The Total War franchise is celebrating its 25th anniversary in a massive way—with the official announcement of Total War: Medieval 3, a long-awaited return to one of the series’ most loved historical settings. For years, fans have requested a new Medieval title, and Creative Assembly has finally confirmed that the next major historical entry will be set in the Middle Ages.
The studio revealed that the game is currently in early development, meaning it will be some time before release, but the announcement alone has sparked huge excitement across the Total War community.
A Return to the Classic Era That Fans Have Wanted for Years
The Medieval period has always been one of the richest, most fascinating eras for strategy games—marked by royal dynasties, brutal wars, political intrigue, religion-driven conflicts, and the rise and fall of empires. Total War: Medieval 2 is still played and modded heavily even today, nearly 20 years after launch.
With Medieval 3, Creative Assembly aims to return to the franchise’s historical roots, focusing on realism, deep political systems, large-scale warfare, and immersive medieval world-building. The developers have stated that the goal is to allow players to shape realms, rewrite history, and immerse themselves in a dynamic medieval sandbox like never before.
Powered by the New Warcore Engine
Alongside the announcement, Creative Assembly also revealed their new Warcore engine, which will serve as the technological foundation for Medieval 3 and future Total War titles.
This engine aims to improve:
- Performance and stability
- AI behavior
- Visual detail and battlefield realism
- Future-proofing the Total War franchise
The new engine hints at bigger ambitions and possibly broader platform support in the future.
Why Medieval 3 Matters for the Franchise
The Total War series has had incredible success with fantasy titles like Warhammer, but many fans have been asking the studio to return to grounded, historical settings. Medieval 3 represents:
- A shift back toward realism
- A renewed focus on deep strategic gameplay
- A chance to rebuild community trust after mixed responses to recent titles
- A celebration of what originally made Total War iconic
By choosing the medieval era, the developers are revisiting a time that offers enormous variety: feudal politics, crusades, castle sieges, royal diplomacy, and diverse factions across Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
What We Know So Far
Even though Medieval 3 is still early in development, a few key points have been confirmed:
1. It’s in Pre-Production
The game is just beginning its development journey, meaning:
- No release date yet
- No gameplay footage available
- Many systems are still being planned
2. It Will Be Deeply Historical
The medieval era will be represented with authenticity and depth.
3. The Scope Will Likely Be Massive
Total War historical games typically include:
- Huge campaign maps
- Dozens of playable factions
- Real-time battles with thousands of troops
- Complex diplomacy and kingdom management
Medieval 3 is expected to expand on these systems with modern technology.
What Players Expect and Hope to See
Since Medieval 2 set such a high standard, fans have already created wishlists for Medieval 3. Common expectations include:
- Advanced diplomacy and kingdom politics
- Detailed family trees and royal succession
- Large-scale castle sieges
- Dynamic weather and terrain systems
- Expanded role of religion, crusades, and culture
- Diverse factions stretching beyond Europe
- Deep mod support
- High-quality campaign storytelling
With modern hardware and a brand-new engine, there’s huge potential to create the most immersive medieval Total War game ever made.
Why the Timing Is Perfect
The announcement aligns with the 25-year anniversary of the Total War franchise, marking a symbolic moment. It signals a powerful message:
The future of Total War is returning to its foundations—large-scale historical storytelling.
After years of growing tech challenges, player expectations, and a demand for innovation, Medieval 3 acts as both a celebration and a fresh beginning.
The Road Ahead
Since the game is early in development, players should expect:
- Long-term updates from the studio
- Dev diaries and behind-the-scenes videos
- Community involvement and feedback opportunities
- A potential expansion of Total War’s future roadmap
Creative Assembly has hinted at big plans for the coming years, and Medieval 3 is likely to be a central pillar of that future.
Conclusion: Total War’s Next Great Era Begins
The announcement of Total War: Medieval 3 is more than just a new title—it’s a return to the heart of what made the series legendary. With a new engine, renewed focus on historical depth, and a commitment to immersive medieval gameplay, the game represents a fresh start and a powerful tribute to 25 years of Total War.
Fans will need patience, as development will take time, but the excitement is already building. For strategy lovers, history fans, and longtime Total War enthusiasts, Medieval 3 may become the most important release the franchise has seen in decade