Shiro Games Announces ‘Contract: The Fief’ DLC for Wartales

Indie studio Shiro Games will introduce a significant expansion to its tactical role-playing game, Wartales, with the release of “Contract: The Fief” this September. Scheduled for launch on Steam and GOG, the downloadable content allows players to establish and govern their own territory for the first time in the series.

The new mechanics empower players to make impactful choices concerning governance, infrastructure development, and societal structure within their burgeoning domain. Actions taken – whether characterized by compassionate leadership or strict authority – will directly influence the fief’s overall character and shape relations with neighboring regions. Players will progressively expand their control, constructing buildings designed to address the evolving needs of their populace.

As diverse factions emerge—including scholarly groups, influential nobles, commoners, and criminal organizations—their influence can sway the fief towards specialized paths such as militarization, economic prosperity, academic advancement, or clandestine operations. Balancing complex systems involving legal decrees, public sentiment management, resource allocation (food, security, comfort, education), and overall welfare will be central to gameplay. The expansion integrates seamlessly with Wartales’ established rest system, linking mercenary unit progression directly to the expanding narrative of their controlled realm.

“Contract: The Fief provides an enjoyable and dynamic long-term progression system that we know fans have been hoping for,” stated Game Director Quentin Lapeyre. “It ties directly into the rest system, allowing mercenaries to grow their domain without breaking the pace or spirit of the game.”

The DLC will be priced at $12.99 USD (€12.99 / £10.99). Shiro Games, based in Bordeaux, France, is recognized for its innovative contributions to strategy and RPG genres, with previous titles including Evoland, Northgard, Dune: Spice Wars, and the core Wartales game, which was fully released in April 2023 following a period of early access. The studio has steadily expanded Wartales through numerous content updates since its initial launch. The announcement was initially reported by GameDaily on August 7, 2025.