From THQ Nordic:
The battlefield evolves once again in Call to Arms: Panzer Elite. Today’s major content update introduces the all-new Field HQ system, a brand-new campaign mission titled St. Barthélemy, AI and visibility improvements, and the first foundational steps toward a comprehensive overhaul of the game’s damage and ballistics systems. The update will be live later today!
Introducing the Field HQ
Designed in direct response to community feedback, especially from co-op players, the new Field HQ system keeps commanders in the fight longer by allowing squads to redeploy lost vehicles and call in reinforcements during missions. Players can now earn reinforcement points throughout gameplay and strategically spend them to maintain battlefield momentum. Earn Points Through:
- Tactical kills and special destruction bonuses such as Ammo Rack or Fuel Tank detonations
- Kill streaks, long-range eliminations, and assists
- Destroying higher-tier enemy vehicles while operating lower-tier armor
- Capturing POWs and completing mission objectives
- Mission Medals & Recognition
To further reward battlefield performance, the update introduces a new Mission Medal system. Mission scores now directly translate into medal ranks, with higher performance unlocking greater recognition. Earned medals persist in the player’s hangar and are showcased on the redesigned mission-end screens.
New Campaign Mission: St. Barthélemy
Set during Operation Lüttich, players are tasked with striking the strategically important train station near L'abbaye Blanche under the cover of night. With Allied air support grounded due to poor visibility, the mission delivers intense close-quarters combat where every shadow may conceal enemy armor.
AI & Foliage Visibility Improvements
Dense foliage and bushes now properly block AI line of sight, preventing enemies from unrealistically spotting or firing through heavy concealment. Additionally, AI target selection and movement behavior have been refined to create more natural and challenging engagements.
Beginning the Damage Model Overhaul
The team has also started work on a large-scale overhaul of the game’s vehicle damage and ballistics systems. While still in its early stages, this update introduces several important foundational improvements:
- Improved HE filler and spalling reliability for more authentic post-penetration damage
- Reworked internal component damage behavior
- New engine kill animations and dedicated visual effects
- Gun mantlet impacts now affect aim and gun elevation speed instead of completely disabling firing
- Updated internal component durability and corrected armor setups for multiple vehicles
- Environmental Improvements
The update also adds improved water interaction effects across rivers and lakes, including dedicated projectile hit effects and enhanced vehicle splash VFX to further improve battlefield immersion.
