Total War Turns 25 And Heads To GOG
The Total War series is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Creative Assembly is marking the occasion in a way that strategy fans and PC gamers will really appreciate. Instead of just dropping a trailer or a flashy logo, the studio is focusing on something that matters a lot in the PC space right now: game preservation.
Four classic Total War titles have officially joined the GOG Preservation Program. That means these games are being updated and packaged so they stay playable on modern PCs for years to come, without the usual compatibility headaches that can come with older titles.
The four classics now available on GOG are:
- Rome Total War
- Shogun Total War
- Medieval Total War
- Total War Medieval 2
Each of these comes with its expansions included, turning them into complete editions that are perfect for anyone who wants to experience the history of the franchise or revisit some of the best strategy campaigns ever made on PC.
On top of that, GOG is launching them with heavy discounts. Rome Total War is 50 percent off, Shogun Total War is 75 percent off, and both Medieval games are 80 percent off. For only a few dollars each, you can build a solid library of classic strategy games that still hold up on modern hardware.
Why GOG And Preservation Matter For PC Gamers
This move is about more than just nostalgia. It highlights a real problem in modern gaming: games disappearing from storefronts or having their online services shut down sometimes less than a year after launch. For PC players who like to build a long term library, that is a big concern.
GOG focuses on DRM free releases and long term compatibility on current versions of Windows. When a game joins the GOG Preservation Program, it usually means:
- The game has been tweaked or packaged so it runs properly on modern operating systems.
- You do not have to deal with outdated launchers or services that may shut down later.
- You can keep a local copy that is not locked behind an always online requirement.
For strategy titles like Total War, which players often come back to years later, this is a huge win. These are not quick play and forget experiences. They are deep campaigns that people like to replay on new PCs, higher resolutions and upgraded monitors over time.
Having these older games preserved and easy to install means new players can discover how the series evolved, and long time fans can revisit the classics without messing with unofficial patches or workarounds.
More Total War Games Coming To GOG And What Is Next For The Series
The 25th anniversary celebration is not just about older titles. Creative Assembly is also expanding the modern side of the Total War library on GOG with four more recent entries listed as coming soon.
The upcoming GOG releases are:
- Total War Pharaoh Dynasties
- Total War Rome 2 Emperor Edition
- Total War Three Kingdoms
- Total War Attila
These games cover a wide slice of history and play styles, from ancient Egypt to massive dynastic clashes in China. Bringing them to GOG gives PC gamers another storefront choice and another way to keep their strategy collection together without being tied to a single launcher.
The naming of the series has become a bit messy over the years, flipping between formats like Rome Total War and Total War Rome 2, which can look a bit odd side by side. Still, once you get past the naming chaos, the bigger picture is clear. Creative Assembly is treating its back catalogue as something worth protecting instead of something to quietly abandon.
During the 25th anniversary showcase, the studio also made sure the future of the series looked just as strong as its past. It confirmed that Total War Medieval 3 is in development, which is big news for fans who loved the historical focus and grand campaigns of the earlier Medieval games now arriving on GOG.
On top of that, there is fresh content on the way for existing players. Total War Warhammer 3 is getting new downloadable content with a more apocalyptic tone, adding fresh chaos to an already massive fantasy campaign. For players who enjoy squeezing every bit of playtime out of a single title, more DLC means more armies, scenarios and replay value on their current rigs.
Taken together, these moves show Creative Assembly is looking both backward and forward. On one side, it is making sure classic PC strategy games stay playable and affordable. On the other, it is pushing the series ahead with new entries and expansions that will keep modern gaming PCs busy for years.
For PC gamers who care about their library, performance and long term access, this is exactly the kind of approach that makes the platform so strong. You can build a collection that spans decades of strategy design, run it all on present day hardware and keep an eye on the next big Total War campaign that is still to come.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/to-celebrate-total-wars-25th-anniversary-4-of-the-series-best-games-are-being-added-to-gogs-preservation-program-and-theyre-currently-available-at-up-to-80-percent-off/
