In a world dominated by antagonistic ideologies, supported by vast nuclear arsenals, a direct confrontation would mean the end of civilization as we know it.
In Maestro Cinetik's Cold War 2, you play as either the USA or the USSR, turning the globe into your strategic playground.
Use diplomacy, threats, and covert actions to ensure your ideology prevails!
This game isn't entirely new—it's the PC adaptation of a browser game, originally designed to be played discreetly at work or school.
Needless to say it saved countless people from boredom.
And thanks to web analytics, we know just how impactful it was: Cold War 2 delighted over 100,000 unique players over the years.
Some even regard it as their favorite strategy game of all time!
If you're familiar with my work, you know I focus on crafting games you can enjoy in a single evening, yet with enough depth to offer endless replayability.
I’m confident the game's simple mechanics paired with historical events that force you to make impactful choices, will provide over 100 hours of entertainment.
Now:
Have fun! (this is an order, not a wish!) -Maestro Cinetik
What’s New Compared to the Browser Version?
This version isn’t just polished—it includes a multiplayer mode!
You'll also enjoy a host of customization options, ensuring no one plays this game "vanilla".
Whether you prefer a relaxing map-painting experience or a high-stakes simulation teetering on the brink of nuclear annihilation, that game has you covered.
How Does the Game Work?
The goal is to earn more prestige points than your opponent.
Prestige is gained by improving relations and signing treaties with countries around the world. Meanwhile, your opponent will work tirelessly to undermine the nations in your bloc and shift the balance of power in their favor.
Are you ready to lead your ideology to global dominance—or will history repeat itself?
Why is the game called Maestro’s Cold War 2 and not just Cold War 2, like the browser version?
It’s simple:
Maestro’s inflated ego demanded it.
"Cold War" is such a common name that it was already taken.
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/9e81eae012c1134a3bb7817e5f210a7d6d388fb0.png\"][/img]
A new Game mechanism just dropped!
Regional Intelligence Agencies
You can now set Regional intelligence bureaus across the world and give them a focus!
Of course, your intelligence agents already operate worldwide, but some regions may become important enough to justify establishing a dedicated large regional bureau.
Opening and maintaining such a bureau will cost $5 per turn, and will allow you to choose an intelligence focus that grants various bonuses within that geographical area.
However, intelligence agencies need time to become effective.
When you open a new regional bureau or change its focus, there will be a 12 months reorganization phase during which no focus-related bonus will apply.
(The game uses the generic word bureau, but your power may refer to them as antennas, directorates, or another equivalent term.)
This feature is for long term planners, and contraty to your policies, the advantages given are limited to a geographic area.
[u]Here is a list of the possible focuses:[/u]
[u]Counter-Intelligence:[/u]
This bureaus main task is to counter enemy agents manoeuvers and uncover moles within your own services or those of your allies.
Effects:
-Your opponents subversion actions receive a penalty in countries belonging to your bloc.
[u]Special Ops[/u]:
Special forces and covert-action units will play a leading role in conducting clandestine operations.
Effects:
-You gain a bonus to finance and create guerrillas.
-You gain a bonus to coup actions
[u]Technological Spying:[/u]
This bureaus main mission is to steal industrial and technological secrets.
This is very effective to to close a technological gap, not so much to do the technology race ahead.
Effects:
-Mature-technology researches gain a significant bonus (the R&D that gets a bonus after a certain year).
-All researches have a very small chance to progress by 1 extra point each turn.
[u]Political Influence:[/u]
By financing, bribing, and blackmailing politicians, union leaders, and activists, this bureau attempts to influence local politics.
Effects:
-You gain a bonus to sign defence and trade agreements.
-You gain a bonus to create opposition movements.
-You gain a bonus to organize protests.
[u]Counter-Insurrection:[/u]
This bureau will assist allied governments in counter-insurgency operations.
Effects:
-Your military advisors become more effective against guerrillas.
-Increases your chances of infiltrating guerrillas.
-Pro-government guerrillas you create automatically gain the death squadron trait.
[u]Military Intelligence:[/u]
This bureaus main role is to gather intelligence required for successful military operations.
It also maintains relations with foreign officers.
Effects:
-Your allies and your forces gain a bonus to conventional combat (not guerrilla warfare).
-You gain a small bonus to military aid.
-You gain a bonus to coup actions (slightly better than the bonus given by the special ops focus).
[u]Economic Intelligence:[/u]
This bureau aims to give national industries an advantage through industrial and patent espionage, market manipulation, information control, and surveillance of illegal deals.
Effects:
-Improves your economy over time, similar to certain policies.
-Grants a bonus to sign trade agreements.
-Economic aid actions have increased chances of improving relations, stability, and development.
