“It’s the worst expansion in the game.” Even though Paradox’s World War II grand strategy hit is one of the best-rated strategy titles on Steam, its latest DLC, No Compromise, No Surrender, is making headlines for its record-high price rather than its content. The new expansion’s reviews are not a complete disaster, but Hearts of Iron IV players say they have plenty of reasons to complain about Paradox’s latest add-on.
There are difficult strategy games, and then there are the grand-strategy monsters created by Paradox Interactive. The European studio has earned a reputation as one of the toughest and most demanding developers in the genre, and the recently announced Europa Universalis V only reinforces that image. Even so, we should not overlook Hearts of Iron IV, one of modern strategy’s heavyweights, which has just received a brand-new expansion called No Compromise, No Surrender. Fans, however, have been quick to voice their unhappiness.
Unlike some previous releases, No Compromise, No Surrender has not (at least for now) been buried under overwhelmingly negative Steam reviews, but there is still clear unrest in the community. Out of 327 player reviews, 48% are negative and specifically point to a poor price-to-content ratio. The DLC is listed at €29.99, which makes it more expensive than the last major content pack, Gotterdammerung, priced at €24.99, and many players say they simply cannot see enough added value to justify that jump.
A High Price For Hearts Of Iron IV’s New Content
According to coverage by Gry-Online, the main issue is not just the record-high price tag. The problem is that No Compromise, No Surrender does not feel like it adds enough genuinely new features compared to earlier DLC, such as Waking the Tiger, to warrant that cost. Japan and China received updates in the past, and now the Philippines is getting some attention, with parts of this older content made available for free, yet veteran players feel the improvements are thin and that anyone who purchased the previous expansion should at least have been offered a meaningful discount.
The community has also aimed at some of the gameplay changes, including the removal of detailed division micromanagement in favor of more automatic deployment systems. One long-time player went so far as to describe No Compromise, No Surrender as “a total disaster” and even “the worst expansion in the game”, although others argue that, flaws and all, the DLC still offers enough value for dedicated Hearts of Iron IV fans.
In the meantime, Paradox Interactive is trying to bring in new players and calm veteran frustrations by making Hearts of Iron IV free to claim on Steam until November 24, and offering a 70% discount on the game until December 4. It is a good moment for curious strategy fans to jump in, learn the ropes of Paradox’s World War II sandbox, and then decide for themselves whether the new DLC is worth the asking price.
Source: 3djuegos
