Although based on history, the events of the period in the Romance are pitched in vivid narrative detail and packed with drama, flavour, and explosive deeds of an almost superhuman nature. Janos: The popular modern view of these events is formed around Asian media, which largely draws on Luo Guanzhong’s 14th century epic. How does this popular or romanticised view of events differ from the history books? The modern interpretation of the Three Kingdoms period is a far more romanticised version of events than you might find in the history books. Those retellings are still going strong today and it’s an important part of modern culture in China and the far east even now. It’s a thrilling period, and its stories have been endlessly told and retold over the centuries. We’re supporting this with a host of new campaign systems – but more on that soon. There’s just so much we can do with that from a gameplay perspective, to the point where characters are very much the cornerstone of the game: their interactions, friendships, rivalries and personalities drive the campaign game like never before. Ultimately though, the clincher is the individual bravado and personalities of the characters involved in this period. Plus our community have been asking for a Total War set in China for years, so it’s a natural next step. Janos: It’s packed with drama! The period is brimming with tales of brotherhood, rivalry, treachery, civil war, and conquest, and that makes it the perfect setting for a historical Total War game. So first thing’s first: why Three Kingdoms China? Over to Janos Gaspar, game director for Total War: THREE KINGDOMS. But true to the series’ legacy, the game will also feature a Classic Mode that offers a much more grounded recreation of the period for players who prefer a historically authentic Total War experience. Inspired by Luo Guanzhong’s 14th Century historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this epic strategy game follows the dramatic lives of near-mythical warring lords and their retainers in 2nd to 3rd century China.

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS is the next major Total War historical game and is set in the titular period of ancient China.

Romance of the three kingdoms