[u]War on Drugs[/u]: That\'s bonus content to be unlocked in the 90\'s (in Pax Americana)
[u]War on Terror[/u]: That\'s bonus content to be to be unlocked in the 90\'s (in Pax Americana)
What else?
Well, I corrected some bugs here and there, progressed steadily with Pax Americana, but also reworked the AI.\nTell me if you see any change in late game during grand campaigns at higher difficulty levels.
Any ETA for Pax Americana?
Hell no! I can\'t help but stop that project to code cool features like the \"Living World\" or the \"Regional Intelligence Agencies\", so... I hope you are not impatient to play that DLC.
Have fun!\n\nMaestro Cinetik
In all modesty, I believe this was the one update the game was truly missing!
Imagine a world where Cuba, Libya, or West Germany start taking independent actions.\nOf course, these minor nations dont have the strength to ruin your entire strategy on their own, but they absolutely make the world more chaotic.
Having countries in your sphere of influence is now more strategic than ever.\n(Just imagine Cuba on steroids, spreading Revolution across Africa and South America!)
If you own the corresponding DLC, you can also play against France or China as superpowers.
So far, players who have tested this feature say its a lot of fun!
Other improvements in this update:
[hr][/hr]Improved feedback and map views
The Hotspot map has been reworked, with clearer colors to help you spot countries that are close to collapsing.
[/*]The Threats map view has also been improved to highlight the countries the AI is most likely to focus on.
[/*]Your opponents actions are now shown directly on the map through action icons.\n(If you dont like this, you can simply disable it in the options menu.)
[/*]
Reworked events
The 1948 IsraeliArab War event has been reworked to ensure it triggers correctly.
[/*]The outcomes of the 1946 Showdown over Iran have been fixed.\n(Thank you to the players who reported these issues!)
[/*]
Controls & UI
The side-country panel animations were annoyingly slowthis is no longer the case.
[/*]
Poll results & next steps
The poll about what you want to see next in the game is still open:\n
https://strawpoll.com/mpnb17JDJy5/results
To summarize: you want more content, and you want more feedback about whats happening in the game.
To be honest, I needed more precise input regarding the lack of feedback problem, so I had a lot of discussions with players on Discord.
The next update will likely focus heavily on feedback, especially during wars.\nThats why Im currently reworking the map views and tooltips, and why I added the action icons on the map.
Road Map:
2025
-UI/UX/QoL update
-Pax Americana 1989-2001
2026
-The alt histories & a proper scenario & events editor
-A phone version?
-1943-1945 Race to Berlin (DLC)
-Some Multiplayer rework
-Gloomy mod
The final release could be sometime in early May 2026.
But that\'s just a \"commercial\" date, as unless there is no sales and no players, I plan to update that game over a long period of time.
And don\'t wait the final version to buy the game, because it is already better and more complete than some \"finished\" games, and the price will only raise over time.
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Hello there!
As you may know, Im currently working on the 19892001 DLC.
Going into late years, I had to adress the lack of technologies.
A feature many of you have been asking for since the first day of the Early Access.
But before I list the content of this November update, please take the time to answer this poll:
I need your feedback now!
https://strawpoll.com/mpnb17JDJy5
Tell me what this game lack to become your next personal GOTY.
Use the poll above and the comments below to inform me about the killer feature you are waiting for, and that is not yet in the game.
More technologies at last!
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/2ed571e1d4b0c96daf4a513c5538430d24f454d9.png\"][/img]
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/9ee4b4fa9b432c981e9658882713a60f6d127aa9.png\"][/img]
The November update adds a large amount of technologies via an event in the end of 1959.
i also added new buttons to sort the technologies by topic (Space, Nuclear or National Projects)
While I was at it, I added a new achievement.
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/d5f56f4524ec4c51d6b09e830aec56cf7c7be510.png\"][/img]
Reworked hardcore and AI
Your opponent may now use embargoes, infiltrate guerillas, use staybehind and other tricks.
Bug fixing
A natsy bug prevented China from using economic aid: it has been fixed.
(along other minor issues that don\'t even deserve to be mentioned here)
Pax Americana
I am working on the 1989-2001 DLC, and will try to come up with new mechanisms.\nNo release date yet, as there is no hurry anyway.
The DLC already has its page and you can wishlist it: [dynamiclink href=\"https://store.steampowered.com/app/4089790/Maestros_Cold_War_2__Pax_Americana/\"][/dynamiclink]
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
A tutorial and an in-game wiki have been added to the game!
Im confident that onboarding will now be faster and smoother than ever.
Youll also discover two new game modes.\nI have a feeling the Fair-Play Opponent mode will quickly become a fan favorite!\nThis mode ensures your computer opponent always uses a competent AI, no matter the selected difficulty level.
