STEAMDB NEXUS

Steam app 2647680 · updated 12 Sep 2026, 19:24 UTC

ICBM: Escalation

ICBM: Escalation is a grand RTS where you command armies, develop cutting-edge tech, and wield devastating weapons. Conquer enemies with conventional forces or nuclear firepower. With new modes like Standoff and Conquest, the game offers deep strategic layers in a global warfare setting.

ICBM: Escalation Steam header artwork
SoftWarWareSlitherine Ltd.
112playing now
12624-hour peak
1,364all-time peak
79average, last 30 days

The last 30 days

−5.1Gain−6.09%% gain153Peak

718 hourly samples, with the daily peak drawn over them. Weekends are shaded.

0418312416513 Aug18 Aug23 Aug28 Aug02 Sep07 Sep12 SepThursday 13 August 202691 peakFriday 14 August 2026104 peakSaturday 15 August 2026126 peakSunday 16 August 2026153 peakMonday 17 August 2026122 peakTuesday 18 August 2026103 peakWednesday 19 August 2026104 peakThursday 20 August 2026119 peakFriday 21 August 2026122 peakSaturday 22 August 2026137 peakSunday 23 August 2026140 peakMonday 24 August 2026103 peakTuesday 25 August 2026107 peakWednesday 26 August 202690 peakThursday 27 August 202694 peakFriday 28 August 2026117 peakSaturday 29 August 2026140 peakSunday 30 August 2026134 peakMonday 31 August 202687 peakTuesday 01 September 202687 peakWednesday 02 September 202689 peakThursday 03 September 202695 peakFriday 04 September 2026110 peakSaturday 05 September 2026135 peakSunday 06 September 2026121 peakMonday 07 September 2026123 peakTuesday 08 September 2026102 peakWednesday 09 September 2026125 peakThursday 10 September 202686 peakFriday 11 September 2026100 peakSaturday 12 September 2026126 peak
Daily peakEvery hourly sample

All time

23 months, November 2024 to September 2026. The highest number of people in the game at once, each month, on a time axis -- a gap in the record stays a gap.

03687371k1kNov 2024Feb 2025May 2025Aug 2025Nov 2025Feb 2026May 2026Aug 2026November 20241,364 monthly peakDecember 2024714 monthly peakJanuary 2025306 monthly peakFebruary 2025242 monthly peakMarch 2025225 monthly peakApril 2025167 monthly peakMay 2025218 monthly peakJune 2025260 monthly peakJuly 2025295 monthly peakAugust 2025209 monthly peakSeptember 2025212 monthly peakOctober 2025235 monthly peakNovember 2025192 monthly peakDecember 2025166 monthly peakJanuary 2026291 monthly peakFebruary 2026246 monthly peakMarch 2026232 monthly peakApril 2026251 monthly peakMay 2026308 monthly peakJune 2026216 monthly peakJuly 2026192 monthly peakAugust 2026162 monthly peakSeptember 2026135 monthly peak
Monthly peak

The last four months

Show:

The highest number of people in the game at once, each month. Four, because four is as far back as the source keeps anything finer than one figure a month.

052104156207July 2026August 2026September 2026October 2026July 2026192 peak — daily detail belowAugust 2026162 peak — hourly detail belowSeptember 2026135 peak — hourly detail below
Monthly peakHas finer data

July 2026

31 days, each one the highest figure that day. The source keeps no hourly detail this far back. Weekends are shaded.

05210415620701 Jul06 Jul11 Jul16 Jul21 Jul26 Jul31 JulWednesday 01 July 2026161 peakThursday 02 July 2026151 peakFriday 03 July 2026164 peakSaturday 04 July 2026181 peakSunday 05 July 2026189 peakMonday 06 July 2026165 peakTuesday 07 July 2026141 peakWednesday 08 July 2026128 peakThursday 09 July 2026140 peakFriday 10 July 2026131 peakSaturday 11 July 2026172 peakSunday 12 July 2026159 peakMonday 13 July 2026132 peakTuesday 14 July 2026119 peakWednesday 15 July 2026125 peakThursday 16 July 2026119 peakFriday 17 July 2026124 peakSaturday 18 July 2026133 peakSunday 19 July 2026131 peakMonday 20 July 2026117 peakTuesday 21 July 2026108 peakWednesday 22 July 2026130 peakThursday 23 July 2026144 peakFriday 24 July 2026149 peakSaturday 25 July 2026192 peakSunday 26 July 2026176 peakMonday 27 July 2026161 peakTuesday 28 July 2026144 peakWednesday 29 July 2026145 peakThursday 30 July 2026147 peakFriday 31 July 2026143 peak

