Sudden Strike 5 thrusts us back into World War II later this year and, while the terrain of its sprawling battlefields might not be destructible, developer Kite Games has confirmed that weather conditions will “directly affect gameplay,” requiring us to adapt.
The latest entry in the series features a 25-mission campaign that puts us in control of both Axis and Allied troops while adopting a more sandbox-focused approach. Dynamic weather aims to be one piece of this puzzle.
Sudden Strike 5 Will Feature Dynamic Weather
“Weather conditions in Sudden Strike 5 are not just cosmetic, they directly affect gameplay,” developer Kite Games wrote responding to a user during a recent AMA over on Steam.
“Several missions feature dynamic weather, including heavy rain, snowstorms, and sandstorms, depending on the location. These conditions primarily impact visibility and sight ranges, with rain and storms significantly reducing how far units can spot enemies.”
Sudden Strike 5’s dynamic weather “changes the flow of combat, encourages closer engagements, and makes positioning and reconnaissance even more important.” In addition, it also renders both us and the AI unable to call in air support.
The developer goes on to explain that while the “terrain itself is not destructible,” its elevation does matter when engaging enemy troops.
“Units will receive an accuracy bonus or handicap depending on their relative altitude versus their targets, so positioning yourself above the enemy is important. To support this, we’ve added a tactical layer to the in-game UI that highlights high-ground areas of the map to better position your units [and gain] tactical advantages.”
The team behind the game also answered a series of other questions about its upcoming strategy game during the AMA, confirming that the German campaign will cover both fronts, to reflect “how widely stretched the German war effort was.”
Sudden Strike 5 is slated to release later in 2026, when it arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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