Total War: Rome 2 is on the verge of getting even better as The Creative Assembly has announced the first major expansion for the game, titled Caesar in Gaul. It offers a new campaign, new factions, and is set between 58 to 51 BC – across 10 provinces spanning from Gaul to Britannia.
As far as the new factions offered via the expansion are concerned, players will be able to choose from four playable factions: the Gallic Arverni, the Germanic Suebi, the Belgic Nervii, and Rome, “in a campaign inspired by Caesar's Commentarii de bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic war).”
"We've released a number of DLC packs and free content updates for ROME II, but this is our most substantial so far," said Mike Simpson, Creative Director of the Total War series, via the official press release. "We've always planned to focus more closely on some of the key conflicts of the ancient world, and Caesar's war in Gaul is the ideal place to start."
"We've also improved the game considerably since launch, and that process continues as we move onto substantial feature and gameplay improvements."
The team states that compared to Rome 2’s map of Gaul, Caesar in Gaul contains more regions and provinces, more factions (both playable and non-playable), alongside a series of famous generals and statesmen from history “which the player will employ or fight against depending on their chosen faction.”
The new campaign for the game will now arrive with an expanded map of Gaul and southern Britannia while offering 18 provinces for players to conquer, that are “fully detailed with resources, settlements, capitals, and new environmental effects.”
Players will also get 24 turns per year and seasons while in the game. “A shorter campaign timespan (58-51BC) means each in-game year is split into more turns. As the calendar changes, so do the seasons, bringing seasonal gameplay effects and stunning visual alterations,” the release adds.
Apparently, there’s also a brand new mid-game challenge mechanics that sees Caesar in Gaul replacing ROME 2's civil war “with different, conflict-appropriate mechanics.”
“As barbarian players progress, they'll begin to feel the mailed fist of Rome as heavy intervention forces are sent to Gaul. Likewise, Roman players will see the tribes rebelling and forming alliances,” it adds.
Caesar in Gaul will be available for purchase and download December 12, for $14.99/£9.99/€14.99.