The giant country side tooltips, which were unintentionally disabled in a previous patch, are now back!
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Hello,
Im glad to see how much you enjoyed the France DLC!
Now its time for the October regular update.
[hr][/hr]This months update includes:
All action algorithms have been reworked.
[/*]Success odds displayed in actions tooltips have been fine-tuned.
[/*]2 new game modes to set the level of luck to your liking.
[/*]Long overdue events for Communist Great Britain and Portugal.
[/*]Spanish localization added.
[/*]
Ill go into detail about the most notable action balance changes and the new game modes. The rest are more straightforward and dont need much explanation.
[hr][/hr]Most Notable Action Changes
Economic Aid
The chances of triggering the Corruption trait via economic aid have been reduced.
[/*]
Coups
The algorithm has been changed: the USSR now has a lower penalty when attempting to coup Peoples Republics.
[/*]Military presence provides a greater bonus.
[/*]Couping France early in the game may now trigger a civil war.
[/*]
Organizing Protests
The success rate (loss of stability) is now higher.
[/*]
New Game Modes
Closed Casino\nAt last, youve uncovered why you keep losing despite being one of the greatest strategists of the century: the game is dicey!
In this mode, whenever randomness determines an actions outcome, you will always receive the average result.
[/*]The AI is not affected by this mode.
[/*]
Casino Royale\nYou dont lack skilljust luck.
In this mode, whenever randomness is used to determine an actions outcome, your results will always fall in the better half of the probability range.
[/*]If Closed Casino is also enabled, you will always get the best possible roll.
[/*]The AI is also affected by this mode.
[/*]
Whats Next?
Ill keep polishing the game, fixing issues, and rebalancing as needed.
I dont know yet what the November update will contain, but theres some big work in the pipeline:
Pax Americana (19892001 DLC)
The USA will flex its muscles and overextend its presence worldwide until reality reminds them they arent invincible.
[/*]The Russian player will face the chaotic transition of keeping together the collapsing pieces of its empire.
[/*]Of course, you can still choose to save the USSR and play it until 2001, but this path will be far less challenging.
[/*]
Portuguese Localization
The game already includes a DIY translation system, but Ill provide default machine-made translations for some languages until the community improves them.
[/*]Expect about 7/10 quality.
[/*]
Have fun!\n\nMaestro Cinetik
Play as France!
In no other DLC you will be able to:
Invent your very own Internet overpriced services but gloriously ugly:
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/e06f0b38f24b13cf0eff998657b88d69b9e8f41b.png\"][/img]
Change your government twelve times a year because stability is overrated:
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/a7a555aa291034397446db44751e7da7e7452997.png\"][/img]
Set things on fire during festive outbursts revolution is the French way:
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/d9694f9aadd0effc2f0930e180a55573890c1b33.png\"][/img]
Go full bling-bling for your official portraits style above all:
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/8b34a605a2a11974e89c22d076568e1ca9088303.png\"][/img]
Marvel at atomic mushrooms blossoming over paradisiac Saharan or Oceanian landscapes:
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/7265a88f685b4ed241276e4f75ecc7cba75762d0.png\"][/img]
Ride your camel through the Empire and dazzle the locals with your colonial chic:
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/27b2f7516c1bc94eea988183736f1eb3139cd49e.png\"][/img]
France awaits you come for the glory, stay for the baguette!
What\'s new in the game in September?
[u]Base game:[/u]
-Steam deck most common issues have been fixed\n-You asked for it, now you have it! Infinite save slots feature has been added
-I have added a Robot-made German localization: expect a 7/10 Quality.
[u]The East is Red:[/u]
-A new action has been added: Panda diplomacy. It becomes available in 1957, and gives you a free increase in relationship with the country of your choice. (not exactly free, it will cost you a Giant Panda)
-4 new geostrategical advantages have been added to China, they all extend the country\'s sphere of influence, so the players can feel less cornered in mid game.
[u]Grandeur et Illusions:[/u]
The France DLC will also extend the games timeline to cover the years 19451949.
It comes with more content than the other DLCs and please forgive me for that. Its not really my fault Im French.
I can now confirm the DLC release date: September 29th.
You can already wishlist it here:\n[dynamiclink href=\"https://store.steampowered.com/app/3790470/Maestros_Cold_War_2__Grandeur_et_Illusions/\"][/dynamiclink]
I have the pleasure to announce one of the largest rework of Cold War 2:
the introduction of the National Policies system!
National Policies
You can now define the policy of your Power in three domains: Diplomacy, Society, and Economy.
These policies grant you bonuses, impact your budget, and influence your superpowers economic development.
And yesat lastyou can now increase your budget through the right policy choices.
