Iron Brigade

Lore & Background

Iron Brigade is set in an alternate history shortly after the end of World War I. A strange radio communication known as 'the Broadcast' is sent across the world, killing many who hear it. Two war veterans, Frank Woodruff and Vladimir Farnsworth, survive and gain super-intelligence and advanced technological knowledge. Frank, who lost his legs in the war, designs mechanical walking platforms called 'mobile trenches' to give disabled soldiers mobility. Vladimir creates the Monovision, a device that lets people experience the world from home, but he is driven insane by his own invention. He constructs Monovision-based robotic creatures called 'Tubes' to spread the Broadcast and lay Monovision cables across the globe. Frank's Mobile Trench Brigade leads the counterattack. After defeating Vladimir's forces, it is revealed that the Monovision's influence has left Vladimir's body like that of a newborn baby while retaining his head and intellect. The origin of the Broadcast remains unclear, but Frank states the Mobile Trench Brigade will be ready if it ever rises again.

The game's development originated from Double Fine's 'Amnesia Fortnight' period in 2009–2010, when the team was divided into four groups to create game prototypes in two weeks. Iron Brigade was the first game directed by Brad Muir. The art style was inspired by men's magazines of the 1940s and '50s, which project lead Brad Muir described as illustrating 'the sense of adventure, bravery, camaraderie, drinking, and good old-fashioned face-punching violence.' The game was announced at the 2011 Game Developers Conference by Tim Schafer. Originally released in North America as Trenched, the European release was delayed due to a trademark conflict with a Portuguese board game called 'Trench,' owned by Rui Alípio Monteiro. The game was retitled Iron Brigade for Europe and later updated worldwide via a patch, which also added new game modes, weapons, and extras at no additional cost.

Reader's Guide

Iron Brigade is significant as one of the four games that emerged from Double Fine's 'Amnesia Fortnight' prototyping period, a creative initiative that helped sustain the studio after the publisher declined a sequel to Brütal Legend. The game's hybrid gameplay—mixing tower defense, third-person shooting, and role-playing elements—was considered innovative for its time, allowing players to customize their mecha-style 'trench' with different hulls, weapons, and deployable Emplacements. Its cooperative play for up to four players and progression system similar to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, where new gear unlocks as players gain levels, contributed to its lasting appeal. The game received mostly positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 82. The downloadable content Rise of the Martian Bear, released on February 1, 2012, continued the story with Vladimir Farnsworth transferring his consciousness into his pet bear. In May 2015, Double Fine acquired the rights to Iron Brigade from Microsoft, allowing them to replace Games for Windows Live with Steamworks on the Windows version. Microsoft later regained publishing rights by acquiring Double Fine Productions in 2019. The game's legacy includes its distinctive art style, its role in Double Fine's pivot to downloadable titles, and its cult following among fans of hybrid shooters.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally titled Trenched in North America but was renamed Iron Brigade worldwide due to a trademark conflict with a Portuguese board game called 'Trench.'
• The art style was inspired by men's magazines from the 1940s and 1950s.
• The Rise of the Martian Bear DLC features Vladimir Farnsworth transferring his consciousness into his pet bear.
• Double Fine acquired the rights to Iron Brigade from Microsoft in May 2015, allowing them to remove Games for Windows Live from the Windows version.