IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover

Did You Know?

• The game features a multiplayer mode supporting up to 128 players as well as AI-controlled aircraft.
• The cockpits are fully modelled in 3D, and many switches can be operated with the mouse.
• The damage modelling system models the airframe, engine, cooling systems, and control systems, applying damage to the correct part when hit.

Development and release

The game was initially called Storm of War: Battle of Britain and planned for a November 2006 release. In January 2011, Ubisoft revealed the current name and a release date of 25 March 2011. During development, the aerobatic Sukhoi Su-26 was promised as a bonus flyable aircraft but was not included at launch; it was later added as free downloadable content with the Steam patch 1.11.20362 on 19 October 2012. In October 2012, 1C:Maddox Games announced it would not continue supporting the title, as development had fallen short of original goals. A planned Moscow theater was abandoned, and 1C Company instead developed IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad with a new engine, making Cliffs of Dover the second generation in the series.

Distribution at release and collector's edition

The game was distributed on an installation DVD in a standard keep case, sold through retail shops, chain stores, and online sellers. A Collector's Edition boxed set included the same DVD plus a spiral-bound manual, a facsimile of a 1940 British Spitfire manual, and a 50 cm x 50 cm water-repellent fabric map of the English Channel.

Team Fusion Simulations modding and official development

After official development ceased, the community modding team Team Fusion stabilized and enhanced the game with patches. On 21 December 2016, 1C Game Studios agreed to cooperate with Team Fusion Simulations, granting access to the source code. An improved version, IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover - Blitz, was released in December 2017, with original owners receiving free access. The first official add-on, Desert Wings – Tobruk, set in North Africa from 1940 to 1942, was released on 6 August 2020. A third add-on, Fortresses and Focke - Wulfs-Dieppe, covering 1941–1942 and including the Dieppe Raid, is in development.

Modelled aircraft in the game

The original release included over 30 aircraft, with more than 15 flyable and 15 AI-controlled. Team Fusion later added flyable aircraft such as the Bf 109 E-1 and Bf 109 E-4. The 2017 Blitz rerelease increased the total to 48 player-flyable aircraft and 16 AI-controlled planes. The Desert Wings – Tobruk add-on added 40 new flyable types and variants, including Italian, French, and American planes, plus nine new campaigns. The upcoming Fortresses and Focke-Wulfs - Dieppe add-on will add 18 new flyable planes and variants, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Hawker Typhoon, P-51A, and B-17.