Battlefront.com is a video game developer and publisher located in Dover Foxcroft, Maine. Battlefront specialises in war-related games, including turn-based and real-time strategies, as well as simulations of air, land and naval military vehicles. On August 27th 2024, the 25th Anniversary of Combat Mission, Battlefront was acquired by Matrix Games.

Apart from publishing the self-developed Combat Mission series, the company publishes games created by other studios (such as 1C Company), including Strategic Command and Theatre of War series.

History

The company began life as Big Time Software when Charles Moylan and Steve Grammont decided to form an independent game company. They produced the successful and unique Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord to critical acclaim in 1999. The fledgling company utilized an online sales model and published a manifesto on its website pledging dedication to its fanbase.

The company continued to grow as subsequent titles in the CM series were released, and other publishers began to partner with BTS. A name change to battlefront.com, coinciding with the domain name of the official website, followed.

List of games published

Release dateTitleGenrePlatformDeveloperNotes
2000Combat Mission: Beyond OverlordHybrid turn-based / real-time strategyMacintosh, WindowsBattlefront.comThe first game in the Combat Mission series.
2002Strategic Command: European TheaterTurn-based strategyWindowsFury SoftwareThe first game in the Strategic Command series.
2002Combat Mission II: Barbarossa to BerlinTurn-based / real-time strategyMacintosh, WindowsBattlefront.comThe second game in the CM series.
2003Combat Mission 3: Afrika KorpsTurn-based / real-time strategyMacintosh, WindowsBattlefront.comThe third game in the CM series.
2005T-72: Balkans On Fire!Vehicle simulationWindows1C Company
2005Down in FlamesVehicle simulationWindowsDan Verssen Games
2005Strategic Command 2: BlitzkriegTurn-based strategyWindowsFury SoftwareThe second game in the SC series.
2006DropTeam: Mechanized Combat in the Far FutureReal-time strategyLinux, Macintosh, WindowsTBG Software
2006Down in Flames: Eastern FrontVehicle simulationWindowsDan Verssen GamesExpansion pack for Down in Flames.
2007Theatre of WarReal-time strategyWindows1C CompanyThe first game in the Theatre of War series.
2007Combat Mission: Shock ForceTurn-based / real-time strategyWindowsBattlefront.comThe fourth game in the CM series.
2007Strategic Command 2: Weapons and WarfareTurn-based strategyWindowsFury SoftwareExpansion pack for Strategic Command 2.
2008Strategic Command 2: Patton Drives EastTurn-based strategyWindowsFury SoftwareExpansion pack for Strategic Command 2.
2008Strategic Command WWII Pacific TheaterTurn-based strategyWindowsFury SoftwareThe third game in the SC series.
2008Combat Mission: Shock Force - MarinesTurn-based / real-time strategyWindowsBattlefront.comExpansion pack for Combat Mission: Shock Force.
2009Combat Mission: Shock Force - British ForcesTurn-based / real-time strategyWindowsBattlefront.comExpansion pack for Combat Mission: Shock Force.
2009Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943Real-time strategyWindows1C CompanyThe second game in the Theatre of War series.
2009Theatre of War 2: CentauroReal-time strategyWindows1C CompanyExpansion pack of Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943
2009Empires of SteelTurn-based strategyWindowsAtomicboy Software
2009PT Boats: Knights of the SeaSimulationWindowsAkella
2009Combat Mission: AfghanistanTurn-based / real-time strategyWindowsSnowballThe fifth game in the CM series
2010Strategic Command WWII Global ConflictTurn-based strategyWindowsFury SoftwareThe fourth game in the SC series.
2010Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943Real-time strategyWindows1C CompanyExpansion pack for Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943
2010CM:SF - NATOTurn-based / real-time strategyWindowsThe third module for Shock Force.
2010CM: Battle for NormandyTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacThe first game to utilize the CM:X2 engine.
2012Combat Mission: Fortress ItalyTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacSecond title utilizing the CM:X2 engine.
2014CM:Red ThunderTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacThird title utilizing the CM:X2 game engine and the first to be set on the Eastern Front of World War II.
2014Combat Mission: Black SeaTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacPresents a (then fictitious) escalation to open warfare between Russia and Ukraine, with NATO intervening.
2016Combat Mission: Final BlitzkriegTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacSet during the final months of World War II.
2018Combat Mission: Shock Force 2Turn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacBattlefront.comA graphical improvement over Shock Force 1.
2021Combat Mission: Cold WarTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows/MacBattlefront.comPresents a Cold War gone hot scenario.

In development

AnnouncedTitleGenrePlatformDeveloperNotes

Cancelled games

First announcedCancelledTitleGenrePlatformDeveloperNotes
20045 November 2009Modern Naval Battles: World War II at SeaSimulationWindowsDan Verssen GamesWould be based on a board game of the same name
20052009Combat Mission: CampaignsTurn-based / real-time strategyWindowsHunting Tank SoftwareHad been in development well before 2005; work was mainly by private software company under license.
20052009Histwar: Les GrognardsTurn-based / real-time strategyWindows

Personnel

Matt Faller spent nine years as chief information officer and project manager, leaving the company for employment with Software Generation Ltd. in August 2009. Faller's duties involved design, implementation and support of the battlefront's IT infrastructure and management of customer support.

On July 1, 2010, Battlefront hired Phillip Culliton as a "First Second Programmer" after operating for 13 years with a single coder.

Notes and references

Further reading

  • Hall, Charlie (2013-01-29). . Polygon.

External links