Hearts of Iron IV: A Year in Review and What’s Next
Since its release, Hearts of Iron IV has established itself as one of the premier grand strategy games, challenging players to rewrite the course of World War II. With a current average player count of 38,125, it continues to maintain a dedicated and passionate community. The developers at Paradox Interactive have been actively supporting the game with regular updates, balancing tweaks, and new content expansions. As 2023 draws to a close, the latest patches-NCNS Patch 1.17.2 and 1.17.3-have brought meaningful changes that both refine gameplay and set the stage for future developments.
NCNS Patch 1.17.3: Fine-Tuning Doctrines and Gameplay Balance
The final patch of the year, NCNS Patch 1.17.3, focused on polishing the core mechanics of Hearts of Iron IV, particularly in the realm of military doctrines and unit management. One of the standout features of this patch is the detailed telemetry shared by the developers, revealing how real players engage with the game’s various Grand and Sub Doctrines.
According to the telemetry, most countries tend to follow their preset Grand Doctrines, which aligns well with historical tendencies and the game’s design. However, the Sub Doctrines for armies show a more balanced distribution, with the notable exception of a slight preference for the Fire Concentration doctrine. This indicates that players are experimenting with different tactical approaches, and the developers’ goal of offering meaningful choices based on playstyle is being realized.
On the balance front, two subdoctrines received nerfs to prevent overstacking and to encourage more strategic deployment of forces. The “Tank Destroyer Force” subdoctrine saw reductions in initiative and maximum organization, while the “Grand Assault” subdoctrine’s maximum organization gain was slightly lowered. Additionally, initiative buffs on the Tank Destroyer Force and People’s Militia subdoctrines were adjusted to more reasonable levels.
Other notable changes include modifications to doctrine mastery gain modifiers across several national focus trees, and an increase in battalion requirements for the “Establish a Marine Corps” and “Expand Our Armored Forces” goals. These tweaks aim to deepen strategic planning and enhance the pacing of military expansion.
NCNS Patch 1.17.2: Industrial Overhaul and Resource Management
Patch 1.17.2 laid important groundwork by addressing industrial balance and resource management, two pillars of Hearts of Iron IV gameplay. This update introduced two new buildings that provide scaling effects based on infrastructure levels-one reduces energy consumption, and the other increases local resource gain efficiency. These buildings are mutually exclusive within a state, adding a layer of strategic decision-making when developing your nation’s infrastructure.
The patch also rebalanced resource extraction and factory energy consumption. Resource gains from infrastructure were reduced from 20% to 15%, but the new buildings and technologies allow players to offset this reduction through more efficient energy use and resource extraction. For example, Commercial Nuclear Reactors now grant a -50% state energy consumption factor, a significant improvement from the previous -25%.
Other industrial improvements include Electronics Concern reducing factory energy consumption by 10%, and Industrial Concern providing additional coal and increased coal gain efficiency. The replacement of Equipment Conversion Technologies with Energy Gain Efficiency Technologies (+15% energy gain per coal per technology) further emphasizes the importance of energy management in sustaining wartime production.
Additionally, the first four Machine Tools technologies now provide a +20% boost to equipment conversion speed, speeding up the transition between different equipment types and allowing for more flexible production lines. AI research priorities were updated to better handle excavation techs, which now provide a +5% coal gain efficiency, reflecting a more realistic and strategic approach to resource extraction.
On the political side, Chinese warlords now retain a starting trait when becoming leaders for alternate ideologies, adding depth and continuity to China’s complex political landscape. The shared Chinese focus “Invite Soviet Advisors” was also enhanced to grant a national spirit that boosts army experience and organization, providing tangible benefits for players navigating China’s turbulent era.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Hearts of Iron IV
With 2023 closing out, the development team has already hinted at exciting plans for 2024. Part of the team will continue working on the upcoming expansion Thunder at Our Gates, which promises to add new layers of depth and content. Meanwhile, another segment of the team is focused on the “next big thing,” teasing significant features or possibly a new chapter for the franchise.
The developers also encourage the community to engage with ongoing discussions and bug reports, demonstrating their commitment to a collaborative development process. For players eager to get a sneak peek into future concepts, posts by lead developers like Arheo provide high-level insights into the design philosophy and upcoming priorities.
As the game continues to evolve, the focus remains on balancing historical authenticity with player freedom and strategic complexity. Whether you prefer to master grand doctrines, optimize industrial production, or experiment with alternate history scenarios, Hearts of Iron IV offers a rich and rewarding experience that keeps players coming back.
Final Thoughts
The recent patches 1.17.2 and 1.17.3 have demonstrated Paradox Interactive’s dedication to refining Hearts of Iron IV through thoughtful balance changes, meaningful gameplay updates, and community engagement. With a strong player base and promising content on the horizon, the game’s future looks bright. Whether you are a veteran general or a newcomer to grand strategy, now is an excellent time to dive into the complex and captivating world of Hearts of Iron IV.