Many new events have been added to reflect the long-term effects of these policies, and youll be pleased to know that it is now possible to avoid the USSRs historical downfall.
You will soon discover that this is a living system, and sticking to the same policies for the entire grand campaign is probably not a great idea. You will need to think strategically and adapt your policy combinations over time to make the most of them.
China Reworked
The Chinese gameplay has been heavily reworked. China now benefits from both a National Policy system and a Geostrategic Advantages system.\n(In Chinas case, these advantages are often more ideological victories than true geostrategic gains.)
I hope this rework will make Chinas gameplay richer and offer more variety.
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/b25941b00aedfcd9c66541c4faa1cadd1c84dca3.png\"][/img]
New Steam Successes
I added 6 more successes, mostly related to the new national policies system.
Automatic military and economic aids
You asked for it, you have it! It is now possible to define an aid as automatic and you won\'t need to redo the same action each turn.
Game options
Two new game options have been added, to add alternate victory conditions.
Actions balance
Oppositions creation and Protests organization have been reworked.
They should succeed more often.
What\'s next?
I am back at work on the France 1945-1989 DLC.
Expect it for the end of September.
Have fun!
And dont hesitate to share your feedback belowthis is a major change to the system, and Im curious to hear your thoughts.
Here is the follow up update of the last Geostrategical update:
Features You Requested Now in the Game:
You can now hide the action report that pops up at the beginning of each turn. (You can still access it anytime by clicking the globe icon next to the telex panel.)
[/*]You can now keep the game and music running while switching screens for example, when using Alt+Tab. (This can be enabled in the options menu.)
[/*]The + key for zooming no longer tries to center on the mouse cursor it now simply zooms in to the maximum level.
[/*]
Music
The main theme should now loop properly. (Let me know if it doesn\'t!)
[/*]When playing as China, you\'ll now hear a different soundtrack the OST from Rise of the White Sun, which fits Cold War 2 perfectly.
[/*]
Features you did not requested that made it into the game anyway:
A new map view is now available to monitor the global oil economy.
[/*]
Additional content
As you liked the Geostrategical update, I added some more:
-Oil economy domination
-Control of the Turkish straits
-USSR besieged
Bugs fixed & Balance adjustments
The game should no longer crash when inspecting an actions code via the middle mouse button.
[/*]In chessboard mode, the power ratio formula for Europe has been adjusted.
[/*]The AI on difficulty levels above Normal now takes the European power balance even more seriously.
[/*]
I hope you enjoy this small but cool update!
These days, Im mostly focusing on content for the upcoming France DLC.
[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45312700/fa136d7beba6eb3f1c450b74f097473f85308096.png\"][/img]
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Hello!
This update introduces a major improvement to game mechanics and overall balance.
I hope youll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed working on it!
Geostrategical advantages
This new feature, currently available for the USA and the USSR, introduces a list of geo-strategical advantages that can be unlocked by meeting specific conditions.
Most of these provide an instant "kaboom!" effect, along with lasting bonuses as long as the conditions remain fulfilled.
Here are two examples to help you understand how the system works:
[u]EUROPE IS FRIGHTENED! (AGAIN AND STILL)[/u]
[u]Conditions:[/u]
This advantage for the USSR unlocks whenever the Armed forces ratio in Europe is 5vs1 or more in favor of the Soviet Union, and the Defcon is inferior to 4.
To calculate that power ration, it is considered that USSR has 300 "army points" in Europe.
Needless to say that the US player now can no more ignore Europe and has a real incentive to maintain large forces there.
[u]Event Text:[/u]
In Europe, the disparity between Soviet Red Army forces and those of Western Europe and the USA is striking.
All Western general staffs are forced to admit that the Red Army could potentially reach Paris or London within weeks.
Widespread and conspicuous Soviet troop maneuvers have only intensified these fears.
Of course, the USA has the bombbut would it really risk annihilation for a European country?
The nuclear umbrella offers some reassurance, yet many European nations are now loudly demanding a stronger US military presence. In the face of weak US commitment on the ground, some countries are leaning toward a fearful neutrality.
[u]Effects:[/u]
-->The Soviet sphere of influence expands to include Austria, Greece, and Sweden
--> Austria, Greece, and Sweden leave the US sphere of influence
--> All US-aligned countries in Europe lose 3 Stability
--> Pacifist unrest in the USA increases by 5\\
As long as the conditions remain:
--> The Soviet player gains a bonus to diplomatic actions in all European countries.
--> The Soviet player gains a bonus to creating opposition movements in Europe.
Another exemple:
[u]BREACH IN THE NORTHERN SHIELD[/u]
Conditions:
As USSR, having 2 of 3 of these countries in your bloc: Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom
[u]Event Text:[/u]
The United States once maintained firm control over the so-called GIUK Gap (GreenlandIcelandUnited Kingdom), a vital strategic corridor for naval operations in the North Atlantic.
