The end of the Crisis Core storyline in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis

Hearts of Iron 4 Developers Share Plans for the Anniversary Year

Paradox Interactive has returned to active work after the winter holidays. The team from Stockholm spoke about current tasks and announced key releases for 2026 — a milestone year for the strategy Hearts of Iron IV.

Last year, players received several major expansions: Graveyard of Empires, Prototype Vehicles, and No Compromise, No Surrender. In 2026, the series will continue to expand as part of Expansion Pass 2. Warships of the Pacific will be released this quarter. Peace for our Time and Thunder at our Gates are scheduled for release in the second quarter. Starting next week, the developers will begin publishing themed materials about Thunder at our Gates — so-called “developer corners.”

In addition to new expansions, the team is working on a series of “Military Needs” updates and other initiatives aimed at enriching the gaming experience. Special attention is given to the upcoming patch 1.17.4, which is planned for release in early February.

The developers have focused on three key directions.

Firstly, work continues on improving the fleet's artificial intelligence. After the latest release, players noted that the AI sometimes displays suboptimal behavior — for example, avoiding large-scale naval battles. The Paradox team asks the community to report observed issues on the official forum to make timely adjustments.

Secondly, the developers are tuning the historical AI. Currently, Germany in historical mode does not act as a strong enough opponent for the USSR. One reason is the new airbase access mechanic: after the start of Operation Barbarossa, the USSR grants airbase access to the United Kingdom, which reduces Germany’s fire support on the front. Additionally, the team is reviewing the doctrine points acquisition system and other aspects of AI behavior.

Thirdly, the developers are actively working to improve performance and stability of multiplayer. Despite previous improvements, players continue to experience problems in multiplayer matches. The team strives to eliminate these issues to ensure a comfortable gameplay experience.