August 2026

31 days as the curve, each the highest figure that day. Behind it, 437 hourly samples from 13 Aug, which is as far back as the source keeps every hour. Weekends are shaded.

0448713117501 Aug06 Aug11 Aug16 Aug21 Aug26 Aug31 AugSaturday 01 August 2026162 peakSunday 02 August 2026158 peakMonday 03 August 2026115 peakTuesday 04 August 2026107 peakWednesday 05 August 2026116 peakThursday 06 August 2026110 peakFriday 07 August 2026134 peakSaturday 08 August 2026155 peakSunday 09 August 2026152 peakMonday 10 August 2026119 peakTuesday 11 August 2026105 peakWednesday 12 August 202694 peakThursday 13 August 202691 peakFriday 14 August 2026104 peakSaturday 15 August 2026126 peakSunday 16 August 2026153 peakMonday 17 August 2026122 peakTuesday 18 August 2026103 peakWednesday 19 August 2026104 peakThursday 20 August 2026119 peakFriday 21 August 2026122 peakSaturday 22 August 2026137 peakSunday 23 August 2026140 peakMonday 24 August 2026103 peakTuesday 25 August 2026107 peakWednesday 26 August 202690 peakThursday 27 August 202694 peakFriday 28 August 2026117 peakSaturday 29 August 2026140 peakSunday 30 August 2026134 peakMonday 31 August 202687 peak

September 2026

12 days as the curve, each the highest figure that day. Behind it, 281 hourly samples. Each dip is a night. Weekends are shaded.

0367310914601 Sep03 Sep05 Sep07 Sep09 Sep11 SepTuesday 01 September 202687 peakWednesday 02 September 202689 peakThursday 03 September 202695 peakFriday 04 September 2026110 peakSaturday 05 September 2026135 peakSunday 06 September 2026121 peakMonday 07 September 2026123 peakTuesday 08 September 2026102 peakWednesday 09 September 2026125 peakThursday 10 September 202686 peakFriday 11 September 2026100 peakSaturday 12 September 2026126 peak

October 2026

ICBM: Escalation was released on 21 Nov, 2024.

Not out yet.There is nothing to draw for this month.
Nothing here is interpolated or estimated; where a sample is missing the line is broken.

Game information

Updated 12 Sep 2026, 19:24 UTC
App ID
2647680
Last updated
10 Aug 2026 build 24649765
Developer
SoftWarWare
Publisher
Slitherine Ltd.
Release date
21 Nov, 2024
Platforms
Windows
Download size
7.72 GB
Install size
9.12 GB
Genres
Strategy
Game modes
Single-player, Multi-player, PvP, Online PvP, Co-op, Online Co-op
Controller support
Unknown
Achievements
82

