Paradox Interactive has unveiled Hearts of Iron IV: No Compromise, No Surrender, a substantial Asia‑Pacific expansion that places China, Japan, the Philippines, and their neighbors at the center of the global conflict. Arriving 20th of November 2025, the pack introduces fully fleshed national focus trees for multiple Asian powers, a reworked doctrines system for theater‑specific military planning, deeper faction controls that give players finer leverage over allies and client states, and meaningful naval enhancements that shift the strategic weight of carrier and fleet operations; watch the trailer here:
The expansion also delivers a range of quality‑of‑life improvements and new gameplay systems; Naval Special Projects, updated carrier mechanics, and clearer faction objectives; designed to streamline long campaigns and reward long‑term strategic planning. No Compromise, No Surrender broadens both historical fidelity and alternate‑history possibilities, inviting players to reshape the Pacific theater with fresh tactical tools and political levers.
What’s New
• Japan Focus Tree
Seize control of the Pacific with branching historical and alternate history paths that let you pursue continental conquest, naval supremacy, or ideological reinvention; each route offers unique strategic rewards, political choices, and long‑term consequences that reshape regional power dynamics.
• Communist China Focus Tree
Lead a revolutionary movement into statehood by balancing guerrilla warfare, political consolidation, and external threats; navigate factional rivalries, secure territories, and transform an insurgent force into a disciplined, modern army with distinct national advantages.
• Nationalist China Focus Tree
Reforge a fractured republic by subduing warlords, centralizing authority, and choosing between defensive survival or calculated expansion; strategic diplomacy, infrastructure priorities, and military modernization drive paths toward national renewal or regional influence.
• Philippines Focus Tree
Defend island sovereignty and exploit regional opportunities with new national goals that emphasize resource control, asymmetric defense, and diplomatic maneuvering; pursue full independence, form pragmatic alliances, or leverage foreign support to shape your strategic future.
• New Military Doctrines and Doctrines System Rework
Overhaul how you organize and fight by adopting fresh doctrine trees and deeper mechanics that allow theater‑specific specialization; tailor land, air, and naval doctrines to force composition and objectives to gain decisive advantages on chosen fronts.
• Expanded Factions System
Gain finer control over allies and puppet states with revamped Faction Rules, clearer goal definition, and tools for coercion, influence, and coordination that make alliance management a meaningful layer of grand strategy.
• Naval Enhancements and Naval Special Projects
Elevate maritime strategy with improved carrier mechanics, new naval special projects, and sea‑control investments that turn oceans into dynamic theaters of war; prioritize shipbuilding, logistic
Expansion Pass 2 Overview
• Seaplane Tenders Instant Unlock: Receive immediate access to distinctive seaplane tender unit art for Japan, Australia, and the United States, letting you field evocative support vessels and reshape early Pacific naval tactics from day one.
• No Compromise, No Surrender: The full Asia‑Pacific expansion that adds deep new focus trees for Japan, Nationalist and Communist China, the Philippines, reworked doctrines, expanded faction controls, naval special projects, and theatre‑specific systems to rewrite the Pacific war.
• Warships of the Pacific Cosmetic Pack: Aesthetic unit art for destroyers, cruisers, and battleships spanning multiple nations, offering visually striking fleet options that enhance immersion without changing core balance.
• Thunder at Our Gates Theater Pack: A theater expansion centered on Australia, Siam, and Indonesia that introduces campaign‑level features such as military headquarters, navy captains, and localized mechanics to deepen regional strategic play.
• Peace for Our Time Focus Pack: A community‑collaborated focus pack for Czechoslovakia that adds alternate history branches, enabling divergent political trajectories from lone democracy to socialist revolution or a revived Bohemian kingdom.
Pricing and Availability
• No Compromise, No Surrender: $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99
Releases 20th of November 2025; adds the full Asia‑Pacific expansion with new focus trees, doctrine rework, naval projects, and expanded faction systems.
• Hearts of Iron IV Expansion Pass 2: $48.77 / £40.99 / €48.77
Available now; includes an instant cosmetic unit pack on purchase plus No Compromise, No Surrender, the Warships of the Pacific cosmetic pack, Thunder at Our Gates theater content, and the community‑made Peace for Our Time focus pack.
• Where to Buy
Both the expansion and the Expansion Pass 2 are sold via Paradox platforms and all major digital storefronts for PC, including Steam and other authorized retailers.
Final Takeaway
No Compromise, No Surrender broadens Hearts of Iron IV’s strategic canvas by making the Asia‑Pacific theater a true focal point of grand strategy. The expansion delivers layered national narratives, deeper faction diplomacy, and theater‑specific military systems that turn regional campaigns into long, consequential contests of logistics, politics, and force composition. New focus trees and political branches give each nation distinct strategic personalities; the reworked doctrine and naval systems reward careful planning and adaptation; and expanded faction controls make alliance management a tactically rich endeavor. For players who savor alternate histories, meticulous micromanagement, and bold strategic gambits, this pack opens fresh pathways to reshape mid‑century geopolitics and replay the Pacific conflict with entirely new outcomes.
Key Takeaways
• Launch Platforms: Hearts of Iron IV: No Compromise, No Surrender is available on PC via Steam, the Paradox Store, and other authorized digital retailers, with Expansion Pass 2 (including the instant Seaplane Tenders unlock and bundled packs) available now across the same storefronts.
• Pricing and Release: No Compromise, No Surrender launches 20th of November 2025 at $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99; Expansion Pass 2 is available now at $48.77 / £40.99 / €48.77.
• Asia‑Pacific Focus: No Compromise, No Surrender shifts Hearts of Iron IV’s spotlight to the Pacific theater, making regional conflicts and strategies central to gameplay.
• New National Focus Trees: Deep, distinct trees for Japan, Communist China, Nationalist China, and the Philippines deliver rich historical and alternate history pathways.
• Doctrines Overhaul: A reworked doctrines system and new military doctrine options enable theater‑specific force specialization and strategic diversity.
• Stronger Faction Control: Expanded Faction Rules and clearer alliance objectives give players greater influence over allies, puppets, and coalition goals.
• Naval Strategy Enhanced: Improved carrier mechanics, Naval Special Projects, and new sea‑control tools elevate naval warfare as a decisive component of Pacific campaigns.
• Expansion Pass 2 Bundle: The expansion is included in Expansion Pass 2, which also features instant Seaplane Tender art, Warships of the Pacific cosmetics, Thunder at Our Gates theater content, and a community‑made Czechoslovakia focus pack.
• Replay and Alternate History: The pack prioritizes replayability and divergent outcomes, offering new levers for players who enjoy crafting alternate mid‑century geopolitics.
• Campaign Depth and Long‑Term Play: Emphasis on logistics, political maneuvering, and long‑term planning rewards strategic players aiming for regional mastery.
• Who Should Play: Ideal for grand strategy veterans, alternate‑history enthusiasts, and players who want deeper political and naval mechanics in Hearts of Iron IV.
Game Information:
Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Platforms: PC (reviewed)
Release Date: June 6, 2016
Latest Update: November 20, 2025
Score: 9.0 / 10
A definitive expansion that transforms Hearts of Iron IV’s Asia‑Pacific experience with meticulously designed national narratives, a robust doctrine rework, and naval systems that reward strategic mastery. It consistently inspires new strategies and alternate histories while feeling polished and essential.