Creative Assembly celebrated Total War’s 25th anniversary with a showcase featuring multiple announcements across the strategy franchise. The December 4, 2024 presentation revealed Total War: Medieval 3 currently in early pre-production, representing the long-awaited return to historical Total War after the 2006 release of Medieval 2. The studio announced Total War: Warhammer 3 will receive Lords of the End Times DLC in summer 2026, adding four new Legendary Lords including Nagash to the Immortal Empires campaign.
The showcase introduced Warcore, the next evolution of Total War’s proprietary engine designed to bring future Total War games to PlayStation and Xbox consoles for the first time. Creative Assembly teased a third game announcement at The Game Awards on December 11, described as “Total War’s next major release” and “one of the most ambitious projects in the franchise’s history.”
Total War’s 25th Anniversary Showcase
Medieval 3 Enters Development, Warhammer 3 Expansion Announced, New Console Engine Revealed
Major Announcements Overview
Total War: Medieval 3 enters early pre-production as Creative Assembly’s first historical Total War game built on the Warcore engine. The studio revealed the project earlier than typical to maintain dialogue with the community throughout development. Game Director Pawel Wojs, who worked on Medieval 2 nearly 20 years ago, leads the team creating what Creative Assembly calls “the ultimate medieval strategy sandbox” combining historical authenticity with player agency. The development timeline remains years from release, with no fixed start date confirmed for the medieval period.
The Warhammer 3 Lords of the End Times expansion coincides with the subseries’ 10th anniversary, introducing Nagash the Supreme Lord of Undeath alongside three additional Legendary Lords. The summer 2026 DLC launches with a free End Times Update featuring apocalyptic scenarios and cataclysmic events transforming the campaign experience. Creative Assembly confirmed additional content will follow, stating “the series is far from over” for Total War: Warhammer.
25th Anniversary Announcements Timeline
Announcement Details
Warcore enables Total War’s first console deployment across PlayStation and Xbox platforms while maintaining PC as the primary development focus. The engine features DirectX 12 support, improved lighting techniques, dynamic shadows, and screen space ambient occlusion. New ribbon technology enhances projectile and particle behavior for improved visual clarity and performance. Havoc Physics integration allows dynamically destructible buildings, creating new tactical opportunities as both players and AI can exploit terrain changes during battles.
The rewritten animation system incorporates graph-based node architecture allowing layered animations for higher fidelity and variety. Complex movement systems enable vehicle-based combat with strafing capabilities, opening gameplay possibilities for the franchise. Creative Assembly designed Warcore with long-term evolution in mind, ensuring Total War stays at the cutting edge of strategy gaming while supporting the unique demands of the series’ complex systems.
🎯 The Game Awards Exclusive
Creative Assembly reserved a major announcement for The Game Awards, describing it as “one of the most ambitious projects in the franchise’s history.” The title represents “the beginning of an exciting new era” for Total War. Community speculation centers on potential Warhammer 40,000 adaptations or new historical settings, though Creative Assembly provided no hints about the project’s scope or setting.
🚀 Warcore Engine Capabilities
The most advanced technological foundation in Total War history powering next-generation strategy experiences
The 25th anniversary showcase presented Creative Assembly’s roadmap featuring Medieval 3 in early development, Warhammer 3’s Lords of the End Times expansion scheduled for summer 2026, and the Warcore engine enabling console deployment. Vice President of Total War Roger Collum stated the studio possesses “the best roadmap we’ve ever had” for the franchise’s future. The showcase marked Total War’s return to historical settings after focusing primarily on Warhammer content since 2022.
Total War: Medieval 3 development continues years from release with quarterly community updates planned. The official Medieval 3 announcement detailed Creative Assembly’s early pre-production phase and community engagement approach. The Game Awards announcement on December 11, 2025 will reveal Creative Assembly’s mystery project described as the franchise’s most ambitious undertaking.