Pyramids, mummies, sphinxes, and now, Total War. Sega has just announced a new Total War game set in Ancient Egypt's New Kingdom during the Bronze Age Collapse.
Total War: Pharaoh takes place immediately following the death of the Pharaoh. The leaders of three city-states now all vying for the throne of the world's most triangular empire. But the path to becoming the next Pharaoh is perilous as you'll need to navigate natural floods, famines, and invasions from faraway lands while retaining the love and trust of your chosen faction.
Speaking of factions, Total War: Pharaoh will feature eight faction leaders from Egypt, Canaan, and the Hittite empire, each with unique playstyles and diverse unit rosters. One might place you as a diplomat charming the upper crust of Egyptian society, while another puts you squarely on the battlefield as a sword-wielding warlord.
It wouldn't be Egypt without the Nile, ancient pyramids, and lush floodplains providing food and water to thousands of people. Total War: Pharaoh will provide beautiful vistas stretching from the Sinai Peninsula all the way to the mountains of ancient Anatolia. Expect your armies to fight through both thunder and sandstorms as well as firestorms caused by errant flaming arrows.
New to the Total War franchise comes the Campaign Customization feature, which allows players to customize their experience with a range of options. You can change the starting positions of factions, their resources, and how often natural disasters occur. You can stack the odds in your favor or give yourself an extra challenge to becoming the supreme ruler of the Nile.
"There are few periods more iconic than Ancient Egypt; fraught with political intrigue, cataclysmic events, and grand war campaigns, it's the perfect setting for a Total War title," said game director, Todor Nikolov. "As Pharaoh, you must save Egypt from the cusp of destruction and guide your people through the calamitous Bronze-Age collapse. It is up to you to either survive or fade into history."
For those who haven't given the Total War franchise a try, it's the real-time strategy series that has you command armies of various origins, including samurai, Warhammer, Rome, and more. Battles rest on tactical acumen and strategic thinking, with players managing all aspects of their military conquests
Pre-orders are available now with the standard edition of Total War: Pharaoh priced at $69.99. There's also a Dynasty Edition which promises three faction DLC packs, a campaign DLC pack, and the digital soundtrack, and a Deluxe Edition that will just give you the soundtrack and the first faction pack.
Total War: Pharaoh is slated to release in October on Steam and the Epic Games Store.