Total War: PHARAOH — Everything We Know

Creative Assembly has announced the next instalment in the beloved Total War saga — in Ancient Egypt, of all places. That's right, the next entry in the long-standing strategy series will transport its players to the dusty dunes of Bronze Age Africa—a region that's on the verge of collapse under the rule of Pharaoh Merneptah. This is where you, an aspiring leader hailing from one of three cultures, will take your place atop the throne and usher your kingdom into a new era of hope and prosperity. No pressure or anything, though.

“Total War: PHARAOH will immerse players in the turbulent events of the Egyptian New Kingdom period where they’ll determine the fate of three great cultures as they fight for survival amid the cataclysmic Bronze-Age Collapse,” reads the elevator pitch. “We’ve got lots to tell you about the game over the next few months. Be sure to keep an eye on pharaoh.totalwar.com for all the latest news.”

The good news is, we won't have to wait all that long to get our hands on the latest instalment in the series. In fact, SEGA has already gone ahead and stapled a rough October release window to it — so best get to adding it to your wishlist over on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Before you do, though, here's everything else you'll need to know about it.

What Is Total War: PHARAOH?

Total War: PHARAOH is a real-time and turn-based hybrid strategy game by Creative Assembly. In a similar style to its previous entries, the game will revolve around a ruler's rise to fame amidst a world engulfed in turmoil and everlasting chaos. As the last great ruler of Egypt, you will take your place atop the throne and guide your people through the Bronze Age, either with an iron fist, or a mind for compassion and respect, in the hopes of becoming the next Pharaoh.

“In Total War: PHARAOH, the newest entry in the award-winning grand strategy series, immerse yourself in ancient Egypt at the zenith of its power and experience the dramatic events that threaten its destruction,” the blurb reads in part. “With dynamic real-time battles and incredible turn-based empire management, can you rise above your adversaries to become Egypt’s last great Pharaoh and stand against the collapse of an iconic civilization?” Well, can you? Only time will tell on that one, fellow rulers.

Story

Set during the Bronze Age, Total War: PHARAOH will set the stage for three warring factions: Egypt, Canaan, and Hittite. As the ruler of one of these three vastly different cultures, you will venture forth and rally your troops to dismantle the opposition and, with a whole lot of ambition, claim your place as the next great Pharaoh. But there's a catch — Egypt is on the verge of collapse, and not to mention under a never-ending cloud of natural disasters, foreign conspiracies, and society-breaking disruptions. Fortunately for you, you have the heart of a lion and the power of an army behind your back. It'll be up to you to utilize these tools for the sake of uniting Egypt and proving your worth as the rightful ruler of all the land. Easy enough, right? Right.

“On your journey to becoming Pharaoh, uncover a beautifully lush and vibrant recreation of ancient Egypt at the height of its power,” the description adds. “From the fertile banks of the river Nile to the windswept, arid deserts of the Sinai Peninsula and the mountainous crags of ancient Anatolia, this magnificent visual reimagining brings the beauty and brutality of Egypt’s most tumultuous era to life.”

Gameplay

The good news is, avid fans of the traditional Total War format will feel right at home with PHARAOH, simply because, well, it won't be all that different as far as gameplay goes. Like before, players will have the choice of three regions to rule over, each of which will have their own plots of land, armies, and settlements. It'll be your responsibility, as the aspiring Pharaoh, to keep these things in check as you work to monopolize Egypt, Canaan, and Hittite.

Of course, this being a Total War entry, gameplay won't be restricted to engaging in real-time battles; there'll also be harsh weather conditions to endure, foreign powers to belittle, and entire settlements to both build and maintain. All of this will tie in with a wide selection of campaign scenarios, all of which will be fully customizable. So, whatever your preference in playstyle is, know that Creative Assembly has gone above and beyond to accomodate both newcomers and veterans. Not that ruling as acting Pharaoh will be a walk in the park, mind you.

Development

It was always in the cards, a new addition to the long-standing strategy anthology. That said, fans of the series will agree that, with Total War: Warhammer 3 having only launched last year, it came as a bit of a surprise to see the next entry pop up just shy of five months ahead of its proposed launch. Needless to say that Creative Assembly is on the ball with this one, and if all goes according to plan, Total War: PHARAOH will release as early as October 2023.

“There are few periods more iconic than Ancient Egypt; fraught with political intrigue, cataclysmic events and grand war campaigns, it's the perfect setting for a Total War title,” said Game Director, Todor Nikolov. “As Pharaoh, you must save Egypt from the cusp of destruction and guide your people through the calamitous Bronze-Age collapse. It is up to you to either survive or fade into history.” Exciting stuff.

Trailer

As luck would have it, Creative Assembly hasn't exactly been overly stubborn with its trailers or in-game previews. Matter of fact, the team actually published a theatrical trailer earlier this week. And while it didn't give us much of an insight into the actual gameplay, it did provide a basic setup for the location and competing cultures. You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Creative Assembly has confirmed that Total War: PHARAOH will be launching on an undisclosed date in October 2023. It'll be coming to PC as a day-one exclusive on Steam and the Epic Games Store. We can't say for certain whether or not it'll reach the consoles' shores, though given the series' history of being exclusive to PC, it's hard to imagine it'll wind up on Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch anytime soon. Still, never say never.

Total War: PHARAOH will be available in three editions: Standard, Deluxe, and Dynasty, all of which are currently available to pre-order on both Steam and the Epic Games Store. You can see what comes included in the second and third special edition down below.

Deluxe Edition — $72.87

• Total War: PHARAOH
• Downloadable content “Faction Pack 1”
• Digital soundtrack

Dynasty Edition — $91.46

• Total War: PHARAOH
• Downloadable content “Faction Pack 1”
• Downloadable content “Faction Pack 2”
• Downloadable content “Faction Pack 3”
• Downloadable content “Campaign Pack”
• Digital soundtrack

If you're interested in keeping up to date with Creative Assembly's latest excursion, then be sure to follow its progress over on the social handle here. We'll be sure to fill you in just as soon as a release date is set in stone.

So, what's your take? Will you be getting your hands on a copy of Total War: PHARAOH when it releases later this year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.