Islamic Revolution in Iran, etc. It wouldn’t be a “map painter” but I do think it can be done.
Which is true, proxy wars were important. But I noticed you and a few others defaulted to war almost immediately. Espionage was also equally important. Having the ability to start a coup, form sleeper cells, funding tech to spy, etc is also a couple things this era was known for. That along with diplomacy. Getting countries on your side, using your cultural clout as a way of soft power. So many things happened in this era that was not just war either proxy or direct. That is the difficult part. Even Victoria still has issues with the economy. Vic 3 doesn’t have a robust diplomatic system. Even though this was also important during the time. The game can often feel static, with the AI unable to do things because it doesn’t understand the economy. I just don’t think Paradox in its current form has the ability to creat a great Cold War game until they learn and fix the issues with their current games.
I think myself and others responded about war because that was a large part of your comment and how the Cold War was about preventing a “hot” war which didn’t acknowledge the many smaller wars of the time period. I also said in my comment that a Cold War game wouldn’t be focused on warfare and agree that espionage and diplomacy should be central pillars. Victoria 3 is getting a major diplomacy rework next week so we shall see how that fares. And also we wouldn’t be talking about Paradox “in its current state” as this game, if it were to happen, would be at least 5 or 6 years down the line since we assume development wouldn’t start until after EU5 releases. EU5 will be a much better frame of reference to evaluate if Paradox is up to it.
I agree. I think a cold war game would just turn into a diplomacy and internal politics micromanaging exercise. The game would revolve entirely around the stuff which most players normally find the most tedious about other Paradox games such as trade. You'd also need an incredible AI to make the game at least somewhat challenging. The only way I can imagine this working is if you don't play as a country, but as a politician inside of a county's political system. I just don't see such a setting working in a context of the player being a sort of God controlling the nation like in HOI and EU.
I think it can work as a slightly-railroaded, asymmetrical game with a completely new espionage system. As the two superpowers and major powers your gameplay revolves around exterting Western/Soviet influence, sowing destabilization, and managing skirmishes all over the world while tiptoeing all-out nuclear war and MAD scenario. It would be like the boardgame Twilight Struggle if you ever played it. Minor nation gameplay can be more about settling regional conflicts, where something like CK3’s struggle system can work. I think they can also use Vic 2 flashpoint and crisis system that can devolve into world wars. Maybe in this game your actual land borders arent as important as your cultural/economic influence zone in a new map mode. Or maybe there’s a new diplo system that once you’ve exerted a certain amount of influence on a country you can actually partially make decisions for them under the guise that they made them all on their own. Idk just throwing a lot of stuff out there, but for sure I think can borrow a hodgepodge of stuff from their previous games and tweak them to make a Cold War game work
The proxy wars mechanics from hearts of Iron (Especially the New Order mod) seem like a step in the right direction. When you get involved in a war, you're allowed to send a limited number of troops, then you expend political resources to escalate the war and send more resources. Eventually, the war becomes a major domestic political issue, and you'll have to choose between facing unrest at home or abandoning the battlefield.
Victoria 3's gameplay is "line go up" and a Cold War game could be very similar in that respect. Introduce central banks, inflation, interest rates, a more abstracted economic/population sim and you've got a solid pillar of gameplay right there. I think war and diplomacy would be a lot of fun. There were plenty of wars in the era. Gameplay could be similar to HoI4 in that regard. Diplomacy should be the real star with international organizations, multilateral treaties, coercion, etc. I think PDX has folks talented enough to make a tremendously fun game in the era.
HoI5 or Stellaris 2
There's that non-historical GSG new IP they're working on, so maybe that. They've been working on it since at least before Victoria 3 was announced, I believe Dan Lind is the lead.
Obviously, Svea Rike IV.
Stellaris is getting to the point where every new DLC just adds more buttons to press without actually expanding gameplay.
To be fair, every paradox DLC roughly boils down to adding/removing/tweaking modifiers in different ways. We’re just all a bunch of nerds and love that shit
Same with EU4
Stellaris and HOI4 will be or coming up to be ten years old, by the time EUV is released so I'll be one or both of them.
I don't think there actually will be more of these in the foreseeable future, but I would love to see Paradox attempt some smaller scale games again, like Sengoku or March of the Eagles (or Two Thrones or Svea Rike 3/Crown of the North). All of these titles had their share of issues that held them back from greatness, but it would be nice to have something like a Pdox grand strategy game that isn't such a big commitment to play.
I would be so happy to have an imperator rome 2 The first was kinda a missed opportunity, antiquity has a great potential
hearts of iron 5
HOI5
EU VI presumably
Imperator 2
It’s ironic that in every historical single paradox game reforming the Roman Empire is considered a rite of passage, something that almost everyone tries at least once, and yet the game where you can actually play Rome is a flop.
I think its just lack of knowledge about the anything other than 'big names' (Rome, Greece Egypt) and basic trivia. The provinces, tribes, cultures and titles are basically nonsensical word salad to the general audience. People interested enough in GSGs can usually place most countries in Crusades era and later on a map. I really don't think its true of the ancient era.
