Combat Mission

Combat Mission is a turn-based 3D tactical game series which premiered in 2000. The original game engine consisted of three games set in the Second World War:

A second series of games with a new game engine premiered in 2007. The game engine itself has been dubbed "CMX2" while the second series, revolving around a "near-future" theme of tactical combat set in Syria, is named Combat Mission: Shock Force. A new marketing system includes "families" of games, with Titles and add-on Modules. The first family consists of one Title and three Modules:

  • Combat Mission: Shock Force (2007)

    • Marines (2008)

    • British Forces (2009)

    • NATO (2010)

An independent title, called Combat Mission: Afghanistan was also released in 2010, depicting combat during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The second Family was announced with a Second World War theme, and release of Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy occurred in May 2011. There have been other Families with a Second World War theme also announced by the publisher; to date these are:

  • Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy (2011)

    • Commonwealth Forces (2012)

    • Market Garden (2012)

  • Combat Mission: Fortress Italy (2012)

    • Gustav Line (2013)

    • Rome to Victory (2019)

  • Combat Mission: Red Thunder (2014)

    • Fire and Rubble (2021)

  • Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg (2016)

  • Combat Mission: Cold War (2021)

A second modern/near-future module set in Ukraine was released in 2015.

  • Combat Mission: Black Sea (2015)

Game Family  Game Engine
Release  Title CMX1  1.0  2.0 3.0 4.0
Jun 2000  CM:BO Release         
Sep 2002  CM:BB Release          
Nov 2003  CM:AK Release          
Jul 2007  CM:SF   Release       CMSF2 Jul 2020
Sep 2010  CM:A   Release        
May 2011  CM:BN   Release   Dec 2012  Aug 2014 Dec 2016
Aug 2012  CM:FI     Release  Aug 2014 Dec 2016
Apr 2014  CM:RT       Release  Dec 2016 
Feb 2015  CM:BS       Release  Dec 2016 
Apr 2016  CM:FB       Release  Dec 2016 
May 2021  CM:CW         Release 

Game Nationalities Regions
CM: Beyond Overlord USA, Germany, Britain, Free France, Canada, Poland NW Europe (Jun 44 - May 45)
CM: Barbarossa to Berlin Germany, USSR, Finland, Italy, Hungary, Romania Finland, North USSR, Central USSR, South USSR (Jun 41 - May 45)
CM: Afrika Korps USA, Germany, Britain, Free France, Canada, Poland, Italy North Africa, Italy (1940-1945)
CM: Shock Force US Army, Syrian, Insurgents Syria (2009)
CM:SF - Marines US Marines -
CMSF: - NATO Germany, Canada, Netherlands -
CM:Battle for Normandy USA, German Army Normandy (Jun-Aug 44) (Sep 44 with MG)
CMBN - Commonwealth Forces Britain, Canada, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe -
CMBN - Market-Garden Britain, Canada, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe Netherlands (Jun - Sep 44)
CM: Fortress Italy USA, German Army Italy (Jul 43 - Jan 44) (Jul 44 with GL)
CMFI - Gustav Line Britain, Canada Jul 43 - Jul 44
CMFI - Rome to Victory German Air Force, Brazil, India, Free France, South Africa, Waffen-SS Jul 43 - May 45
CM: Red Thunder German Army, USSR Russia, East Europe (Jun 44 - Sep 44)
CM: Black Sea USA, Russia, Ukraine Ukraine (2016)
CM: Final Blitzkrieg USA, German Army, Waffen-SS, Luftwaffe France, Germany, Ardennes, Netherlands (Oct 44 - Jan 45)
CM: Cold War US Army, Soviet Union 1979-1982
 
Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord

Three playable public demo scenarios were offered at various times, the first being a Beta Demo offered pre-release in October 1999. A Gold Demo was released later; because file formats had changed during production of the game, two new scenarios were included that were not compatible with the earlier Beta version. Neither demo included access to the mission editor, but did permit solo, hotseat, and email play. TCP/IP play was not a feature that shipped with the initial release, but was added in later via a patch.

Beta Demo

Last Defense and Riesberg were included with the original beta demo. At Christmas 1999, an add-on entitled Chance Encounter was added to the beta demo.

Gold Demo

Chance Encounter and Valley of Trouble were released as the Gold Demo. Chance Encounter depicted a fictional meeting engagement late in the war between an American rifle company supported by Sherman tanks, and a German rifle company supported by assault guns. The terrain depicted a rural crossroads overlooked by a forested hill. Chance Encounter has remained a popular scenario and versions of this battle have been recreated by third parties in Combat Mission: Afrika Korps and even Combat Mission: Shock Force. Valley of Trouble was a brand new scenario for the Gold Demo that depicted an American assault through a fortified valley.

