On September 3, Qinggan Studio officially launched the new official MOD "Three Kingdoms: Shu Han Legend" for their AI-native game "Historical Simulator: Chongzhen." In an industry accustomed to releasing sequels when IPs get hot and selling paid DLCs when themes trend, this team did something different: they turned "Three Kingdoms," a theme ingrained in national memory, into a free MOD with no barriers and no cost, while the base game had already become free. Many players remarked that this felt "like charity," but the development team described it as a "gift back to the community."
No sequel after "Chongzhen," but giving away new themes for free
This isn't the first time the team has acted "unconventionally." From Chongzhen in the chaotic late Ming Dynasty, to the Roman Emperor Severus who ascended the throne young amidst powerful enemies, and now to the Three Kingdoms' Ji Han, "Historical Simulator: Chongzhen" did not follow the industry norm of releasing paid sequels or large DLCs. Instead, they created entirely new historical worlds as official MODs, offering them to players for free.
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The significance of the Three Kingdoms MOD goes beyond just a new scenario. The development team stated that "Three Kingdoms: Shu Han Legend" is "another step in exploration following the base game going free-to-play and the free MOD 'Rome: Severus,' responding to player expectations while paving the way for a more mature Creative Workshop system." The same AI-driven historical simulation engine has shifted from the late Ming Dynasty to Rome, and now to the Three Kingdoms—the theme changes, but the underlying simulation framework remains intact. This itself serves as a demonstration for future creators: the historical sandbox can accommodate any era.
"Three Kingdoms: Shu Han Legend": The fleeting glory of Ji Han, rewritten by players
Let's turn back time to the 19th year of Jian'an (214 AD). That was the year Liu Bei initially secured Yi Province, controlling both Jing and Yi with an abundance of civil and military talent. Shu Han was at its most spirited beginning—yet this was also the starting point of its slide into crisis: the cold snow of Linju, the blood moon of Langzhong, and the flames of Yiling were all in the near future. If Chongzhen represents "a crumbling mansion" and Severus "surrounded by crises," then Shu Han is "good times hard to keep." Beneath the prosperity, disaster had already taken root. Whether players' edicts can rewrite the ending is the question left by the AI simulation for everyone.
(Gameplay Video: AI Simulation Offers Endless Imagination for Players)
To support this historical period, the MOD has been reconstructed on multiple levels:
• Map and Factions: Inherits the geopolitical framework of the thirteen provinces of the Eastern Han, stretching from the dangerous passes of Sichuan in the west to the eastern seas, north to the Mongolian steppes and Liaodong, and south to the coastal regions and Nanyue. Beyond Cao Wei, Sun Wu, and Shu Han, over ten factions including Zhang Lu, the Gongsun clan, Xianbei, Western Qiang, Samhan, Yizhou, and Wa compete for dominance. The map features new terrain coloring, faction colors, and faction banners, making territorial changes visible at a glance.
• Court and National Policies: Four major factions—the old Jingzhou staff, Dongzhou aristocrats, Yizhou powerful clans, and surrendered civil and military officials—are intricately intertwined. National policies continue to follow the four pillars of administration, military, scholarship, and politics, introducing mutually exclusive policy gameplay. A new "Resolution System" triggers only at specific turn milestones or upon occupying key cities, allowing a single decision to directly alter national strength and subsequent simulations.
• Military and Finance: Combat returns to the cold weapon era—land forces include light and heavy cavalry, shield and spear infantry, archers, militia, and catapults; naval forces feature tower ships, mengchong assault vessels, and battle ships arrayed in formation. Over twenty elite troops join the game, including Shu Han's Bai'er Sharp Soldiers, Cao Wei's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Sun Wu's Chariot Tigers, and Jiangdong's naval fleet. Finance strictly follows Han systems: currency reverts to the Wu Zhu coins of the Han Dynasties, with distinct laws for head tax, labor tax, poll tax, state monopolies on salt and iron, market rents, and mountain/marsh taxes. When the treasury is critical, players can use financial resolutions to mint devalued large coins—solving immediate problems but potentially drinking poison to quench thirst.
Additionally, the MOD features exquisite character portraits for over a hundred historical ministers, with unified optimizations for UI and art, striving to ensure every character and item reflects the spirit of Ji Han.
Base game is free, plus 1500 points: Now is the perfect time to join
Experiencing this history is simple: open the official Steam page for "Historical Simulator: Chongzhen," go to the Creative Workshop, find the official MOD "Three Kingdoms: Shu Han Legend," and click download to immerse yourself in the winds and clouds of Ji Han.
Regarding costs, the base game is already free on Steam, and the official MOD is also free. To allow more new players to join without burden, the limited-time event [New Players Receive 1500 Points Upon Joining], originally scheduled to end on August 31, has been extended to October 31—for players观望ing AI-native games, this is a rare low-cost trial window.
About "Historical Simulator: Chongzhen"
"Historical Simulator: Chongzhen" is an AI-native historical strategy game that launched on Steam on May 8, 2026, and became free-to-play on June 25. Players write edicts in natural language, and the AI simulates the consequences of each command across the court, local regions, the front lines, and the timeline. The base game is free and supports custom API integration; the official MODs "Rome: Severus" and "Three Kingdoms: Shu Han Legend" are also available for players to experience for free.
In the vast landscape of the Three Kingdoms, you might protect Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, solidify the foundations of Jing and Yi, resist the nine provinces, or restore the Han Dynasty. So-called "charity" ultimately means returning the choice to rewrite history to the players. Starting September 3, both the base game and the Three Kingdoms MOD are free—it's time for players who wish to restore the Han Dynasty to enter the game!