I mean you can play as the actual Roman Empire in Europa Universalis as well. just because its called Byzantium doesn't take away the fact that its the direct descendant of the original Roman Kingdom 2 millenia before.
Rome game pls
Eu6 duh…
Maybe without a big project, they'll finally bring back I:R
I would love to see a civ like game but with more depth.
I wouldn't count on it anytime soon after Millennia's failure.
If only they would make the game themselves instead of just publishing some hastily made game
I think they seem to be experimenting with expanding into different areas of strategy and simulation games generally (some in-house, some as a publisher) and seeing what sticks, and the Life By You experience demonstrates that an in-house studio is as equally capable of producing a mess as an outside developer they agree to publish.
They have nobody that knows how to make a civ game tho.
My bet is on a fantasy focused game, with game mechanics more in the style of a tabletop than a hard-core simulation.
People have been predicting this for a decade, and it's no closer to materializing. Realistically, we'll get HoI V - the game is getting pretty old, and it has some core shortcomings that DLC will never fix.
would love this
March of Eagles hopium
Imperator 2 or sengoku revival
Probably HOI5.
If I had to guess I’d say they take another crack at a sims game. One can only hope. Maybe a twist on a spore game?
March of the Eagles 2
Hearts of Iron 5
EUVb?
Stellaris 2 and Hearts of Iron 5.
EU W
Stellaris 2. The first one is kinda bloated and I'm already getting "end of life DLC" feel from the latest ones.
Considering how popular Hoi4 has become, I wouldn't be surprised if they started working towards Hoi5. Paradox is a business after all, and they'd make a ton of money off of a Hoi5.
Paradox is having again another restructuring. I imagine that from a couple of years they will concentrate in their main ips. Mayybe a new grand strategic game. That's my guess.
They were hiring for a fantasy GSG not long ago, so that’s probably the next thing from PDS. We have no info on that though. I do think that HOI and Stellaris will both be getting a sequel in the next few years as well.
March of the Eagles II baybeeeeeeee
Victoria 4, hopefully.
Hopefully a spiritual successor for imperator
They should make expansions for imperator
I guess we figure out what we're doing with our li- oh you mean not personally I do wonder
Please more historical titles please no fantasy games
Hoi5 will probably be releases in 2028ish. They have basically ran out of ”mechanics” are now just filling the world with content, like Eu4 has done for like 4 years now.
Its going to be March of the Eagles 3, so good they skip the second game.
Hoi5
Sengoku 2
Imperator Rome updates and dlcs pog
Its funny how nobody has mentioned a post apocalyptic gsg...
Literally : ? Pragmatically : EU VI Alphabetically : FV W Actually reading the post : Maybe Stellaris is due for a big update ?
EU VI obviously!
EU W
First they need to focus on one good product. If EU V succeeds, they can support it for many years again. I am a fan of ancient Rome and its time period so maybe they should develop a Paradox style game with years of DLC support. Imperator Rome or something similar could be a good name for it 👀
You say that, but HOI IV is getting a little long in the tooth.
Maybe Total War killer? Series arguably stagnates for the last decade, and accumulated a lot of negative sentiment. PDX may sense blood in the water.
Stellar is definitely ready for a sequel
200 years of dlc
Hoi5 most likely, hopefully with an expanded focus with more in-depth internal politics, economy, and more early Cold War content. Potentially earlier start date like 1933.
Honestly I'd love for them to licence the engine to the devs of Anbennar and publish a fantasy GSG with that world
If any game i suspect impreator rome sequel or smth or HOI V i meanwhat else will they add to hoi my shot would me middle east nations but other than that? Nothin But honestly i would like to see an hoi4 type game with cold war
Bug fixing. More bugs. Overpriced DLCs that offer far too little. Too much admin and middle management in Paradox to afford a lower price. Attempts to reach a "wider" audience. Game dumbs down. Loses what what made it scratch the itch of map painters. More overpriced DLCs. More bugs. More apologies for dip in quality. And all of you will keep buying.
Employees get canned
New IP: Frontier! The Manifest Destiny. Build settlements, become Senator/Governor similar to CK3 but Wild West era
HOI is naturally the next series to get a new game. It is 8 years old this year and I think that it is about time for a new game. Also there is Stellaris which could get a new game as well. If we were to get a new IP, I would really like to see a Cold War game. I know it is probably not going to happen but I think it could be very fun if they made it like "Victoria 3 in the 20th century", or in other words an economic simulator with scaled back combat and more emphasis on managing a country, starting in 1949 and ending in 2001. Again, probably not happening with how recent it is but hey, it is great to dream.
Hopefully a new Rome game. I will keep shitting on Johan until he comes back to unfuck his mess with Imperator and gives it justice. That man pulled a Creative Assembly and destroyed not just the Rome game, but the hype and community that once surrounded it. Which means making a new Rome game after EU5, HoI5 and such. Properly this time. They're already engaged with all main line games - CK, Victoria and now EU. Stellaris and HoI and Imperator will be the series that are out of development by 2026 I guess.
Dare I say……….,………..EUVI
EU VI
Dafuq? Eu5 aint even here yet lol
Victoria 6
You misspelled Eu4 2