Features & support

Steam features

Steam AchievementsFamily Sharing

Controllers & input

Accessibility

Popular tags

WargamePvPRTSGrand StrategySingleplayerMultiplayerStrategyTop-DownCold WarManagementPsychological HorrorMilitaryWarDestructionModernCo-opOnline Co-OpActionFuturisticFemale Protagonist
About this gameFull description from Steam
ICBM: Escalation is a grand RTS game that plunges players into the high-stakes world of global warfare, where every decision could tip the balance between survival and annihilation. Command vast armies, develop cutting-edge technology, and wield the most devastating weapons ever created to ensure your faction’s supremacy. Whether by conventional forces or through nuclear firepower, you’ll need to conquer or obliterate your enemies to secure dominance in a volatile global arena. CONVENTIONAL & NUCLEAR WARFARE Take charge of a continent-spanning faction and build up an unstoppable military force. Construct a nuclear stockpile, research groundbreaking tech, and deploy a combination of nuclear submarines, strategic bombers, and intercontinental ballistic missiles to cripple your adversaries. But nuclear warfare is not the only path to victory. ICBM: Escalation introduces new victory conditions that emphasize conventional warfare, allowing players to invade enemy territory, weaken their resources, and force their surrender through tactical superiority. The two new modes, Standoff and Conquest, add fresh layers of strategy and pacing compared to the high-speed Blitz Mode, which returns as the most similar mode to the original ICBM. RESEARCH & DIPLOMACY Progress through multiple technological eras, from early Cold War advancements to near-future innovations, including stealth warships and space-based weapon systems. The revamped diplomacy system adds new layers of intrigue, allowing players to form research agreements, negotiate ceasefires, and broker deals over captured territories. World-spanning diplomatic measures, such as international treaties banning specific weapons, offer fresh strategic possibilities that can reshape the course of global conflict. MULTIPLE GAME MODES ICBM: Escalation offers a variety of modes that cater to different playstyles. Standoff mode delivers a balanced escalation from conventional skirmishes to full-scale nuclear war, while Conquest mode emphasizes long-term strategy, brinkmanship, and tactical mastery. For players seeking faster-paced action, Blitz Mode focuses on direct, rapid nuclear confrontation, staying true to the spirit of its predecessor. The game also features a rich single-player campaign that spans decades of history, beginning with the Korean War and leading into speculative future scenarios where your decisions shape the outcome of global conflict. In multiplayer, face off against up to 10 players, competing for dominance in a highly competitive environment with rankings and ELO systems. KEY FEATURES A deadly mix of conventional and nuclear warfare High replayability with diverse strategies and unit options Devastating weapons of mass destruction, including chemical bombs and MIRVs A detailed 3D map featuring hundreds of cities and strategic targets Dynamic diplomacy, allowing players to shape the world order Multiplayer mode supporting up to 10 players with ranked competitive play Single-player campaign with historic and futuristic missions Full modding support for community-created content
Content & age ratings2 regional ratings

Regional ratings

DEJUS6
IGRS3Interaksi Daring
System requirementsMinimum and recommended hardware

Minimum

Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: 64-bit Windows 10/11 Processor: 4-core CPU Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: GPU GTX 970 DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 8 GB available space Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

Recommended

Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: 64-bit Windows 10/11 Processor: 8-core CPU Memory: 16 GB RAM Graphics: GPU GTX 1060 DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 8 GB available space Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

macOS

Minimum: Recommended:

Linux

Minimum: Recommended:
Supported languages7 languages
LanguageFull audio
English
French
Italian
German
Spanish - Spain
Simplified Chinese
Russian

A blank audio cell means full audio was not marked in the returned language list.

Screenshots & trailersScreenshots and trailers

Trailers

AchievementsTotal count and selected achievements

82 achievements in total.

Show selected achievements (may contain spoilers)
School's OutAchievement
The Punishment DueAchievement
TrustAchievement
Peace Sells...Achievement
...But Who's BuyingAchievement
Shadow of DeathAchievement
A Tout le MondeAchievement
Rust in PeaceAchievement
Countdown to ExtinctionAchievement
We'll Be Back!Achievement

View all Steam achievements

50 developer announcements, Mar 2024 to Sep 2026 · times in UTC

September

  1. Assassin's Mace | Dev Diary and Release date

    Hi everyone! We’ve been continuing to work on ICBM: Escalation and now that the major AI update is out, we’ve been making small fixes and improvements where we can, but our attention has been mainly focused on our new upcoming DLC. As you…

    Death

August

  1. [EDIT] Update 1.1.4 – Improvements, AI Freeze Fix and Clarification on DRM

    EDITWe've released a hotfix (1.1.4b):Fixed incorrect video memory detection on startup -------------------------------------------- Update 1.1.4 is now available for ICBM: Escalation.Alongside the latest gameplay improvements and fixes…

    Death

July

  1. ICBM: Escalation - Assassin's Mace | DLC Revealed

    We’re excited to reveal Assassin's Mace, the next DLC for ICBM: Escalation.Assassin's Mace follows the rise of the People's Republic of China from the aftermath of World War II to its emergence as a global superpower. Lead China through…