Now, Soviet submarines roam the area freely, without fear of interception.
Not only is the Soviet nuclear threat now dangerously close to the U.S. East Coast, but the entire sea-based supply line between Europe and America is at risk!
As public awareness of this vulnerability grows, pacifist movements experience a resurgence.
[u]Effects:[/u]
--> Pacifism increases by 2 in the U.S.
--> Stability decreases by 2 in all European countries aligned with the U.S.
As long as the conditions are met:
--> The U.S. begins any nuclear standoff with the USSR with reduced Nerves.
[u]WHAT ELSE?[/u]
There are many new events like these in the game. You can view their list from any superpower window.
The first feedback from playtesters has been very positive, so this system will be expanded. More types of advantages will be added soon.
I believe this refreshes the Cold War 2 experience and makes the game significantly more engaging.
All these geo-strategical advantages are powerful enough to challenge the status quo.
[u]WHAT' NEXT?[/u]
Three main priorities for this summer:
[olist]France DLC Work begins on the France DLC, which will also add the years 19451949 to the game.
[/*]Geo-Strategical System Expansion Unless the feedback says otherwise, I plan to further balance and expand the new geo-strategical system.
[/*]Gloomy USSR Mod This community-driven feature (mostly @Gloomy, so the name) will be expanded, translated, and proofread. If youre unfamiliar with it: its a reimagined USSR path with additional content. I have made it accessible up to 1954, so you can have a look at it (but keep in mind it is still a work in progress)
[/*][/olist]I hope this patch gives you a clearer idea of the direction the game is heading.
I will need your feedback and thoughts, so do not hesitate to comment this news.
Have Fun!
Maestro Cinetik
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
PS: I don't know if you are into Warlord China, but the first paid DLC for Rise of the White Sun will be out this summer. (August the 11th)
You can wishlist it here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3732510/Rise_of_the_White_Sun__Taming_the_Tigers/
Hello,
As you may know, Ive been working hard on another game last month.
You can check out the result here and add it to your wishlist if you're into Chinese warlords.
The good news is that Im back on Cold War 2 for the months to come!
In this update, youll find:
Added Events
The reunification of Korea by China
The reunification of Yemen (by the USA, USSR, and China)
The reunification of Greece (USA & USSR)
Rio Grande (USSR): What would happen if Mexico joined the Socialist bloc?
Chairmen and Kings: What would happen if Greece became Communist?
Revisited Action Tooltips
Some of you requested more insights into the possible outcomes of actions.
The action tooltips will now provide more detailed information about your chances of success and clearly show the factors in your favor or against you.
I know some of you would have liked to see success percentages, but Im not a fan of that. Instead, youll know whether the action is likely to succeed or fail, and what factors are involved.
It may seem like a simple feature, but it took me quite a bit of time to implement and test. I hope you enjoy it!
Whats Next?
Im currently working on the France DLC, and as I make progress, Ill be adding more content and events suggested by the community (mostly additional USSR content).
Have fun!
This small patch fixes the followig issues:
Showdowns when the enemy was invading a country displayed twice the player's portrait, and the player was having a showdown with himself. This is no more the case!
Idle guerillas: large coalitions were sometimes just doing nothing. This has been fixed too.
The Chinese localization has been extended to some late game events that were still in English.
I won't annoy you too often with small patches, but these issues were important enough to be fixed asap.
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Two weeks after the EA start, I am satisfied to see that the game is already quite robust and that the bug reports have not been that many.
Here is what you will find in this first update:
The workshop is now open
Ok, it is not yet the editor, nor advanced modding tools, but you can now share your save file experiments, and your game's text translations.That's enough to have a lot of fun for the moment.
The first items await you in the workshop.
Two new game modes
*Chessboard world: will cancel all treaties, military presence, and spheres of influence. If you like it, this mode may make it into the multiplayer options.
*Even budget: All players will have the same monthly budget as the USA. Of course, if you play as China in the 1950s, this can be considered obviously as cheating. I added this game mode with the possibility of making it a multiplayer mode in mind.
Chinese localisation complete or almost complete
Of course, if you are not Chinese, you may not care, but many more texts are now in Chinese.Please report any texts that may still appear in English so I can correct them in the next update.
AI reworked
A small bug made the AI too focused on alignment actions. It has been fixed, and as a result, the AI should now be more challenging.UI/UX improvements
You asked for it, and you can now:
- Play in windowed mode.
- Change music and SFX volume with a simple slider.
- Know when the scenario will end by hovering over the date.
- The music should loop normally now: let me know if it doesn't.
