Total War: Warhammer II Executes Surprise Attack By Releasing This Year

Sega and Creative Assembly announced today that Total War: Warhammer II is a thing that's happening. More surprising? It's a thing that's happening this year! Yeah, Total War: Warhammer launched in May of last year, but Creative Assembly is already rolling on the sequel.

"Total War: Warhammer II represents the next step in our trilogy, our vision for the most incredible fantasy strategy series ever made," said game director Ian Roxburgh. "The success of the first game has increased our ambition; we're not only going to deliver a thrilling campaign in the sequel, but also an additional combined campaign, the biggest so far, for owners of both."

Total War: Warhammer II will combine with the first game to create one huge combined campaign map, which will be available for free to players who own both titles. Creative Assembly also promises a "new style of narrative campaign" for the sequel.

Total War: Warhammer II's campaign will take place across four continents: Ulthuan, Naggaroth, The Southlands, and Lustria. The game will also expand the existing roster with four more races, including the High Elves, Dark Elves, and Lizardmen. If you're wondering about that fourth race, the developer will be announcing that at a later date. These new races join the Empire, Dwarfs, Greenskins, Vampire Counts, Beastmen, and Warriors of Chaos from the first game.

Total War: Warhammer II is the second game in a planned trilogy of Total War: Warhammer titles. Assuming Creative Assembly keeps up this pace, can we expect Total War: Warhammer III in 2018?