    Death

June

  1. Update 1.1.3 — New Beta — AI Rework Next Steps

    Hi everyone, a new update for ICBM: Escalation is out now. It focuses on AI behavior, QoL improvements, fixes and more.1.1.3: Fixed the extreme performance drop caused by helicopters hanging on top of the army baseFixed the AI factions…

    Death

May

  1. AI Rework Release + S.N.A.R.E. Campaign free content

    AI ReworkThe team fully reworked the game’s AI. This is a fundamental overhaul, heavily driven by community feedback and incorporating many player-suggested tactics and improvements.The new AI is more strategic, adaptive, and less…

    Death

April

  1. AI Rework - Beta Progress and Update #5

    Hello everyone, here’s the next iteration of the Beta AI. This update focuses primarily on fine-tuning existing systems rather than introducing entirely new mechanics.Nuclear Escalation BalancingOne of the biggest challenges for the new AI…

    Death

March

  1. AI Rework - Beta Progress and Update #4

    The open beta is now approaching the point where the majority of the planned features have been implemented and are ready for testing.Beta 5 introduces several important improvements to the AI.Smarter Defensive PlanningFirst, the AI is now…

    Death
  2. AI Rework - Beta Progress and Update #3

    What’s New in Beta 4Hi everyone,We’re releasing a new Beta, and this update focuses mainly on bug fixes and expanding the nuclear component of the game.The general idea behind the Conquest game mode is that conflicts should evolve over…

    Death

February

  1. AI Rework - Beta Progress and Update #2

    What’s New in Beta 3Beta 3 is finally ready. This update primarily focuses on optimization and general improvements based on your feedback.Originally, the plan was to emphasize the “nuclear” aspect of the game more heavily. However…

    Death
  2. AI Rework - Beta Progress and Update

    Big thank you to everyone who participated in Beta 1, and especially to those who sent in saved games to illustrate different issues. Saved games are extremely important for us - they’re often the only way to truly see and understand what’s…

    Death

January

  1. AI Rework - Open Beta + Dev Diary #5

    The AI Rework is getting closer to release and is finally ready for an extensive multi-week testing phase.If you’d like to help us test and refine the AI ahead of the final release, please follow these steps: Here are the standard steps to…

    Death
  2. AI Rework - Dev Diary #4

    AI SteamrollingAs discussed in the previous diary, the original AI did not actively prioritize territorial expansion. As a result, it was often perceived as passive. For human players, opportunities to invade undefended or weakly defended…

    Death

November

  1. United States of Annihilation - Out Now + 1.1.1 Update and 25th Anniversary

    United States of Annihilation is officially out now for $6.99. Step into a bold alternate history where the United States pursues global dominance from 1949 to 2042, navigating international crises, covert operations, and nuclear escalation…

    Death
  2. AI Rework - Dev Diary #3

    Smarter Wars – Rebuilding the AI for Conventional ConflictOne of the biggest changes in the new AI is how it handles the distribution of its assets.As I’ve mentioned before, the original AI was designed primarily for all-out nuclear war. It…

    Death
  3. Price adjustment for Poland

    Hi everyone, We’ve got a small but meaningful update to share, we’ve just introduced a custom price for Poland. We know how important fair regional pricing is for our community, so starting today, ICBM: Escalation will be available at a new…

    Death
  4. AI Rework - Dev Diary #2

    Let’s dig deeper into the new AI features and examine how the AI handles regions protected by SAMs and ABMs. Remember: the original AI was tuned for all-out nuclear war, where aircraft were treated as expendable — you’d usually fly a…

    Death

October

  1. AI Rework - Dev Diary #1

    Hi everyone!In today’s diary, we’d like to share a closer look at Conquest Mode. What it was originally meant to be, what challenges we’ve seen with the current implementation, and the big changes we’re working on to bring it closer to that…

    Death

September

  1. United States of Annihilation - Dev Diary #1

    Hi everyone!If you’ve been following the news on ICBM: Escalation, you’ve probably heard that there’s a second DLC in the works! The new DLC, aptly named ‘The United States of Annihilation’ focuses on the United States. Now, anyone who’s…