Multiplayer
Well, not enough feedback to improve it yet, but I fixed the issue of "Harsh Winter" having a double effect during the Korean War.
The East is Red - China DLC
I fixed the issue where the AI kept interacting with Taiwan after the unification.
I also fixed the strange end-game score counting behavior.
Minor issues, mostly typos, have been fixed along the way.
Thank you to all the players who kindly and with great patience reported bugs and issues.
Have a nice day!
Maestro Cinetik
I am so proud, after all these years, to finally hit that publish button so you can now play the game on Steam.
What's in there?
Experience better, faster gameplay with multiplayer and JSON file editing, all for the unbeatable price of just $4.99.
Dont waitget it now and level up your game!
China is out too!
Many of you requested (often impatiently"CHINA WHEN?") to play as other countries.
Well... here it is!
Im releasing the China DLC alongside the core game.
(If your philosophical system of values forbids DLCs during Early Access, simply don't buy it.)
What's next?
April will focus on balancing and bug fixes (honestly, the game is already quite clean).
Then, once the foundation is solid, expect a public poll to decide what gets added to the game next.
(The list of things to work on is already set; youll just be able to define the priority order.)
What languages?
You can play in English, French and Simplified Chinese.
I can't tell yet what languages will be added for teh final version, but obviously, it would be great to have Russian.
I am so impatient to have your feedback!
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Just a small patch:
The AI will now contest the player's full R&D rush strategies, and you will probably no longer be able to win all technology races with this strategy.
The delay between clicking on a country on the map and opening the country panel has been reduced.
What's next?
Well, the core game (USA vs USSR between 1949 and 1989) is almost done.
I see no reason to make players wait until September to play it. I will probably take a month to polish the current version, then open Early Access in April.
That will give us 6 months to work on cool features like:
-Improved multiplayer
-Editor tools
-More content and paths for the USSR
-Etc...
Anyway, I plan to keep updating this game even after the final release, so concepts like "early access" or "final release" arent that relevant...
(For those of you asking about new countries, France and China are planned as DLC.)
Have fun!
Hello,
The development of the game is progressing smoothly, and Im posting this Steam news to summarize the latest patch content.
1) The 1969-1975 scenario has been extended to cover the 1969-1979 period.
2) The oil industry has been reworked and now appears as a country trait. Countries with this trait are more affected by global oil prices. Economic aid to these countries while prices are high will also have a greater impact.
3) The multiplayer system has been reworked once again. I need your feedback to improve it further.
4) As some of you have started tinkering with the JSON save files, Ive added some basic features to make modding easier.
Ill continue to add more modding features as development progresses and plan to release a proper editor sometime after launch.
Here are a few steps you can take to gain an infinite budget (it should take less than 5 minutes):
Open a save file with your Notepad.
Search for "Country":"USA", then look for "budget" and "monthly." Change the value to whatever you like (maybe 1000?).
Voil!
(You can open the game folder from the options menu so you don't have to search for it.)
Once youve made the changes, place the file in the games folder > mods > custom_json.
Rename your file with a creative name, such as "infinite_money."
Now, whenever you launch the game, an option to play your custom scenario will be available in the scenarios list.
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
The demo now has 9 playable scenarios, ranging from 1949 to 1975, which is more than what you get in the browser version if you're not a Patreon supporter.
The new scenarios
[u]1963-1975 Vietnam War[/u]:
This scenario features the entire war, but beware: it also includes an instant defeat for the US player if they lose Vietnam.
[u]1969-1975 Time for Diplomacy[/u]:
The early 70s were wild, with many guerrilla movements across the globe.
Youll love it!
Will all the final game content end up in the demo?
Of course not!
From now on, I will rotate the scenarios when I add new content, just like I do for the browser version.
The demo will also never include any of the grand campaigns.
And sadly, but as expected, it will be disabled when the game is released (since $4.99 games dont need demos, but your direct financial support via a purchase).
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Hello!
I know from your feedback that developing countries in your bloc is very important to you.
The system has been reworked for the PC version, making it more subtle than in the browser game.
Economic Development
Countries now have an economic development score, with a threshold to reach in order to change their wealth level. The larger and more populated the country, the higher the threshold. You can check a country's economic development by hovering over its wealth score in the country panel.
This score will evolve naturally, as well as through economic aid actions by the players. Expect few or no effects if the country has negative stability and/or is corrupt.
As you already know, flooding a country with aid will only lead to corruption. This is why small, consistent aid over time is the best approach if you want to truly develop a country. (Id like to take this opportunity to remind players that the primary goal of economic aid in this game is to improve relations with a country, and that economic development and stability gains are merely happy byproducts.)
