’83 – Early Access Launch Trailer

“Our vision for ‘83 has always been to deliver a large-scale tactical shooter that feels authentic to its Cold War setting, while remaining approachable for a wide range of players. From the weapons and uniforms to the pacing of combat, every detail is designed to ground the experience in realism without sacrificing playability. Launching into Early Access is a major milestone for us, as it allows players to step in, experience that vision firsthand, and help shape the game as it evolves,” said Tony Gillham, CEO at Blue Dot Games.

‘83 is available now in Steam Early Access, bringing players into large-scale Cold War combat with a strong focus on teamwork, coordination, and tactical decision-making.

Blue Dot Games are proud to reveal that their upcoming 40v40 squad-based tactical first-person shooter ‘83 is coming to Steam Early Access on April 23rd. 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 – Early Access Launch Trailer

“Our 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 Tony Gillham, CEO at Blue Dot Games. “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.”

‘83 Developer Tapes #7 – Commanders

In ‘83, every team has the option for a single Commander. These leaders spend the majority of their time in the overhead command view, controlling the battle like a real-time strategy game; managing squads, deploying abilities, and reading the flow of combat from above. As a Commander, your first order of business is to set up a command post, where you can see squad positions, objectives, enemy markers, and key updates in real time. Think of it as your war room, everything important flows through this interface. From here, you can send attack or defend orders, or place waypoints on the map telling your soldiers where to go. Furthermore, Commanders have a dedicated Commander VOIP channel, available only to them and squad leaders, which can be used to issue orders and plan strategy without the distraction of general team chatter.

In addition to issuing squad orders, Commanders can call in a variety of support options like artillery and rocket barrages to clear areas or suppress enemies, smoke shells to block enemy lines of sight, reconnaissance aircraft that reveal enemy positions from high altitude, or a reinforcement wave tool to call in an instant respawn for your whole team. Abilities cost resources like fuel or munitions and have cooldowns, so timing and prioritization are key. Ultimately, playing the Commander is about situational awareness, team coordination, and tactical decision-making. You influence the shape of the battlefield, direct the momentum of each push, and guide your team toward victory…or defeat.

Get more game information and wishlist ‘83 on Steam.

The new teaser highlights ‘83’s fast, visceral combat, featuring explosive engagements, authentic Cold War-era weaponry and tightly coordinated squad-based firefights. While ‘83 is known for its large-scale tactical battles, this latest footage puts a spotlight on the raw gunplay and chaos players can expect when firefights erupt across the battlefield.

’83 Steam PvP Fest Trailer

Set in an alternate 1983 where the Cold War escalates into open conflict, ‘83 is a spiritual successor to Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, with members of the original development team having gone on to form Blue Dot Games. The game blends historical authenticity with modern design sensibilities, aiming to deliver what the studio calls “accessible realism.”

Find out more about ’83 on Steam.

’83 Developer Tapes #6 – Game Modes

Frontlines is a dynamic two-way mode where players fight to control a linear sequence of objectives stretching across the map. Each team has a fortified home base on opposite ends of the battlefield, operating as primary spawn points for infantry and vehicles. As each team pushes their territorial control forward in real-time, it affects where their squad leaders and commanders can deploy spawn points. Should one of these fall behind enemy lines, it will be removed. Each team starts with a fixed number of respawn tickets, though roles like Squad Leaders or Commanders cost additional tickets. Once a team runs out of tickets, they can no longer respawn.

Each match begins with a team receiving an equal number of objectives that must be completed in a linear sequence, as they claim previously neutral territory. These objectives can branch out, however, allowing opportunities to siege strategic points creating flanking opportunities. Frontlines matches are time-limited, with fallback win conditions determining the outcome if neither team has completed their objective chain.

Assault offers a more focused, asymmetric experience, where one team attacks a series of objectives in a one-way push, while the opposing team defends, similar to the classic “Territories” mode from Rising Storm. Here, the match flows through a linear series of objectives, always starting at the attackers’ base and progressing toward the defenders. Unlike Frontlines, territory doesn’t shift back and forth, but rather once an objective is captured, it becomes locked for the round and the next objective activates.

