Shaping the Future of Medieval Warfare

While much of the current attention in the gaming community is focused on Creative Assembly's highly anticipated Total War: Warhammer 40,000, the studio is simultaneously working on a return to its historical roots with Total War: Medieval 3. Although the game is still in the early stages of development, the developers have been transparent with their process, providing regular updates through preproduction livestreams.


Defining the Faction Selection Process

In a recent blog post, Creative Director Leif Walter outlined the specific criteria the team uses to determine which nations and states make the cut for the final game. According to Walter, the team evaluates three core factors:

  • The historical prominence and recognition of the faction.
  • The uniqueness of the faction's starting position.
  • The potential for distinct and engaging gameplay mechanics.

The Established List vs. Community Feedback

Creative Assembly has already confirmed several "locked in" factions that serve as the foundation for the game, including England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the Sultanate of Rum. The current outreach to players is intended to gauge interest in smaller or more niche medieval powers, such as Scandinavian kingdoms, Italian city-states like Venice and Milan, or major Islamic empires like the Fatimid and Almohad dynasties.


However, the studio has also established boundaries regarding certain inclusions. Creative Assembly has explicitly ruled out options such as the Mongol Empire, the Russian Principalities, and the Papal States. Regarding the exclusion of the Papal States, Walter explained: «We discussed internally that this playstyle would be so unique and special that it would reduce focus of development too much.»


Looking Ahead

While fans eagerly await the arrival of Medieval 3, the studio remains fully committed to its sci-fi strategy projects. With Total War: Warhammer 40,000 recently garnering positive attention at the PC Gaming Show, the team is balancing its diverse portfolio, ensuring that both their historical and fantasy titles receive the necessary attention to meet player expectations.