    Death
  2. United States of Annihilation - Announcement + Beta

    We’re excited to reveal United States of Annihilation, the next DLC for ICBM: Escalation. This new campaign explores an alternate history where the United States rises from WWII determined to impose its will on the entire world.The DLC is…

    Death

August

  1. Update 1.1.0 & 1.1.0a

    the developers have fixed the issues that occurred with the previous update, so the changelog for version 1.1.0 is now validated. The latest update is version 1.1.0a, and you can find its changelog below: 1.1.0a Fixed the excessive…

    Patch notes

June

  1. How to Win | Video #2

    We've just released the second episode of How to Win, a video series for ICBM: Escalation that explores different strategies to help you complete key missions from the single-player campaign. In each episode, we'll walk you through one…

    Death
  2. Endless October - Give us your Feedback

    Endless October has officially launched, and we hope you're enjoying your time commanding the Soviet Union through decades of alternate history. As always, your feedback is crucial to helping us refine and improve both the gameplay and the…

    Death
  3. Update v1.0.9

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535540/ICBM_Escalation__Endless_October/ Hi everyone, a brand new update for ICBM: Escalation is here. It focuses on fixing a multiplayer issue, along with various balancing adjustments and bug fixes for…

    Death

May

  1. Endless October Out Now

    The Cold War never ended. The Soviet Union never fell. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535540/ICBM_Escalation__Endless_October/ Endless October, the new DLC for ICBM: Escalation, is available now for $6.99. In this alternate history…

    Death
  2. Endless October - Preview Stream and Release Date reveal

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535540/ICBM_Escalation__Endless_October/ We’re excited to invite you to a special live preview of the upcoming ICBM: Escalation DLC, Endless October, streaming on May 24 at 20:00 UK time on our official…

    Death
  3. How to Win - Video #1

    https://store.steampowered.com/app/2647680/ICBM_Escalation/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535540/ICBM_Escalation__Endless_October/ We’ve just launched the first episode of How to Win, a new video series for ICBM: Escalation that…

    Death
  4. Update v1.0.7c

    Hi everyone, We've just released a small update to fix some bugs that were spotted after the previous update. Here is the changelog: 1.0.7c Fixed multirole attackers not keeping distance to the target Fixed a potential crash in events…

    Patch notes

April

  1. Update v1.0.7b

    Hi everyone, a brand new update for ICBM: Escalation is here. This latest patch introduces a lot of QoL improvements, AI changes and a lot of bug fixes. Here is the changelog: 1.0.7b Fixed torpedo trajectories and launch distance Fixed…

    Death
  2. Endless October - Dev Diary #1

    Hi everyone! We just announced the first DLC for ICBM: Escalation! Now, you’re probably wondering what’s inside, and what it means for the future of ICBM. So, in this dev diary, we’ll talk a little bit about what we have in store for the…

    Death
  3. Endless October | Announcement

    What if the Cold War never ended and the Soviet Union never fell? https://store.steampowered.com/app/3535540/ICBM_Escalation__Endless_October/ We’re thrilled to officially announce Endless October, the first major DLC for ICBM: Escalation.…

    Death

February

  1. Update v1.0.6 & v1.0.6a

    EDIT: We've just released a hotfix to address a few last-minute bugs reported after the latest update. v.1.0.6a - Fixed the mouse not scrolling map at the screen border in the time control area - Fixed a potential crash when drawing…

    Death

January

  1. What If Video #4 | Precision or Destruction?

    A brand-new "What If" scenario has been revealed for ICBM: Escalation. This time, tensions rise between India and China, as a buildup of Chinese forces and nuclear missiles near the Tibetan plateau threatens regional stability. Players will…

    Death
  2. Update v1.0.5 and v1.0.5.a

    EDIT We've just released a hotfix to address a few critical issues from the previous update. v1.0.5a Fixed a crash in Diplomacy when command bunker is built Resolved an issue where Mission 6 could not be completed Fixed a crash that…

    Death
  3. ICBM: Escalation Soundtrack - Now Available

    Immerse yourself in the tension and intensity of global thermonuclear warfare with the ICBM: Escalation Soundtrack Pack. Featuring a curated selection of original tracks that capture the game’s high-stakes atmosphere, this pack lets you…

