Cold War-era first-person shooter ’83 will launch in Early Access for PC via Steam on April 23, developer Blue Dot Games announced.
The Early Access release will ship with three maps and two separate game modes per map, as well as two factions, each with tank and jeep vehicles, and over a dozen weapons per faction. Most major gameplay systems are in place, including commander and squad leader functionality. A full release is planned for mid-to-late 2027.
“ur motto for ’83 was ‘accessible realism,’ where everything—from the uniforms to the specific sounds of and animations of firing each gun—is thoroughly researched to create a historically accurate shooter, yet we still want the game to be fun to play, with merciful respawn times,” said Blue Dot Games CEO Tony Gillham in a press release. “Don’t let the accessibility fool you; while anyone can pick up ’83 and have a good time, teams will still need to communicate and perform their role well to seize a victory. ’83 carves out specific Commander and Squad Leader roles for veterans to guide their squad, while rookies can learn the ropes from the front lines until they know the game well enough.”
Here is an overview of the game, via Blue Dot Games:
Set in an alternate 1983 where the Cold War escalated into an all-out warzone, ‘83 is a spiritual successor to Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, with members of the original dev team founding Blue Dot Games. To commemorate the Early Access release date reveal, Blue Dot Games has unleashed a new trailer offering an extended look at its launch trailer debuted during the Galaxies Showcase today.
‘83 puts players in the boots of a soldier in this shadow history, wherein massive 40v40 matches feature authentic Cold War-era weapons, vehicles and squad-based objectives. Coordinate with teammates, capture critical points and dominate the battlefield with smart tactics and teamwork.
‘83 was built on the idea of “accessible realism”, where the game is mindful of players’ time, while also offering an accurate portrayal of how a historical battle could play out. Matches average around 30 to 40 minutes, while dying only takes you out of the match for a short while, before allowing you to respawn. Don’t underestimate this seemingly low-stakes penalty, as that time-out is enough to turn the tide of battle since ‘83 requires thorough communication and teamwork, with Team Commanders guiding their faction through strategic organization and nail-biting calls.
Players can choose from a variety of roles: from frontline riflemen to vehicle operators and support units – each with their own loadouts and strategic value. ‘83 features era-authentic weapons and equipment with realistic handling and lethality, with each armament meticulously designed and animated according to its real life counterpart. Every weapon behaves in a realistic way, with barrels and suppressors overheating when rapid firing, machineguns require a stable surface for accuracy, and bullets don’t magically teleport in between magazines when you reload a half-empty one. ‘83‘s focus on realism, coordination and large-scale immersion offers players a gritty, boots-on-the-ground experience in a world teetering on the edge of nuclear war!
Watch a new trailer below.