Koei Tecmo announced today that Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires,a new spin-off episode of the popular Omega Force musou series, will arrive on February 15, 2022. The title combines the action of Dynasty Warriors with the addition of tactical elements, dragging us on a mission to conquer ancient China with the use of strategy and sword.

The battles have changed dramatically from previous titles in the series thanks to the new "Storming the Castle" feature. With the areas around the castles now turned into battlefields, skirmishes evolve into "Storming the Castle" encounters, with players fighting to take control of the castle. Players will also be able to use "Siege Battles with Troops" to invade the enemy base, taking advantage of siege weapons and giving instructions to troops during battle. Once players knock down an enemy's gate, they will enter a "Decisive Battle" and can claim victory after defeating the commander. Enemy officers will unite again on the battlefield for one last fierce stamina and players will have the chance to defeat and capture them.

Another element that will greatly influence the battle will be the "Secret Plans". The "Secret Plans" selected in the battle preparation phase will now be activated as missions during the battles, with each "Secret Plan" against its own conditions for success and failure. Once the conditions for success are met, favorable effects will be activated on allies including "capture surrounding bases", "defeat messengers", "escort engineers" and more. Each battle is highlighted by attack and defense focused on how to activate "Secret Plans", providing a highly strategic battle experience. On the contrary, enemies can also execute "Secret Plans". By preventing the enemy's "Secret Plans", players will gain an advantage in battle.

Army affinity will also play a key role in Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires,with the unit of each officer being assigned a military unit type as a new officer's characteristic. All three units will have their strengths and weaknesses: Infantry<Arcieri<Cavalleria<Fanteria. When a unit fights against ahead opponents, you can inflict more damage and reduce the damage it has suffered. However, when a unit fights against disadvantaged opponents, the situation will be turned upside down. In addition, each military unit has its own special effects: infantry can attack siege weapons more effectively, cavalry can cause more damage to the enemy headquarters, and the archer can perform simultaneous attacks.

In addition to the battle, the political intrigues and domestic system popular in the Empires series will also be included. Following the goals of the kingdom, set once every six months, the kingdom to which a player belongs strives to unify China. Each month, players will be able to give commands to search for new officers to join the kingdom, purchase arrows and items, and execute a variety of military, economic, and diplomatic commands depending on the player's location.

The announcement is accompanied by a new trailer for the game: here it is below.