While I was at it, I added some new country traits that impact the economy:
[u]Chaebols[/u]:
The economy is in the hands of large, family-owned conglomerates with close ties to the government. This system allows the economy to develop naturally over time, but favors corruption. Economic aid has a greater chance of increasing relations.
[u]Keiretsu[/u]:
The economy is controlled by a network of interconnected companies, centered around major banks. This system promotes natural economic development over time, and economic aid will have a greater chance of increasing stability.
[u]Asian Dragon[/u]:
The economy is growing fast! Economic aid has a greater effect on stability and economic development.
[u]Cultural Revolution[/u]:
This country is in political turmoil. Diplomatic efforts and aid actions are subject to a malus.
[u]Peruanism[/u]:
A nationalist and anti-imperialist ideology focused on social justice, land reform, and economic independence through state-led initiatives and the empowerment of the poor and indigenous populations.
The USA faces a significant penalty in improving relations with this country and signing agreements with it.
You will probably never see the Peruanism trait in-game: it only appears if a certain coup succeeds in the 1960s.
In today's patch, you will also find:
1959-1969 DOUBLE FRONT
A new 10-year scenario.
As the situation in Vietnam deteriorates, Ive included the events surrounding the reunification of Vietnam (just in case).
Stay tuned! (As you see, the project is evolving fast)
Hello,
The living demo is evolving fast!
In the latest update, you have:
2 new scenarios, including a 10-turn long scenario.
[u]Mister K.[/u]
In this scenario, you will replay the entire Khrushchev era (1953-1964).
[u]The Vietnamese Spiral[/u]
You will relive the few years leading to the US's massive involvement in Vietnam.
[u]Achievements[/u]
Ive also added the first 10 Steam achievements to provide some challenge.
Have fun!
Maestro Cinetik
PS: As this is only a demo, Id appreciate your feedback to improve the game and make it perfect for the final release.
New Scenario! CUBA LIBRE 1959-1962
The demo has gained a new scenario!
Featuring:
*The Cuban Missile Crisis
*Sino-Soviet tensions
*Decolonization
*Kennedy and the Space Race
The demo, in its current state, now offers 4 scenarios and covers the period between 1949 and 1962.
Next up: I will likely add the years 1963 and 1964 and combine them into a large 1953-1964 scenario, so you can play longer games.
Do Your Own Localization
In the options menu, you can select the "Custom" language.
If you choose this, you will notice that the language will still be displayed in English.
Next, use the button in the upper right corner of the Options screen to open the game folder.
Navigate to the "mods" folder, then go to the "custom lang" folder.
Here you will find the dictionary used by the game.
You can change the values as needed.
Example:
Directly replace the text in the files:
$jungle=jungle
$desert=desert
$steppe=steppe
$forest=forest
$arctic=arctic
with:
$jungle=
$desert=
$steppe=
$forest=
$arctic=
Once you make these changes, the game will display these texts in Korean when you select the custom language.
The dictionary is divided into several files, so finding a specific key, or sharing a modification work with community team should be easy.
"customen" is the files containing the new texts that are not in the browser version.
(Custom is for customized localization file, and en means the default file was made from the english version)
About Modding
Modding features and editors are planned for after the game's final release, but you can already tinker with the save files: they are in JSON and you can directly changes values in the file.
Have Fun!
Maestro Cinetik
Hello!
The demo is evolving and now proposes two scenarios.
I am really satisfied with the result so far, and the demo is certainly really near the end result.
What's in the new scenario?
THAW 1953-1956
Will the death of Stalin and the rise of Khrushchev mark the beginning of a Dtente era between the two blocs?
The decision is up to you!
While the USSR faces its first major contestations in the people's republics of Eastern Europe, a new world emerges and refuses to be aligned with any of the blocs.
In this global duel, no direct conflict is possible.
This is a Cold War for the world leadership, made of propagande and subversion, that begins.
-- -- -- -- --
Noticeable features of the current demo:
The original soundtrack
Everbody's feedback so far praises the game's original sound track, and find it pretty immersive.
The music is the work of Jrmie Frmont, a telented French artist who also worked on Rise of the White Sun musics.
More content in Chinese and French
Most of the current content is now translated into Chinese and French (the rare still missing texts won't ruin your experience)
Multiplayer
Multiplayer works more or less...
I let it open, but I consider it rather in an Alpha state than in a Beta or Demo one.
The demo for the game will be a living demo, meaning it will continue to evolve until the full release.
Be sure to check back regularly or follow the game on Steam so you dont miss any exciting updates!
Ive been hard at work patching and improving the demo lately (apologies for the broken build from yesterday!).
Whats New:
[u]New AI[/u]: The AI has been upgraded to perform better, scoring more points and reacting to your actions. In my opinion, it now compares favorably with the browser version's AI.