Key Dates:

Game announced:  
Preorders announced:  
Beta Demo released: October 1999
Beta Demo Add-On released: December 1999
Gold Demo released:  
Game released: June 1, 2000
Patch 1.01 released:  
Patch 1.11 released  
Patch 1.12 released February 1, 2001
Special Edition released:  

 

Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord

Developer: Big Time Software
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2000
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Operations (linked scenarios on dynamic map)


The original release came with no packaging and was sold directly from Big Time Software via internet only. The disc was packaged inside the pages of the rulebook; opening the padded envelope often caused a shock to new customers expecting to see a jewel case or box containing the software.

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

Two playable public demo scenarios were offered before release; one set in the Battle of Kursk in 1943 and another in 1941 in the fighting outside Moscow. The first highlighted new steppe terrain and changes to the AFV gameplay such as the "death clock" of knocked out tanks, as well as the organization of vehicles into platoons, and the interaction of various types of vehicles such as heavy Russian KV types and German medium PzKpfw IIIs. The latter scenario emphasized changes to the infantry game, particularly the effect of machine guns on infantry; the ability to mass for human wave assaults was also permitted in the demo.

Key Dates:

Preorders taken:  
Demo released:

 

Game released: Thursday, 19 September 2002
Patch 1.01 released: Wednesday, 20 November 2002
Patch 1.02 releaed: Monday, 10 February, 2003
Patch 1.03 released: Wednesday, 4 June 2003
Vista Patch (v1.04) released: Thursday, 23 July 2009
V1.04 Demo released: Thursday, 23 July 2009
Special Edition released:  
Thursday, 19 September 2002

We are very proud to announce that Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin (CMBB), a realistic 3D WWII ground combat simulation of warfare on the Eastern Front, from 1941 to 1945, is NOW SHIPPING!!!.

CMBB is available for purchase online through our webstore, or from our distribution partner [CDV Software Entertainment AG] which is releasing the PC version into most European countries.

Also shipping is the Combat Mission: Bundle Pack which includes both Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin and the original Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord at a deeply discounted price.

 

Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2002
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Operations (linked scenarios on dynamic map)

Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

On 18 November 2003, battlefront.com announced that Combat Mission: Afrika Korps had gone gold. That same day, they announced that they were opening up preorders for the new game, as well as releasing a public demo, containing two scenarios. (The title of the new game was something of a misnomer, as the Italian theatre was also included). Multi-turreted vehicles were modelled, and thus one scenario featured M3 Lee tanks in a desert scenario set in North Africa, which also showed the new dust cloud effects. A second scenario was set in Italy with new terrain types including vineyards.

Key Dates:

Preorders taken: Tuesday, 18 November 2003
Demo released:

Tuesday, 18 November 2003

v1.01 Patch released Saturday, 31 January 2004
Australian Department of Defense version licensed Thursday, 20 May 2004
v1.02 Patch released Sunday, 14 November 2004
v1.03 Patch released: Thursday, 18 November, 2004

Full text of the announcement on 18 November:

Tuesday, 18 November 2003

It is with a great deal of pride that Battlefront.com is announcing that Combat Mission Afrika Korps has gone gold is currently in production and should be shipping by December 5th.

Combat Mission: Afrika Korps is the third game title released to date in the award winning Combat Mission series and focuses on the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, from East Africa in 1940, all the way into Italy 1945.

Combat Mission: Afrika Korps sells for $35 (USD) and can be Ordered directly from here:
Combat Mission: Afrika Korps Order Page

We are also excited to announce a new Combat Mission Bundle Pack, featuring both CMBB and CMAK. This new bundle replaces the old bundle which included CMBO and CMBB and is also expected to ship by December 5th..

The new Combat Mission Bundle Pack sells for $60 (USD), a savings of $10 over the cost of each game separately and can be Ordered directly from here:
Combat Mission Bundle Pack (CMAK&CMBB) Order Page

In addition to Combat Mission Afrika Korps being available to Pre-Order we have also released the playable demo today! The 95 megabyte CMAK Demo comes with two thrilling scenarios and you can download it right now from here:
Combat Mission: Afrika Korps Demo Download Page

And as if that wasn't enough already, we have also reduced the prices on both Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord and Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin.

CMBO is now on sale for $20 USD and CMBB is now on sale for $35 USD.

 

Combat Mission: Afrika Korps

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2004
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Operations (linked scenarios on dynamic map)

Combat Mission: Shock Force

Pre-order Edition: a special edition was available to pre-order customers, which included a foldout battle map showing units and locations included in the Task Force Thunder campaign, as well as a pre-printed mousepad showing hotkey configurations for the 1.0 release version of the game.

A retooled Version 1.30 Demo released in October 2010 included sample scenarios with forces from all three add-on modules as well as a preview of the scenario editor.

