Classified: France ’44 deploys on PC and consoles on March 5

Absolutely Games and Team17 Digital have unveiled the release date of March 5 for the WWII-based strategy game, Classified: France ’44.

The tactical French Resistance game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Enthusiasts can jump into the battlefield even earlier with the Overlord edition, granting access five days ahead on February 29.

Classified: France ’44 plunges players into the heart of Nazi-occupied France as they assume command of the Jedburghs, a special forces group working in collaboration with the Resistance. The game employs a unique turn-based tactics system, coupled with an extensive RPG system to build a skilled team of soldiers. The aim is to cause as much havoc behind enemy lines to give the D-Day invasion a chance to get off the beaches and liberate Western Europe.

Editions and preorders

Three editions of the game are available for preorder, each offering distinctive perks. The Deluxe edition, priced at $40, includes the base game and the first DLC. The Overlord edition, available for $50, goes a step further by providing the base game and a full season pass for all upcoming DLCs. The standard edition, at $35, caters to those seeking the essential experience.

Preorders for any edition come with access to the Resistance Pack at launch, with content varying based on the chosen platform. Steam preorders will receive the “Shadow” and “Ghost” sets, PlayStation 5 will get the “Blue” and “Cobalt” sets, and Xbox Series X|S will be equipped with the “Green” and “Forest” sets.

Gameplay highlights

Classified: France ’44 stands out with its unique morale system, where every shot influences the enemy’s morale, potentially altering the course of the battle. The game also emphasizes tactical stealth action, urging players to infiltrate enemy positions, set up ambushes, and carefully choose their targets to avoid friendly fire incidents.

I played a demo of the game last year and it reminded me of XCOM turn-based games. That’s exactly what James Brooksby, CEO of Absolutely Games, told me they were shooting for. The game is set in the months before D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France.

It takes note that the French Resistance consisted of pockets of different resistance groups, some of them who really didn’t like each other. The team depicted three such groups, including communists and criminals. If you allocate strategic assets to a certain region, you’ll make one faction happy and another mad. Characters have more action points, allowing for nuance in your movement and combat choices.

The missions are non-linear, so you can play them in a variety of orders. You can assemble your character set, and only a subset of your roster will go into a mission at any given time. You can have a maximum of eight characters on the field at once. You can have them banter and it improves their morale, Brooksby said.

You can infiltrate enemy positions; set up ambushes and choose your overwatch targets carefully. Friendly fire can happen on the battlefield, so you have to position your squad and pick your marks carefully.

The game promises historically authentic gameplay. Mirroring real-world military tactics, missions offer a wide variety of experience.

The Classified System: Built on the ‘Classified System’ players can access in-game tools to create their own missions to share with the community.

The engaging campaign offers 15 different endings, allowing players to shape the outcome of the historic D-Day battle. Mirroring real-world military tactics, missions bring a historically authentic experience, encouraging players to use stealth, ambushes, morale tactics, and flanking to outsmart the enemy and support the Resistance.

The ‘Classified System’ adds an extra layer of creativity, enabling players to create and share their missions within the community.

Origins

Absolutely Games, formed in 2019 by industry veterans, aims to be a prominent player in the strategy and tactical video game genre. The studio, comprised of 27 experienced developers, focuses on delivering high-quality gaming experiences for PC and consoles. Classified: France ’44 is their debut title, set to offer a fresh take on historical strategy.

Brooksby sold his previous company to Wargaming in 2018. And he got Absolutely Games off the ground with the help of angel investors. The goal was to get rid of “corporate nonsense” and make great games. But the Guildford, United Kingdom-based company got started just as the pandemic hit. The team has been working on the the title for close to four years.

Team17 Digital, a leading developer and video games label, collaborates with Absolutely Games to bring Classified: France ’44 to gamers worldwide. With a portfolio of over 120 titles, Team17 Digital is known for supporting independent games.

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