Paradox Interactive has opened an open beta for a Hearts of Iron IV energy rework. The new system introduces electricity as a real local resource with a country-level power pool. Power demand comes from production line power draw, while supply comes from factories and Power Plants. The ratio between supply and demand drives a factory energy buff or debuff.
How Power Plants and energy supply work
Power Plants are a new upgradeable state-level building. Players can build up to 3 levels of Power Plants in a single state, and output depends on the state’s terrain, oil, and dams. Dockyards, civilian factories, and military factories now generate some power. Dams now matter for power generation, dam types were reassigned, and new massive dams were added.
Coal is only burned when needed. Oil now also impacts energy generation, and oil states boost Power Plants with oil providing a +30 energy source. Paradox decided to keep oil focused on fueling the army and coal on fueling industry. The rework was first teased in a dev corner the week before, where Paradox said it was not planned for any expansion but could arrive as a future “war effort” free update. Coal had been added in the free update alongside the “No Compromise, No Surrender” expansion, but its effects were nerfed to the point of not mattering.
Balancing, research, and open beta feedback
Spare power now grants a surplus bonus. Two new MIO policies were added: Electrified Assembly reduces the power cost of production, while Power Rationing increases it. New research lets players gain more energy from plants, and the Hydrogen-Cooled Generators technology raises total energy production by 10 percent. Power Plants are more susceptible to strategic bombing, but maintaining enough spare capacity lets them repair faster.
Smaller countries are expected to specialize. Paradox said Hungary switching to War Economy must invest in Power Plants first. Production lines now have an energy cost with a tooltip breakdown by category for air, naval, and land. The Synthetic Refinery now draws a constant 5 energy. The open beta is not translated and contains no new art assets, and Paradox asked players to try it and share feedback on balancing. The studio also recently shipped the Stellaris 4.5 Cygnus update, which brought more than 350 fixes to its sci-fi grand strategy game.
