Paradox scrupulously avoids saying 'Nazis' in the new Hearts of Iron 4 expansion announcement, which is all about Nazis
Paradox Interactive has unveiled the next major expansion to its grand strategy wargame Hearts of Iron 4 as Gotterdammerung, a «German-themed» add-on that «aims to tie together existing research systems with a new experimental research mechanic» that enables the pursuit of both historical projects and more fanciful, «less historical» wunderwaffe.
«Germany will be receiving a totally revised historical national focus tree and a host of new alternate historical paths,» Paradox said in the Gotterdammerung announcement. «We’ll go into further detail about exactly what is coming here, but we’ve put a high premium on retaining the core feeling that Germany’s old tree gave the player: a sense that they are the protagonist in the events leading up to the war; that the conflict revolves around their actions.»
I don't know if you guys are history buffs, but there's definitely no question that the Second World War—the conflict—revolved around Germany's actions. Which is why I and fellow newsman Joshua Wolens found today's trailer so interesting: It's all about Nazis, yet at no time does anyone say «Nazis,» nor is there a single swastika to be seen anywhere, even though other related symbols are all over the place.
«Our Reich now dominates Europe, a testament to the power and resolve of the German nation,» the man speaking at the very Nuremberg rally-looking shindig says. «One by one the mighty have fallen. The burdens of Versailles are being paid back in the fear of our enemies. It is German science that has sharpened our dagger. And it is German science that will deliver our final strike.»
Yeah, that's pretty Nazi, alright. A promo image shared by Paradox features some real-life Nazis too: Karl Heinrich Emil Becker, for instance, was a major figure in Germany's pre-war weapons development program. Gotterdammerung is clearly all-in on the subject matter, so why the reluctance to close the loop and just say, «Hey, yeah, it's Nazis?»
«The Gotterdammerung expansion is focused on
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