Hearts of Iron IV gameplay screenshot. Planes, ships and units clash on a map. An arrow indicates a 70 division army.

Screenshot of the game Hearts of Iron IV, focusing on the Asian theater, depicting the war between Japan and China.

Screenshot from Hearts of Iron IV. The game shows the division designer menu with a map in the background.

World War II is known as one of the greatest wars ever waged, and for good reason, its battles were legendary, and the men behind them, regardless of the side, were just as legendary. Now, in Hearts of Iron IV, you'll get to become these great leaders of men and lead your nation to victory against its foes. Command your armies on the ground, in the air, and on the sea to ensure total victory, similarly to the Hearts of Iron franchise. Hearts of Iron IV doesn't just give you command, it makes you the commander, and you'll have to not only win the battles, but win the hearts of your soldiers so that they'll follow you anywhere you need to go. Plus, you'll command units on all sides that helped turn the tide of battle over and over again. From soldiers, to tanks, to bomber planes, to battleships, you'll have the full arsenal at your disposal to help win each and every battle. The great war had some of the most powerful and infamous factions of all time, and you'll be able to command them all should you want. Become the might Allies and fight for freedom, or, become the Axis powers and fight for control over the entire world. Each side will give you new battles, new units, and new takes on the war. Strategy is the key in Hearts of Iron IV, but not just strategy in the war room, or on the battlefield, but also in the realm of diplomacy. You'll need to make allies to help you in battle, and ensure that key enemies don't get key items or support. Plus, you'll need to be strategic with your technology, to help your nation grow and advance through the war and help bring it to an end. For intense strategy and war simulation, you can do no better than Hearts of Iron IV.

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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

: How do political advisors and government reforms influence a nation's national unity, stability, and war support, and what are the trade-offs involved in implementing them?
Political advisors and government reforms are crucial for shaping a nation's internal political landscape. Advisors can boost national unity, stability, or war support, allowing for more efficient mobilization and public acceptance of war. Reforms, on the other hand, often come with significant trade-offs. For instance, shifting towards a more authoritarian government might increase stability and war support but decrease national unity and democratic support, potentially leading to civil wars or internal strife. Conversely, embracing democratic reforms could improve national unity but make it harder to declare war due to low war support and stability. Players must carefully consider these trade-offs to align their internal politics with their external strategic goals.; What is the significance of 'World Tension' in Hearts of Iron IV, and how does it affect a player's ability to engage in diplomacy and warfare?
World Tension is a global mechanic that represents the overall level of international conflict and suspicion. As World Tension increases, typically due to aggressive actions by nations (like aggressive expansion or breaking non-aggression pacts), more diplomatic and military options become available. For example, certain diplomatic actions, like guaranteeing the sovereignty of smaller nations or justifying war goals, become easier or even possible only at higher World Tension levels. Conversely, low World Tension severely restricts aggressive actions, making it difficult to initiate conflicts or form powerful military alliances. Managing and reacting to World Tension is key to executing a successful foreign policy.; Explain the concept of 'Combat Width' and how division designer choices and terrain impact its effectiveness in battles.
Combat Width is a critical mechanic representing the available space on the battlefield for units to engage. Divisions have a specific combat width (e.g., 20 or 40 width), and the terrain of the battle, as well as the combat width of enemy divisions, dictates how many of your divisions can effectively fight at any given time. If your divisions' total width exceeds the available space, some will be 'off map' and unable to participate in the fight, leading to reduced effectiveness. Therefore, designing divisions with optimal combat widths for different terrains and considering enemy compositions is vital for concentrating your fighting power and achieving breakthroughs.; How do different types of government ideologies (e.g., Fascist, Communist, Democratic, Non-Aligned) impact a nation's foreign policy options, available national focuses, and diplomatic relationships?
A nation's ideology fundamentally shapes its strategic possibilities and interactions. Fascist nations often have focuses that encourage aggressive expansion and militarization, and they find it easier to justify war goals and form alliances with other Fascist powers. Communist nations might focus on spreading revolution and supporting communist uprisings abroad, with focuses often geared towards industrialization and internal purges. Democratic nations are generally more constrained in their aggressive actions due to low war support and stability but benefit from strong alliances with other democracies and can often rely on Lend-Lease. Non-Aligned nations have the most flexibility but often lack the inherent ideological drive or support for rapid mobilization. The chosen ideology dictates unique national focus trees, available advisors, and how other nations perceive and interact with you.; What are 'Trade Unions' and 'Strike Actions' in Hearts of Iron IV, and how do they influence industrial output and national stability?
Trade Unions and Strike Actions are mechanics that primarily affect industrial production and national stability, especially for democratic and some non-aligned nations. Trade Unions represent organized labor, and their strength can influence worker demands. High Trade Union strength can lead to increased national unity and potentially better working conditions, but it also increases the likelihood of 'Strike Actions'. A Strike Action temporarily halts production in affected factories, reducing industrial output and potentially lowering stability and war support. Players must balance the benefits of strong labor representation against the disruptive potential of strikes, often by negotiating or suppressing union activity through various national policies and advisors.