The Game Engine 4.0 version (called Combat Mission: Shock Force 2) was announced in 2018, along with engine upgrades for all the add-on modules. In August 2020, BFC partnered with Slitherine to make CMSF 2 available via Matrix Games and Steam.

Key Dates:

Game announced:  
Game released: July 27, 2007
V1.01 Patch released: July 27, 2007
V1.07 Patch released  
V1.08 Patch released April 2, 2008
Marines module released: September 26, 2008
V1.10 Patch released 3 October 2008
V1.11 Patch released 22 December 2008
British Forces module released: August 2009
V1.20 Patch release 14 September 2009
V1.21 Patch release 10 November 2009
V1.21 retail upgrade released 21 December 2009
NATO module announced: May 13, 2010
NATO module released: October 21, 2010
V1.30 Demo released October 26, 2010
V1.31 Patch released November 26, 2010
V1.32 Patch released July 13, 2011
CMSF 2 pre-orders announced 8 Aug 2018
CMSF 2 released December 7, 2018
CMSF 2 V2.01 Patch released January 1, 2019
V2.04 Game Engine 4 Patch released: Saturday, 18 July 2020

 

Combat Mission: Shock Force

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows
Date of Release: 2007
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios
Modules: Marines (2008)
British Forces
(2009)
NATO
(2010)

Combat Mission: Afghanistan

Developed by Snowball, a Russian software company, and distributed by Battlefront, this game depicted combat during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Key Dates:

Game announced: November 18, 2009
Game released in Russia.: September 3, 2010
Game released in the U.S.: September 13, 2010
V1.01 Patch released:  
V1.02 Patch released: October 28, 2010

 

Combat Mission: Afghanistan

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows
Date of Release: 2010
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios

Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy

Details of the demo were not made public until the day of the release. Two scenarios and a tutorial were included. One scenario was set in what the Americans called the Battle of Normandy proper, on July 11, 1944, depicting an attack of a company of the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division on the Martinville Ridge. The other was set in the "Breakout" period.

Pre-order Edition: special features of the pre-order edition were a "steelbook" case.

Key Dates:

Game announced:  
Game title announced: Thursday, 23 December 2010
Official forum opened Thursday, 23 December 2010
Demo released:

Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Download version of game released: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Commonwealth Forces module released: Monday, 5 March 2012
Updated V1.01 Demo released: Monday, 19 March 2012
V1.10 Patch released: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
V1.11 Patch released: Friday, 7 December 2012
V2.0 Upgrade released: Wednesday, 12 December 2012
V2.01 Patch released: Friday, 15 February 2013
Market Garden module released: Friday, 11 October, 2012
V2.12 Patch released: Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Game Engine 3.0 Upgrade Sunday, 10 August 2014
Vehicle Pack released: Friday, 24 October 2014
V3.11 Patch released Tuesday, 18 November 2014
Game Engine 4.0 Upgrade Saturday, 24 December 2016
V4.03 Game Engine 4 Patch released: Saturday, 18 July 2020


 

Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 17 May 2011
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios
Modules: Commonwealth Forces (2012)
Market Garden (2012)

Combat Mission: Fortress Italy

Details were first announced on 21 June 2012. A special pre-order version included a tin CD case.

Key details included five campaigns, 12 standalone battles and 250 Quick Battle maps, as well as the debut of the second generation "v.2.0" game engine.

The demo was released five weeks after the game debuted.

The upgrade to the 4.0 game engine took longer than for the other existing games as apparently the TO&E had to be rebuilt from scratch, causing a nearly four month delay.

The release of the Rome to Victory Module was a bit different in that the module was combined with a V2.10 patch.

Key Dates:

Game announced: Thursday, 21 June 2012
Game title announced: Thursday, 21 June 2012
Official forum opened Thursday, 21 June 2012
Download version of game released: Wednesday, 2 August 2012
Demo released:

Wednesday, 12 September, 2012

Gustav Line Module announced Monday, 18 February 2013
Gustav Line module released: Monday, 20 May 2013
Demo released:

Thursday, 20 May 2013

Game Engine 3.0 Upgrade Sunday, 10 August 2014
Game Engine 4.0 Upgrade Saturday, 15 April 2017
Rome to Victory Module announced June 28, 2019
Rome to Victory Module released Saturday, 30 November 2019
V2.11 Game Engine 4 Patch released: Saturday, 18 July 2020

 

Combat Mission: Fortress Italy

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2 August 2012
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios
Modules: Combat Mission: Gustav Line (2013), Combat Mission: Rome to Victory (2019)

Combat Mission: Red Thunder

Details were first announced on 30 January 2014. A special pre-order version included a tin CD case. Key features included the debut of the 3.0 game engine and a return to the Eastern Front set during Operation Bagration in June 1944.

