Total War: Pharaoh announced, coming this October

SEGA and Creative Assembly have just announced Total War: Pharaoh, the next major installment in the long-running strategy franchise.

As its title implies, this upcoming Total War game will be set in Ancient Egypt. Specifically, it is set in the Egyptian New Kingdom period where players will determine the fate of three great cultures amidst the Bronze-Age Collapse.

The game’s premise is described as:

The Pharaoh is dead, and the people of Egypt, Canaan, and the Hittite empire cry out for a new leader. Many desire the power of the throne, but the path to becoming Pharaoh is a perilous one. As the leader of these great nations, you must overcome societal collapse, face natural disasters and fight to protect your people against invaders from far off lands.   

In this game, players will be able to enjoy a recreation of Ancient Egypt at its most glorious. Specifically, the game will feature the banks of the Nile river, the deserts of the Sinai Peninsula, and the mountain crags of Anatolia.

As for gameplay, aside from commanding an army against an opposing force, players will also need to overcome dramatic shifts in weather, including dangerous sandstorms. Players will also have to contend with fire as battles can be engulfed in flames to damage settlements.

There will also be eight Faction Leaders to choose from within three cultural hubs. Each will have unique playstyles and unit rosters.

Finally, the game will have a new Campaign Customization feature which gives the option of random starting positions for all factions, control over natural disasters, and more.

Total War: Pharaoh will be released in October 2023. Pre-orders are available now on the official Total War website, and each pre-order will come with various bonuses, including access to an Early-Access Weekend, the Avatar of the Gods Cosmetic Pack, and the Heart of the Shardana Cosmetic pack.