Creative Assembly is actively engaging the community in the development of Total War: Medieval 3, seeking player input on which factions should be included in the upcoming strategy title. While some major powers are already considered "locked in," the developer is looking to community feedback to shape the inclusion of smaller medieval kingdoms, dynasties, and city-states.
In a recent blog post, Creative Assembly outlined its decision-making process for faction selection, which hinges on three key factors: a faction's renown, the uniqueness of its starting position, and the potential for distinctive in-game mechanics. The "locked in" factions confirmed for the game are England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the Sultanate of Rum.
The developer is particularly interested in player preferences for smaller European and North African states, such as Italian city-states like Venice and Milan, Scandinavian kingdoms, and Muslim nations including the Almohad Caliphate and the Fatimid Empire. Players are encouraged to participate in surveys to voice their desires for these less prominent factions.
However, certain factions have been definitively excluded from consideration. Creative Assembly has stated that the Russian Principalities and the Mongol Empire will not be playable. Notably, the Papal States, a frequently requested faction among fans, will also not be featured. Creative Director Leif Walter explained that the unique playstyle associated with the Papacy was deemed too specialized, potentially diverting development focus from the core game experience.
While Total War: Medieval 3 is still in the early stages of development compared to the studio's concurrent work on Total War: Warhammer 40,000, Creative Assembly has maintained a degree of transparency through pre-production livestreams. The development team is also exploring unique gameplay possibilities, with one example being the potential for the Scottish clan system to offer a distinctive challenge focused on internal strife and external threats.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 was recently showcased at the PC Gaming Show, highlighting Creative Assembly's ongoing commitment to its diverse portfolio of strategy titles. The studio has not yet provided a release window for Total War: Medieval 3.