IL-2 Sturmovik Roadmap Details Bomber Expansion and 2027 Plans

1C Game Studios has released Dev Blog #86, providing a detailed roadmap for the IL-2 Sturmovik series covering the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027. The announcement clarifies upcoming content for both the Korea and Great Battles titles, with a particular focus on the technical challenges associated with introducing player-controlled bombers. For simulation users, the most significant shift is the confirmed debut of multi-crew aircraft in the Great Battles series, a feature that has been requested since the release of earlier expansions featuring AI-only twin-engine planes.

Great Battles: The Bomber Expansion

The primary highlight of the 2027 roadmap is the Bombers expansion for IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles. This title marks the series debut of player-controlled multi-crew bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The development team describes this as one of the riskiest expansions they have created for the series due to the substantial increase in production complexity.

The technical workload for bombers is significantly higher than for single-seat fighters. According to the studio, a bomber requires four to five times as much work on the cockpit, which is the most complex part of the aircraft’s visual model. The exterior modeling also demands roughly twice the effort of a fighter. The studio notes that a bomber’s engine nacelle alone is comparable in complexity and detail density to the entire forward fuselage of a single-engine aircraft.

This expansion addresses a long-standing community request. During the development of Operation Bodenplatte and Battle of Normandy, the team included two AI-controlled twin-engine medium bombers: the B-25 Mitchell and the B-26B Marauder. At that time, players asked if these aircraft could ever become available for player control. The studio responded that it might be possible in the future, a promise now being fulfilled with the Bombers expansion. While the specific aircraft included in this first expansion are not listed in the current blog post, the focus is on establishing the framework for multi-crew gameplay.

Korea: Training and Carrier Operations

The roadmap for IL-2 Sturmovik: Korea includes several key updates scheduled for the end of 2026. The game will receive a training mode and multiplayer leaderboards, adding structured progression and competitive tracking for players. Additionally, development of the Odessa and Leningrad: Siege and Liberation expansion will conclude by the end of 2026.

Looking ahead to Q1 2027, the Deck Ops expansion will be released for Korea. This update introduces carrier-based operations, featuring five new carrier-based aircraft and an Essex-class aircraft carrier. The addition of carrier mechanics expands the tactical scope of the Korea title, moving beyond land-based airfields to naval aviation scenarios.

Collector Aircraft and Availability

In the first half of 2027, the Great Battles series will also see the addition of two collector planes: the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-39Q Airacobra. These additions follow the release of the three major expansions planned for 2027, with Bombers being the first.

All upcoming expansions will be available on the official IL-2 website and on Steam. The studio has not yet provided exact Early Access or full release dates for these titles, stating that specific dates will be announced later. The roadmap follows the same format as previous updates, providing a clear overview of the development pipeline for the coming year.

Technical Implications for Simulation Users

The introduction of player-controlled multi-crew aircraft represents a significant technical milestone for the IL-2 series. The increased complexity of cockpit modeling and exterior detail density suggests a higher level of fidelity in the visual representation of these aircraft. For users interested in historical accuracy, the shift from AI-controlled to player-controlled bombers allows for more detailed interaction with the aircraft’s systems and flight characteristics.

The Deck Ops expansion for Korea also expands the simulation’s scope by including carrier-based operations. The inclusion of an Essex-class aircraft carrier and five specific carrier-based aircraft indicates a focus on naval aviation tactics, which may require different flight modeling considerations compared to land-based operations.

While the studio has emphasized the difficulty and cost of developing these features, the roadmap provides a concrete timeline for when these changes will be implemented. Users can expect the Bombers expansion to be the first of three major updates for Great Battles in 2027, followed by the collector planes and additional expansions. The exact release dates remain to be determined, but the general sequence of development is now clearly outlined.