Creative Assembly has finally lifted the curtain on a project that Total War fans have been asking for since the early 2010s. During a community livestream, the studio revealed that Medieval 3: Total War is officially in development. The team didn’t hold back its excitement either, calling the game its “magnum opus” and hinting that this will be one of the most ambitious historical entries the series has ever attempted.
The announcement didn’t include a release window, and the developers made it clear that the game is still very early in production. What they did share is the timeframe they’re targeting: a campaign that stretches roughly from the 12th century to the 15th century, covering some of the most turbulent and transformative moments in medieval history. No gameplay footage or screenshots have been shown yet, but Creative Assembly confirmed that the foundation for the new systems is already being built.
Another Total War Project Coming First
Medieval 3 isn’t the only title Creative Assembly is working on. A separate game is scheduled to arrive sooner and will be revealed during The Game Awards on December 11. While details are being kept quiet for now, the studio hinted that this upcoming release leans toward fantasy or sci-fi rather than history. With Total War: Warhammer wrapping up its trilogy, many players are curious about what direction the team will take next.
A Quarter Century of Total War
This year marks 25 years since the franchise began with Shogun: Total War in 2000. The original game shaped what would become the signature Total War formula: long-term strategy on a living map combined with massive real-time battles where hundreds of units clash at once. For many years, the franchise stayed firmly rooted in historical settings before Creative Assembly expanded into fantasy with Total War: Warhammer in 2016.
The move to fantasy was a hit, bringing in millions of new players, but it also created tension within the community. Longtime fans who prefer grounded, historical strategy often felt left behind as the developers focused heavily on the Warhammer trilogy. That’s why the reveal of Medieval 3 has sparked so much excitement—fans see it as a return to the historical roots that defined the series.
Creative Assembly even described the announcement as the “rebirth” of historical Total War, signaling that the studio wants to restore balance between fantasy and history in its lineup.
A New Engine and Console Support for Future Releases
Another major change is underway behind the scenes. Every new Total War game, including Medieval 3, is being built on Creative Assembly’s updated internal engine, now known as Warcore. This new version introduces upgraded lighting, better dynamic shadows, improved ambient occlusion, and Havok-powered physics that allow structures on the battlefield to collapse in more realistic ways.
Perhaps the biggest shift is platform support. For the first time in the series’ history, future Total War titles developed on the Warcore engine will also be available on PlayStation and Xbox. Historically, the franchise has been exclusive to PC due to its complex controls and large-scale systems. Bringing Total War to consoles suggests major improvements in optimization and accessibility.
