Koei Tecmo has officially confirmed the release date for Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires. The long awaited spin off will arrive in Japan on December 23, 2020, with a western release locked on February 15, 2022, meaning English speaking fans won’t have too long to wait.
The announcement was made during TGS 2021 over the weekend where Koei Tecmo and Dynasty Warriors developer, Omega Force, exhibited the game and some new features. It was also confirmed that Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires will launch on the following platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. If you plan on picking up a physical copy of DW9E on PS4, you’ll be able to upgrade to the PS5 for free, the publisher also noted.
What big changes can we expect from this latest iteration Dynasty Warriors Empires? While the focus is still centred around hack n’ slash combat, the Empires games are known for weaving a sturdier strategic layer into the formula’s fabric:
Battles have dramatically changed from previous titles in the series thanks to the new feature: “Storming the Castle”. With areas around castles now turned into battlefields, skirmishes evolve into “Storming the Castle” encounters, with players battling to take control of the castle. Players will also be able to utilize “Siege Battles with Troops” in order to invade the enemy’s base, taking advantage of siege weapons while giving instructions to troops during battle. Once players break through an enemy’s gate, they will enter a “Decisive Battle” and can claim victory after defeating the commander. Although all the enemy officers will re-join the battlefield for one last fierce resistance, players will have a chance to defeat and capture them.
It sounds like battles in Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires will be split into stages, stepping away from the open world structure of Dynasty Warriors 9. Omega Force will also introduce a new mechanic called Secret Plans. These can be selected during the preparation phase, tasking players with an objective that triggers a tactical advantage once fulfilled.
As for the moment to moment action, a rock, paper, scissors system system comes into play whenever armies collide. This will force generals to think about where to direct units as they wage war.
What will really set Dynasty Warriors 9 apart from the base game is what happens outside of battles. Politics and diplomacy have a massive influence on your path unifying China, dictating what resources are available as well as strategic alliances.
The western release date for DW9E is scheduled almost exactly 4 years after the launch of Dynasty Warriors 9. It’s fair to say that Koei Tecmo took a gamble with the newest mainline entry in their fan favourite franchise. However, the game’s open world was barren and didn’t lend itself to some of the era’s epic battles.
Hopefully Omega Force has cracked the formula with Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires. Samurai Warriors 5 marked a welcome return to form.
Source: Press Release
