Creative Assembly has unveiled the first six playable factions for the forthcoming strategy game Total War: Medieval 3, offering insight into the selection process and inviting players to vote on future additions. The initial roster includes the Kingdoms of France and England, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Sultanate of Rum, the Byzantine Empire, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Creative director Lief Walter explained that the choice of launch factions is guided by several factors: brand familiarity, the uniqueness of each faction's starting position, the variety of potential endgame paths, and mechanical distinctiveness. Historical significance and coverage within the game's map also play a role. The game's world map spans from Iberia to Baghdad and from southern Scandinavia to North Africa, similar in scope to Medieval 2: Total War.
The chosen starting factions are highlighted for their iconic status and narrative importance. France and England are central to Western medieval history and the Hundred Years' War. The Holy Roman Empire is described as a "stereotypical feudal giant" driven by ambition and conflict with the Church. The Byzantine Empire represents a link to Roman heritage, depicted as a sophisticated but embattled realm. The Sultanate of Rum signifies the nascent Ottoman Empire's rise in the Middle East, while the Kingdom of Jerusalem embodies the crusader states and their pivotal role in medieval Christian ambitions.
While the exact number of launch factions remains undecided, Creative Assembly has opened a player poll for 23 other potential factions relevant to the 1140-onwards period and the game's map. This feedback is intended to inform pre-production research and discussions, though the developers reserve creative control to ensure design coherence. The shortlist includes factions such as the Italian city-states and republics, various Eastern European kingdoms like the Duchy of Greater Poland, Northern European realms such as the Kingdom of Norway, Iberian powers, the Almohad Caliphate, the Crusader state of Antioch, and Balkan regions.
Some notable omissions from the potential playable roster include the Mongols and the Great Seljuks, who may appear as non-playable entities as they fall outside the primary campaign map focus. The developers also noted internal discussions about the Papal States, suggesting that their unique gameplay potential could overly narrow development focus.