
The studio behind Crusader Kings and Hearts of Iron just revealed its first non-historical title in a decade — Afterworld is a new strategy game set in an original post-apocalyptic America
THE SO WHAT
Paradox stepping away from historical settings after a decade is a bet that its systems-heavy strategy formula can carry an original IP. For game studios, this is more evidence that owning a flexible engine and loyal niche audience can de-risk world-building experiments.
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