The Total War announcement 2025 has officially been revealed, and fans of the long-running strategy series finally have confirmation of what’s next for Creative Assembly’s flagship franchise. In a major update shared on December 3, 2025, the studio unveiled its newest historical entry, Total War: Empire of the Sun, alongside details about future plans for the Total War brand.
The reveal came through an official Creative Assembly livestream and press release, confirming months of anticipation and speculation from the global gaming community.
Table of Contents
Creative Assembly Confirms New Historical Total War Title
The centerpiece of the Total War announcement 2025 is the reveal of Total War: Empire of the Sun, a large-scale strategy game set in East and Southeast Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries. The new entry will focus on the rise of regional empires and the emergence of gunpowder warfare, marking the first time the series has explored this specific historical period in detail.
Developers described the game as an evolution of the traditional Total War experience, with new AI systems, naval combat overhauls, and deeper cultural mechanics.
Key Details: Total War: Empire of the Sun
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Developer | Creative Assembly |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Setting | East and Southeast Asia (1500s–1600s) |
| Game Engine | TW Engine 5 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Mac |
| Planned Release | Late 2026 |
| Gameplay Focus | Hybrid warfare, diplomacy, trade, empire-building |
Creative Assembly confirmed that the game has been in development since 2021 and is being created by its UK and Sofia studios, both of which previously collaborated on Total War: Pharaoh and Total War: Three Kingdoms.
A Shift Back to History
Following several years of fantasy-focused releases such as Total War: Warhammer III, the studio emphasized that Empire of the Sun marks a return to historical strategy roots. Fans have long requested new historical eras, and this announcement fulfills those expectations.
The new title will feature:
- Dynamic trade and cultural exchange systems.
- Real-time naval battles with boarding mechanics.
- Overhauled siege warfare and terrain destruction.
- Playable factions including the Ming Dynasty, Tokugawa Shogunate, Siamese Kingdom, and Khmer Empire.
Creative Assembly’s senior director, Jack Lusted, described the project as one of the most ambitious historical simulations the studio has ever attempted. He noted that the team is focusing on authenticity, with historians consulting on military formations, architecture, and diplomacy of the 1500s Asian world.
Technology and Gameplay Improvements
Another major highlight of the Total War announcement 2025 was the unveiling of the TW Engine 5, a new iteration of the studio’s in-house engine. The updated framework introduces improved pathfinding, real-time weather effects, and advanced rendering for large-scale battles with up to 60,000 units simultaneously.
Developers demonstrated new environmental systems that impact movement and tactics — for instance, tropical storms can disrupt gunpowder weapons or cause morale drops during battles.
The AI system has also received an upgrade through “Adaptive Command Logic,” which allows enemy factions to react dynamically to player strategies instead of relying on pre-scripted behaviors.
The announcement stream included a brief gameplay teaser showing a massive naval clash in the South China Sea, complete with burning junks, cannon volleys, and boarding skirmishes.
Fan Reaction and Community Response
The Total War fanbase — one of the largest strategy gaming communities in the world — reacted enthusiastically across platforms. Within hours of the reveal, hashtags like #TotalWar2025 and #EmpireOfTheSun trended on X (formerly Twitter).
Longtime fans praised Creative Assembly’s decision to explore Asian history again, following the success of Three Kingdoms in 2019. Players also welcomed the new focus on naval warfare, a system last seen in 2009’s Empire: Total War.
Community leaders from the Total War subreddit and YouTube creators covering the franchise shared early impressions, calling the reveal “a bold return to form” and “the historical comeback fans have been asking for.”
Total War Franchise Roadmap Beyond 2025
In addition to announcing the new title, Creative Assembly outlined its 2025–2027 roadmap for the Total War franchise.
The company confirmed plans to support three main pillars moving forward:
- Historical Series – continuing with Empire of the Sun and future expansions.
- Fantasy Universe – ongoing support for Total War: Warhammer III, including a final “End Times” expansion in 2026.
- Experimental Projects – smaller standalone Total War experiences aimed at testing new ideas, similar to Total War Saga titles.
Creative Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing updates, promising new content for existing players and improved accessibility for newcomers to the franchise.
The Evolution of Total War in 2025
The Total War announcement 2025 reflects how far the series has come since its debut in 2000. Over 25 years, the franchise has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, spanning eras from ancient Rome to medieval Japan and modern fantasy.
Recent titles like Warhammer III and Pharaoh demonstrated Creative Assembly’s flexibility, but fans had increasingly requested a return to large-scale historical settings. Empire of the Sun answers that call with renewed attention to realism, diplomacy, and cultural detail.
Industry analysts note that this new release could help strengthen SEGA’s position in the strategy gaming market, particularly as the company competes with franchises like Civilization and Europa Universalis.
What Makes Empire of the Sun Different
From early previews and official information, several elements make Empire of the Sun stand out from previous Total War entries:
- Global Trade Networks: Players can build economic empires by managing resources like silk, spices, and gunpowder.
- Faction Personalization: Each major empire features unique leader traits, unit rosters, and historical campaign paths.
- Expanded Diplomacy: The new system allows multilateral treaties, trade embargoes, and cultural alliances.
- Naval Integration: Land and sea battles can now merge into hybrid scenarios where fleets support invasions.
- Campaign Replayability: Dynamic maps ensure that no two campaigns unfold the same way.
These features represent a major leap for the franchise, combining lessons learned from Total War: Warhammer’s depth with the realism of classic entries like Rome II and Shogun 2.
Community Engagement and Early Access Plans
Creative Assembly also announced that players will have the opportunity to participate in a closed beta test in mid-2026. The studio emphasized transparency, promising to share frequent development updates through its community channels and official forums.
Developers plan to release post-launch content, including free updates and paid expansions, following the model established with Warhammer III. The team confirmed a multi-year support plan, ensuring regular balance patches, quality-of-life improvements, and new factions.
The announcement ended with a teaser trailer showing the campaign map zooming from China to Japan, revealing vast terrain diversity — from coastal jungles to volcanic islands.
Industry Reactions and Global Context
The gaming industry has praised the announcement as a positive step for Creative Assembly after a challenging 2023–2024 period, which included studio restructuring and the cancellation of a multiplayer shooter project.
Analysts say the return to a historical focus restores confidence among long-term fans and aligns with SEGA’s goal of strengthening its core franchises.
The Total War series remains one of SEGA’s most valuable properties, generating consistent revenue and maintaining an active global player base.
Looking Ahead
With Total War: Empire of the Sun now officially announced, anticipation is building for deeper reveals in 2026. Creative Assembly confirmed that the next major gameplay showcase will premiere at the PC Gaming Show 2026, followed by hands-on previews for content creators and media.
Until then, fans can expect steady updates, community Q&A sessions, and developer diaries detailing the new mechanics, campaign systems, and visual upgrades coming with the TW Engine 5.
The Total War announcement 2025 signals a renewed era for one of gaming’s most respected strategy franchises — a balance of history, innovation, and ambition that continues to shape how players experience war, diplomacy, and empire-building on a global scale.