1. Home
  2. Press releases
  3. Slitherine is participating in the Steam RTS Fest with a surprise: the free demo of the unannounced Platoon Commander RTS is now available for everyone

Press release

Slitherine is participating in the Steam RTS Fest with a surprise: the free demo of the unannounced Platoon Commander RTS is now available for everyone

Updates, demos, sales, and a never-before-seen game: here’s what fans can look forward to from Slitherine during this year’s RTS Fest.

During this year’s Steam RTS Fest, taking place from January 20th to 27th, Slitherine's catalog will feature discounts, updates, demos, and the debut of a new game: Platoon Commander.
 

Platoon Commander is a Real-Time Strategy game set in World War 2 and focused on the German advance toward Moscow in the fall and winter of 1941. It combines real-time tactical battles with a turn-based campaign map. Players will take command as platoon leaders in some of the most significant battles of World War II. The goal for German forces is to breach Moscow before winter conditions make further progress impossible, while the Red Army must push back the invaders.


The campaign covers the territory between Germany's border and Moscow, featuring 20 immersive maps, each presenting unique tactical challenges and conditions. To advance,  players must organize their forces, choosing from over 40 unit types across the Wehrmacht and the Red Army in a squad-based system.
The depth of the tactical RTS gameplay is remarkable, incorporating elements such as the psychological state of soldiers, destructible environments, detection systems, smoke screens, and much more.


The Demo presented at this year’s RTS Fest offers a significant experience of Platoon Commander’s first mission, where players step into the role of a German commander during the autumn of 1941. Tasked with capturing and holding a Soviet village, players will customize their platoons by choosing a mix of infantry, armor, and artillery to defend against the inevitable Soviet counterattack.


Key Features

 
  • Realistic Visibility Mechanics: advanced visibility calculation system for different types of troops, tied to landscape types.
  • Fully Interactive Environments: It is possible to destroy buildings, decimate forests with artillery fire, or crush obstacles like fences using tanks to reshape the battlefield.
  • Psychological Simulation of Troops: Morale and psychological states influence unit performance under fire, adding depth to troop management.
  • Artillery and Smoke Screens: Possibility of requesting artillery support and setting up smoke screens.
  • Sophisticated Ballistic Model: Accurate physics-based mechanics, including ricochets and realistic armor penetration, ensuring tank warfare feels authentic.
 
"Slitherine is making a major commitment to the RTS genre," says Marco A. Minoli, Director of Publishing. "Over the past two years, we've launched three successful titles—Starship Troopers: Terran Command, Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance, and ICBM: Escalation—each pushing the boundaries with innovative elements while staying true to core strategy gameplay. It's significant that three of our top five bestsellers last year were RTS games, marking a notable shift for a company with deep roots in turn-based wargames. With the upcoming release of Broken Arrow, we're poised to deliver another RTS hit and solidify our position in this exciting genre."


Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance | A new Demo for new fans


Slitherine’s fans will have the chance to play the new exclusive Demo of Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance, that includes the first mission of the base game, the first mission of the new DLC We Are Legion and a multiplayer map, Vega. Players can experience both sides of the battle between humanity and the ruthless, emerging AI. Whether you choose to destroy Legion or play as Legion to annihilate humanity, you can do so during this year’s RTS Fest.


Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance it’s on sale at 25% during the Steam RTS Fest.


Starship Troopers: Terran Command | More about the Territory Mode

Troopers are called to participate in the Open Beta of the exciting new game mode, Territory Mode, announced during Slitherine Next 2024. After gathering extensive feedback during the first weeks of the Open Beta, the mode is receiving a major update to enhance the experience. This update will include balance adjustments, new features, gameplay mechanics, and additional Territory Maps.

This is the chance for players to shape the future of the game. Joining the Open Beta, sharing their feedback, they can contribute to refining Territory Mode for the ultimate experience.

Starship Troopers: Terran Command franchise will be on sale for up to 40% off throughout the entire RTS Fest.


SLITHERINE SALES

Slitherine will be present with lot of games on sales as well, here is a list of the principal discounts: 

RTS Fest Slitherine Sales from 20th to 27th January: 
 
 And much more on Steam.  

USEFUL LINKS
 
Platoon Commander Steam Page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1536440/Platoon_Commander/

Platoon Commander Demo Steam Page 
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3371990/Platoon_Commander_Demo/

Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance Steam Page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1839950/Terminator_Dark_Fate__Defiance/

Starship Troopers: Terran Command Steam Page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1202130/
Starship_Troopers_Terran_Command/

Publisher Steam Page 
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/Slitherine

 

About The Slitherine Group


The Slitherine Group is the world’s leading producer and publisher of digital strategy and wargames. Under the Slitherine (www.slitherine.com) and Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) brands it has published literally hundreds of games, with many award-winning titles in its portfolio and spanning all digital platforms, from home consoles to smartphones and tablets. Slitherine also works with a wide array of key licensing partners, such as NBC Universal®, Games Workshop®, Sony Pictures, BBC, Osprey, and many others.