Rumors have been circulating for a while, but today Sega and Creative Assembly officially announced Total War: Pharaoh. As the name implies, this latest history-based Total War game will focus on Ancient Egypt and some of the other empires in the region during that era. It’s an interesting choice, as Ancient Egypt is, of course, iconic, but not necessarily known for a lot of famous military campaigns. But hey, there’s no such thing as an empire without wars, so I’m sure there’s still plenty of fodder for a good Total War game. You can check out a teaser trailer (which in an… interesting… choice mostly focuses on a scarab rolling a ball of dung) below.

　　While we haven’t seen any gameplay yet, it sounds like Total War: Pharaoh will be a somewhat stripped-down experience compared to some other recent Total War titles. The focus this time around seems to be on more dynamic battles, which can be affected by weather and fires, and a greater ability to customize your campaigns in granular detail. Here’s a bit more detail about Total War: Pharaoh’s Egyptian setting.

　　“There are few periods more iconic than Ancient Egypt; fraught with political intrigue, cataclysmic events and grand war campaigns, it's the perfect setting for a Total War title. As Pharaoh, you must save Egypt from the cusp of destruction and guide your people through the calamitous Bronze-Age collapse. It is up to you to either survive or fade into history.

　　The Pharaoh is dead, and the people of Egypt, Canaan, and the Hittite empire cry out for a new leader. Many desire the power of the throne, but the path to becoming Pharaoh is a perilous one. As the leader of these great nations, you must overcome societal collapse, face natural disasters and fight to protect your people against invaders from far off lands.

　　With a choice of eight Faction Leaders from three rich cultural hubs, step into their unique playstyles and take charge of deadly and diverse unit rosters. Whether you’re charming the courts as a peerless diplomat, charging into battle as an unwavering commander or causing chaos as a fearless warlord, become a leader that history will remember.”

　　Meanwhile, here’s a breakdown of the cultures and factions you’ll be able to play as in the game…

　　Egyptian: Ramesses, Seti, Tausret, and AmenmesseCanaanite: Bay and IrsuHittite: Kurunta and SuppiluliumaTotal War: Pharaoh launches on PC (including Steam this time) sometime in October of this year. What do you think? Ready for this latest round of Total War? Pre-orders are open now.