[u]Colliding Telex Bug Fixes[/u]: The issue with colliding telexes has been resolved.*
[u]Techno Bug Fixes[/u]: The bugs from yesterdays tech update have been patched.
[u]Mute Option[/u]: You can now mute the sound in the game.
(more subtle volume options wil leventually come much much later in the game's develomment)
Whats Next for the Demo:
[u]Short Term[/u]:
Multiplayer is almost there (90% complete), but it still needs some fine-tuning.
New game mode options will be added, providing even more customization.
[u]Medium Term[/u]:
Content additions are coming soon.
Theres a possibility that Ill switch out the current demo scenario for a different one to give you a new experience.
Multiplayer will receive more options and quality-of-life improvements, making it as enjoyable as possible.
[u]Long Term[/u]:
Full support for French and Chinese languages (currently a work in progress and incomplete).
The final game will feature even more languages, though I cant say yet if theyll be included in the demo.
*If you still experience the colliding telex bug, please send me a screenshot of your current FPS.
Thank you for all your feedbacks on the Discord.
Maestro Cinetik
Hello there!
That first news will unveil the road map for the game and the new planed features.
Road Map
[u]Someday between November and December 2024[/u]: A playable demo.
One scenario covering 1949-1953, playable as USA and USSR.
The demo will only cover 3 languages (English, French and Chinese), but the final game will have more.
It is a matter of days before you can play it
[u]Someday between December 2024 and January 2025[/u]: Multiplayer demo
By then, the demo will certainly be playable in 1v1.
[u]Someday between March 2025 and June 2025[/u]: Early Access
I may skip this step depending upon how fast things are going.
The EA will be a time of polishing, of content additions and frantik translation work.
[u]Sometime between July 2025 and October 2025[/u]: Final release
The game will be released among several dlcs (the pricing and dlc policy is explained in a section below)
[u]2026[/u]: Editor, Steam Workshop and modding tools, and may be some more dlcs
If I can do it earlier, I will do it earlier, but that's hard work and the planning is already fast paced.
But the game has been coded from day one to facilitate that futur feature.
[u]2027 and beyond[/u]: Nothing! Hey, that's your game now! with the editor and modding tools, it is up to you to unleash your imagination!
Whats Different from the Browser Version?
- Music and sfxs
- Tons of options
- Multiplayer
- Modding tools and editors (coming later)
- A better player's quality of life
I don't know yet how much new content there will be in the game, but with the demo and the EA, I am sure, some of your ideas will end up in the game.
USSR for exemple deserves more aternate paths.
Feedback Needed from the Demo
Multiplayer:
This is my first real multiplayer game, so theres plenty of room for improvement. Please report bugs and share your ideas!
AI:
The AI in the demo is functional but not yet as strong as the browser version. It's also not fully tailored to specific powers or scenarios.
The game includes many options that drastically change gameplay and player strategies. I need feedback on how the AI performs with these options, as the current default AI might underperform in certain setups (e.g., with the "unlimited actions" mode).
Quality of Life / UX:
My goal is to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Quality feedback is essential to achieve that.
Steam Deck:
Ive worked hard to make the game compatible with Steam Deck and Xbox controllers. If you use them, please share how smooth your experience is.
How Does Cold War 2 Compare to My Other Games?
Accessibility: Its as easy to learn and understand as Jeys Empire and the Cauldrons of War series. If youve played Rise of the White Sun, this is much simpler by comparison.
Difficulty: Easier to beat than Jeys Empire and Cauldrons of War, but harder than ROWS.
Depth and Replayability: Just as deep and replayable as my other games.
Duration: Scenarios can be played in an evening, like the Cauldrons series. Longer campaigns resemble the length of ROWS' extended scenarios.
Speedrunners can certainly end a game in 15 minutes.
Pricing and DLC Policy
Many kids discovered strategy games thanks to the browser version, long before they get their first credit card.
So I am commited to make the base game as affordable as possible, and I plan to release it at $4.99
For that price, you will be able to play and replay from 1949 to 1989, as USSR and USA, and believe me, if you like that game, that will easily be hundred of hours!
That said, the Cold War is a niche subjectless mainstream than World War II, for example. (Admittedly, its not as niche as my last game about 1920s warlords in China!) As a result, the low price might not cover production costs.
Any marketing expert will tell you: the smaller the niche, the higher the price should be.
To balance this, any content beyond the USA and USSR campaigns between 1949 and 1989 will be included in DLCs, priced similarly to the base game. I hope youll understand this reflects the base games affordability rather than the DLC being expensive.
If this approach doesnt work financially, I may have to adjust the base games price to a more viable level.
Bon jeu!
Maestro Cinetik
Minimum Setup
- OS: Unsure
- Processor: i3 or higher
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