Hearts of Iron 4 Developers Share Plans for the Anniversary Year
Paradox Interactive studio has returned to active work after the winter holidays. The team from Stockholm talked about current tasks and announced key releases for 2026 — which will be the anniversary year for the strategy Hearts of Iron IV.
Last year, players received several major expansions: Graveyard of Empires, Prototype Vehicles, and No Compromise, No Surrender. In 2026, the series will continue to expand as part of Expansion Pass 2. Warships of the Pacific will be released already in the current quarter. In the second quarter, Peace for Our Time and Thunder at Our Gates are planned for release. Starting next week, the developers will begin publishing thematic materials about Thunder at Our Gates — so-called "developer corners."
In addition to new expansions, the team is working on a series of "Military Needs" updates and other initiatives designed to enrich the gameplay experience. Special attention is being paid to the upcoming patch 1.17.4, which is planned for release in early February.
The developers have focused on three key directions.
Firstly, work continues on improving the fleet’s artificial intelligence. After the last release, players noted that AI sometimes demonstrates suboptimal behavior — for example, avoiding large-scale naval battles. The Paradox team asks the community to report any observed issues on the official forum to promptly make adjustments.
Secondly, the developers are adjusting the historical AI. Currently, Germany in historical mode does not act as a strong enough opponent for the USSR. One reason is the new airbase access mechanic: after the start of Operation Barbarossa, the USSR grants access to its airbases to Great Britain, which reduces Germany’s fire support on the front. Additionally, the team is reviewing the doctrine points acquisition system and other aspects of AI behavior.
Thirdly, the developers are actively working to improve the performance and stability of online play. Despite previous improvements, players continue to experience issues in multiplayer matches. The team aims to eliminate these shortcomings to provide a comfortable gaming experience.