Hearts of Iron IV is getting an early look at a future Romania-focused DLC, with foreign cooperation serving as the foundation for several political routes. The August 18, 2026, preview appeared in a new Steam Dev Corner post from modders Alex, Norrman, and Marijn211, who are now cooperating with Paradox.
The content is still unfinished, and the developers are specifically asking players for feedback before the plans are locked in. The preview follows recent Dev Corner discussions about other core systems, including the civilian economy discussion.
Romania’s diplomacy can pull in different directions
Romania begins the 1936 scenario on friendly terms with France and Poland, even though its position during World War II later changed after the country’s dictatorship was overthrown in 1944 and Romania assisted the Allies.
The planned International Cooperation mechanic will connect the country’s political branches. Focuses can change which nations Romania works with, and the system may allow cooperation with countries that are otherwise strongly opposed to one another. Certain focuses will also unlock decisions tied to those relationships.
One previewed example is the Polish-Romanian Alliance. Its decision can call on the two countries to join one another’s defensive wars along the eastern frontier, provided the conflict lines up with a border against the Soviet Union.
Military industry and economic policy get new branches
Romania’s military industry was almost nonexistent in 1936 but expanded quickly, giving the army branch several ways to build up domestic production. The preview asks whether players would rather capitalize on Romania’s existing strengths or commit more heavily to industrialization.
Visible focuses include Invest in the Resita Group, Diversify MALAXA, Expand American Cooperation, and Study Foreign Tank Designs. Other choices move toward domestic tank production, synthetic rubber, and technical education.
Economic choices are also part of the wider tree. Focuses such as Finalize Tax Reforms, Tariff Enforcement, Breadbasket of Europe, and Balkan Industrialist point toward different ways of developing Romania’s economy.
Romania’s political future has several competing routes
The political branches cover more than a single authoritarian outcome. One route references a Romanian version of Carlism, with focuses including Secure Power in State and Purge the Carlists. Another path can lead to Romanian Axis Membership, while the Codreanu branches include Sideline Codreanu, Codreanu Ascendant, A Legionary Balkan State, and The Cornerstone of the Balkans.
The communist route offers its own split. Romania can build support gradually, form a coalition with agrarian parties, or move toward a three-way civil war. The preview includes focuses called Form a Coalition with the Agrarian Parties, The People’s Revolution, Liberate the Prison Faction, and Purge the Prison Faction.
Paradox and the contributing modders plan to share more of the Romania content later. Until then, tell us which diplomatic or political route you would choose in the comments, and follow along on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Hearts of Iron
Developed by Paradox Development Studio
Hearts of Iron is the first ever World War II PC game of true Grand Strategic scope. The game map spans the entire world and allows players to take part in any front they choose. You can play any nation in the world, but the game focuses on the epic struggle between the great alliances of the world orders - Fascism, Communism and Democracy.
- Genre Strategy
- Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Perspective Bird view / Isometric
- Modes Single player
- Release December 29, 2002
- Publisher Strategy First
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Age Rating
