The conclusion to the 2018 announcement show for PDXcon, Paradox’s self-run convention, included game director Johan Andersson dressed in a toga, a legion of centurions, and the announcement of their newest grand strategy game, Imperator: Rome.
As the name suggests, Imperator: Rome takes place during the time of ancient civilizations such as Alexander the Great’s Greece. Like many of the other Paradox grand strategy games, the only goals in the game are the ones the player sets for themselves. Players could control the Republic and attempt to keep tyranny and corruption from tearing Rome apart, or they could go full-on alternate history.
The map for the base version of Imperator: Rome will reach from “…the pillars of Hercules to the far reaches of India”. The game will also boast a new character management system, which will be useful since every nation has their own wants and needs that must be managed. The wide variety of civilizations also come with a selection of ways to rule them. You can choose to balance your power with a senate, play as an iron-fisted monarch, or you could eschew the whole government concept and play as a tribe. No matter which government you choose, you will have to deal with barbarian civilizations, who will besiege your people and even turn them against you in a full-out rebellion.
Warfare will also be getting a new system. Each civilization has their own strengths, weaknesses, and preferences for combat, and you can choose the tactics your armies will use in battle before you engage the enemy. This expanded combat system is somewhat similar to the combat in another Paradox grand strategy game, Hearts of Iron IV. The WWII-themed game required players to manage their army composition and had a larger focus on army management than other games.
Imperator: Rome has no solid release date, but it is slated for a 2019 release.