Patch Notes

7/6/26 (HOI IV - Open Beta Summer Edition™)
1.19.0.1 - 6/12/26 (Hotfix 1.19.0.1)
5/13/26 (HOI IV - Open Beta Update V)
1.18.1 - 4/29/26 (Peace For Our Time | Patch 1.18.1)
1.17.5.2 - 3/26/26 (Warships of the Pacific - Hotfix, 1.17.5.2)
1.17.5.1 - 3/19/26 (Warships of the Pacific - Hotfix, 1.17.5.1)
1.17.4.1 - 2/25/26 ((Very small) Hotfix - Patch 1.17.4.1)
1.17.1.1 - 11/27/25 (NCNS Patch 1.17.1.1)
1.17.1 - 11/26/25 (NCNS | Patch 1.17.1)
11/21/25 (No Compromise, No Surrender | Hotfix & Korean Localization)
3/20/25 (Studio Gold Update & Patch Notes for Operation Knee)
3/12/25 (Patch Notes | Operation HEAD, Checksum 48b7)
1.14.7 - 6/24/24 (Hotfix | Patch 1.14.7 Checksum: f03b)
1.14.3 - 3/21/24 (Steam Store Update | Patch 1.14.3 [Checksum 21DE])
1.13.6 - 12/12/23 (Stella Polaris | Patch 1.13.6)
1.13.4 - 10/19/23 (Stella Polaris | Patch 1.13.4 Changelog - Checksum 15a3)
1.13.3 - 10/12/23 (Stella Polaris Hotfix 1.13.3)
1.13.2 - 10/11/23 (Stella Polaris Hotfix 1.13.2)
10/9/23 (Arms Against Tyranny | Change Log)
1.12.14 - 5/23/23 (Patch 1.12.14 Medals Hotfix)
1.12.9 - 1/25/23 (1.12.9 Hotfix Patch)
1.12.4 - 10/18/22 (Avalanche 1.12.4 - By Blood Alone - Checksum f96e)
1.12.3 - 10/6/22 (Avalanche 1.12.3 - By Blood Alone - Checksum 6b16)
1.12.2 - 9/30/22 (Avalanche 1.12.2 - By Blood Alone - Checksum e45c)
1.12.1 - 9/27/22 (Avalanche 1.12.1 - By Blood Alone - Checksum 45c2)
1.11.13 - 8/23/22 (Barbarossa 1.11.13 - Nakama Crossplay - Checksum d173)
1.11.12 - 6/9/22 (Patch 1.11.12 "Barbarossa")
1.11.11 - 5/12/22 (Patch 1.11.11 "Barbarossa")
1.11.10 - 4/7/22 (Barbarossa Patch 1.11.10 - Checksum 09ac)
1.11.9 - 3/10/22 (Patch 1.11.9 "Barbarossa")
1.11.8 - 2/24/22 (Patch 1.11.8 "Barbarossa")
1.11.7 - 2/17/22 (Patch 1.11.7 "Barbarossa)
1.11.6 - 2/14/22 (Barbarossa Patch 1.11.6 - Checksum: 630e | LIVE | Patch Notes)
1.11.5 - 1/27/22 (Hearts of Iron IV: Barbarossa Patch 1.11.5 Notes)
1.11.4 - 12/14/21 (Hearts of Iron IV: Patch 1.11.4 - Barbarossa)
1.11.2 - 11/25/21 (Hotfix - Patch 1.11.2 - Armour Packs)
1.10.8 - 8/5/21 (Patch 1.10.8 - Multiplayer Hotfix)
1.10.7 - 6/3/21 (Patch 1.10.7 "Collie" - Hotfix)
1.10.6 - 6/2/21 (HOI4 5 Year Anniversary: Patch Notes | Patch 1.10.6 "Collie")
1.10.4 - 2/3/21 (Patch 1.10.4 - Multiplayer Security Fix)
1.10.3 - 11/26/20 (Patch 1.10.3 Changelog (Big Sur fix))
1.10.2 - 11/12/20 (Patch 1.10.2 - Changelog)
1.10 - 10/15/20 (1.10 'Collie' Update - Changelog)
1.9.3 - 6/4/20 (Patch 1.9.3 now Live: Balance and Bugfixing)
1.9.2 - 5/6/20 (Patch 1.9.2: Bugfixes and Balance)
1.9.1 - 4/8/20 (Patch 1.9.1: New Releasables, Art, Balance Tweaks and More!)
1.8.2 - 2/7/20 (Patch 1.8.2: Security Fix)
1.8.1 - 11/14/19 (Launcher Hotfix 1.8.1 LIVE)
11/12/19 (New Launcher on November 13th)
1.7.1 - 6/26/19 (1.7.1 "Hydra" now live!)
1.7 - 6/4/19 (1.7 Hydra Update is Live!)
1.6.2 - 4/3/19 (Patch 1.6.2 Ironclad is Live)
1.6.1 - 3/13/19 (Patch 1.6.1 Live Now!)
1.6 - 2/28/19 (Update 1.6: Ironclad is now live!)
1.4.2 - 8/16/17 (Hotfix 1.4.2 "Oak")
1.3.3 - 2/23/17 (Torch 1.3.3 patch [checksum: 2dd2] - LIVE now)
1.3.2 - 1/17/17 (Hotfix Patch 1.3.2 Live Now! [checksum e13a])
1.3.1 - 12/21/16 (Hotfix Patch 1.3.1 Live Now! [checksum: 8152])
1.3 - 12/15/16 (Patch 1.3 - Torch is live now!)
1.2 - 9/16/16 ("Sunflower" - Patch 1.2 - released!)
1.1 - 6/30/16 ("Red Ball Express" (1.1 Patch) Released! [checksum: 5d33])
6/13/16 (The Very First Patch is LIVE!)