    Death

December

  1. Update v1.0.4

    The update 1.0.4 is now available. Here below you can find the full changelog: Fixed a crash on hosting machine in multiplayer when a game lasts more than 20 minutes without pausing Added conditional research strategy mechanics for AI…

    Death
  2. Update v1.0.3

    The update 1.0.3 is now available. Here below you can find the full changelog: We are actively working on improving the AI, with some changes already included in this patch and more coming in the next one. Fixed Tutorial 11 Fixed ABMs…

    Death

November

  1. Update v.1.0.2

    Hi everyone, Thank you for your incredible support and enthusiasm for ICBM: Escalation. We're thrilled to see so many of you diving into the game, exploring its new mechanics, and reshaping the fate of nations. Your passion and feedback…

    Death
  2. ICBM: Escalation - Out Now

    The wait is finally over. ICBM: Escalation, the expanded and enhanced version of the acclaimed global strategy game, is out now. With deeper mechanics, new scenarios, and advanced technologies, this release gives players even more tools to…

    Death
  3. ICBM: Escalation - Rimmy Plays the First Campaign Mission

    Rimmy is diving into the first mission of the ICBM: Escalation campaign, titled "...And Into The Fire." Set during the Korean War in 1950, this mission takes you to a tense era of conflict, strategy, and high-stakes decisions. Watch as…

    Death
  4. ICBM: Escalation - Live Multiplayer Match

    Commanders, To celebrate the upcoming launch of ICBM: Escalation, we’re hosting a special Standoff multiplayer match, streamed and commented live on our Twitch channel. This exciting event will feature some of our trusted beta testers…

    Death
  5. Dev Diary 10 - Playing your way

    Hi everyone. The release date for ICBM: Escalation is right around the corner. We’ve got one last dev diary to tide you over before the big day. This time, we’re going to be talking about all the ways you can tailor the game to your…

    Death
  6. What If Video #2 - Cuban Missile Crisis

    With the release date of ICBM: Escalation just around the corner, the latest What If video takes players back to a moment that nearly changed history: the Cuban Missile Crisis. This new scenario explores two possible outcomes, the…

    Death

October

  1. What If Video #1 and Release Date Reveal

    Players, the wait is almost over. We are thrilled to announce the official release date for ICBM: Escalation. Mark your calendars for November 21st, 2024 when you’ll be able to dive into the full experience of global warfare and strategic…

    Death
  2. Dev Diary 9 - The War Room

    Hi everyone! In this dev diary, we’re going to be talking about something that might feel familiar to anyone who’s played the original ICBM. For all the grizzled veterans in the audience, you probably remember the Strike Planner. Well, it’s…

    Death

September

  1. Get Your Portrait in the Game

    Hey everyone, if you’re looking to leave a mark on the world that isn’t a radioactive crater, we need portraits for politicians and military commanders in ICBM: Escalation, and we want YOU. If you’re interested in making an appearance…

    Death

July

  1. Beta Feedback #2

    "Dear Presidents, Thank you for gathering here today. I am pleased to present to you the latest developments in our strategic project, ICBM: Escalation. This discussion will highlight the significant advancements our dedicated team of…

    Death
  2. Dev Diary 8 - Campaign Mode

    Hi everyone! This dev diary is going to be covering something that seems to have garnered a lot of interest ever since it was first mentioned, and now that we’re far enough into development that it’s starting to bear some fruit, we think…

    Death

May

  1. Dev Diary 7 - World Immersion

    Hi everyone! As you probably know, ICBM: Escalation is all about conquering and/or destroying the world. Usually these dev diaries talk about all the tools you’ll have at your disposal to do that or the mechanics of how they work, but we’ve…

    Death

April

  1. Beta Feedback #1

    Hi everyone! You might remember that our last update was announcing that we’ve started beta testing. Now that we’ve had some time to let the beta run, we think it’s worth sharing how it’s been going! As expected, there’s been a lot of…

    Death

March

  1. The Beta has begun + Dev Diary 6

    Hi everyone! In this dev diary, we’re going to be talking about our first beta! It’s just landed on Steam and we’re super excited to show off what we’ve been working on! To start, we’re going to be working with a relatively small group of…

    Death

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