The demo was released just over 7 weeks post-release, and included one of the release scenarios, and one custom scenario which was subsequently posted on the Battlefront Repository.

Key Dates:

Game announced: Wednesday, 30 January 2014
Game title announced: Wednesday, 30 January 2014
Official forum opened: Wednesday, 30 January 2014
Download version of game released: Friday, 4 April 2014
Demo released Monday, 19 May 2014
V1.02 Patch released Monday, 17 November 2014
Game Engine 4.0 Upgrade Saturday, 24 December 2016
V2.02 Game Engine 4 Patch released: Saturday, 18 July 2020
Fire and Rubble Module preorder:  30 Jan 2021 
Fire and Rubble Module released: 29 April 2021

Combat Mission: Red Thunder

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2014
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios
Modules: TBA

Combat Mission: Black Sea

Details of the new Combat Mission title featuring combat in the Ukraine in the near future were announced in November 2014. From the developer's website:

Combat Mission: Black Sea is a military simulation depicting a fictional 2017 conflict between NATO and Russia in Ukraine. Following the events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine in 2014, the Kiev government and Russia continue to clash over the status of the contested regions. This culminates several years later in a dramatic announcement by Ukraine that they will be joining NATO and the EU. Tensions explode as Russia perceives a direct threat to Russian citizens and deploy troops to the Ukrainian border again, while Western governments, welcoming a chance to expand NATO and EU influence eastward, mobilize as well. The escalation continues until the summer of 2017, when a large firefight erupts between Ukrainian and Russian troops in the Donetsk region. The next day fighting flares up on the border, and on a dark early morning in June 2017, pre-positioned Russian and NATO forces roll forward into Ukraine.

The game featured the 3.0 game engine.

Game announced: Tuesday, 4 November 2014
Game released: Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Demo released: Friday, 20 March 2015
Game Engine 4.0 Upgrade Saturday, 24 December 2016
Battle Pack 1 released: 25 Apr 2017
V2.14 Game Engine 4 Patch released: Saturday, 18 July 2020

 

Combat Mission: Black Sea

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2015
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios
Modules: TBA
Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg

Details of the new Combat Mission title featuring combat in Northwest Europe following the time period depicted in Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy were announced in early 2016.

  • Base game covers the western front from October 1944 to January 1945, although emphasis is placed on the winter battles of December and January.

  • Regions depicted include the Ardennes, France, Germany, and Holland.

Game announced : 2015
Game announced for pre-order: Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Game released: Friday, 8 April 2016*
Demo released: Friday, 1 April 2016
v1.01 Patch Monday, 14 November 2016
v1.02 Patch Saturday, 21 May 2016
Game Engine 4.0 Upgrade Saturday, 24 December 2016
V2.14 Game Engine 4 Patch released: Saturday, 18 July 2020

*This was the date the game release was announced on the forum. The game was actually available before, but BFC instituted a "soft release" policy, presumably to ease strain on their download server.

Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg

Developer: Battlefront.com
Platform: Windows/Mac
Date of Release: 2016
Scale: Squad
Genre: 3-D WEGO and RT strategy
Players: 1 or 2
Campaign Type: Linked scenarios
Modules: TBA

Game Engine 4.0

Not tied to the release of any particular game, the 4th generation game engine premiered in December 2016 as an upgrade for CM:FI, CM:BN, CM:FB, CM:RT and CM:BS only.

At long last, Combat Mission moves from Game Engine 3 to Game Engine 4! In the Store you will find Upgrades for CMBN, CMRT, CMBS, and CMFB. CMFI's needs a little more time in the oven, but it will be along shortly.

After we have a little time to recover there will be a central page of information about Game Engine 4. For now just visit one of the supported CM Families in the Battlefront Store and look for the various Upgrade options. The details are there for your viewing pleasure.

We offer a bunch of different purchase options, including product specific Upgrade 4 installers, specials for both Upgrade 3 and Upgrade 4 (where applicable), and the Upgrade mega pack with all 5 Families covered (including CMFI). It was a last minute rush of minutia to get them out to you, so enjoy!

Also know that CMBN, CMRT, CMBS, and CMFB Base Games and Base Game Bundles are all using Game Engine 4 now. CMFI, once we get some details ironed out, will also be at Game Engine 4.

The patches were relased 18 July 2020 for CMBN, CMSF2, CMFI, CMFB and CMBS. 

Combat Mission: Cold War

Set in the years 1979-1982, depicting a fictional was in Central Europe between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces, with some scenarios set at the National Training Centre in California.

Game announced for pre-order  16 Feb 2021
Game released : 6 May 2021

 

 

 

 

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