Referred to as both a "sequel" and "expansion pack" by 1C Company in today's announcement, Assault Squad brings a new cooperative skirmish mode to the series along with the ability to play as Japan, "increased realism and accessibility" said to deliver "an intense new WW2 spectacle with almost limitless replayability."

In all, players will be able to take control of five different national armies, specifically those of Russia, Germany, USA, Commonwealth, and Japan, with players able to "maneuver units using the directional keys, rather than pointing and clicking."

For a taste of the strategy series, hit up FileShack for demos of both Men of War and its first standalone expansion-sequel Men of War: Red Tide. For more on Assault Squad, simply read on--you'll find 1C's breakdown of the expansion just below:

What makes the new skirmish game mode so unique?

• Different historical settings and battlegrounds for every nation will ensure that each time players will face a different variety of enemies and tactics.
• Unique hero units for every nation with powerful abilities such as increasing units' firepower, boosting morale or providing other advantages to defeat the enemy against all odds.
• Fantastic bonus abilities such as remote controlled bombs that can flatten entire residential blocks, airstrikes able to destroy incoming tank columns, special "For the Motherland!" charge attacks and many more.
• Improved and dynamic AI ensures that no two games will play out the same way, making each battle a new experience against an AI that really fights back.
• Choose from a variety of scenario locations ranging from Western Europe, to Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Pacific.
• The ability to play this impressive game mode with up to four friends in LAN or cooperative online play.

New features:

• New multiplayer maps and game settings
• Improved multiplayer balancing to provide a more authentic use of equipment and vehicles
• Overhauled infantry squads and the ability to buy individual soldiers to suit players' needs
• More realistic weapon behavior and penetration values
• A reworked artillery system that provides innovative assault and defense strategies
• New types of ammunition that increase the depth of tank combat