There are two ways to determine win conditions in an Assault match. If a team runs out of respawn tickets and all their players are eliminated, they lose. If attackers run out of time, the defenders win – unless the final objective is actively contested, in which case the game goes into overtime. Combat continues until the contest is resolved. Assault is played over two rounds, with teams switching sides in the second half. Should each team win one round, a tiebreaker will be initiated.

Find out more about ’83 on Steam.

’83 Developer Tapes #5 – Community Feedback & Updates

Find out more about ’83 on Steam.

Watch the ‘83 Developer Tapes #4 – Maps Video HERE.

If there was ever a point where World War III was expected to start, it was West Germany’s Fulda Gap. This crucible of modern armoured warfare is where ’83 shows its scale. Soviet forces have launched a massive offensive across this key corridor, backed by tanks and artillery. Rolling hills, fortified towns, dense forests, and exposed plains create a dynamic combat space where NATO forces scramble to hold the line against the relentless Soviet advance.

In the far North a Norwegian Fjord offers a strategically vital flashpoint due to its proximity to Soviet naval bases and the Atlantic sea lanes. While Soviets aim to control sea lanes, project naval power, and cut off NATO reinforcement routes to Western Europe, NATO aims to preemptively lock down this critically contested territory. Gameplay here is defined by verticality and harsh terrain. Mountain passes, fortified bunkers set deep into the rock, and coastal facilities offer diverse tactical opportunities and demand flexibility from both attackers and defenders.

Finally there’s the massive Duga over-the-horizon missile detecting radar, known as the “Woodpecker”. In ‘83 this is a key command-and-control hub, integral to the Soviet early warning network. Gameplay here blends open woodland with dense interior fighting around the radar structures, mixing long sightlines with brutal close-quarters battles. It’s a map that favours stealth, surprise, and sabotage and rewards teams that can coordinate under pressure.

’83 is coming to Steam Early Access later this year.

Ahead of the festival, they are opening up the demo for a series of limited-time play sessions this week. This is your first opportunity to get hands-on with a pre-release build of ’83 and experience the core gameplay, factions, and mechanics before the event officially begins.

’83 – Official Steam Next Fest Demo Launch Trailer

To gain access to the ’83 Demo, navigate to the Steam store page and click “Download Demo”.

What is ’83?

’83 is a Cold War–gone–hot, combined-arms, first-person tactical shooter that pits two teams of players against each other in massive battles across sprawling maps, fighting over objectives designed to reward the team with better strategy, coordination, and teamwork to seize the day.

Designed with accessible realism for the most enjoyable experience that gets you to the action fast without losing that realistic feel and depiction of the true lethality of war.

‘83 Developer Tapes #2 – Factions

Each faction is based on years of research, utilising military archives, historical photographs, re-enactment groups, Cold War museums, and direct consultation with military history forums.

The US Army is built for structure, coordination, and precision. Utilising period appropriate weapons like M16A1, The M60 LMG, and the MP5SD, this army is designed for accurate fire and tactical versatility. US Special Forces bring even more specialisation, like shotguns tuned for close quarters combat. Their uniforms are standardised, with machined components, and plastics and polymers commonly utilised in weapons and gear; equipment that can be efficiently mass produced to adapt to the everturning tide of war. Adopt the strategies of fire discipline, coordination, and role-based tactics to emerge victorious.

Soviet forces are designed for relentless forward pressure, implementing iconic weaponry like the AK074, RPK-74, and the RPG-7. Deploy Soviet tactics in ‘83 using movement in numbers, with waves of infantry supported by armored vehicles, and overwhelming firepower. Donning repurposed uniforms of canvas and leather, the soviet battle fatigues reflects the resourcefulness of the Eastern Bloc and their reliance on repurposed stock from earlier decades. Blitz through your opponents’ defenses with offensive pressure and volume of fire.

‘83 was built on the idea of “accessible realism”, with an aim to make everything as realistic as possible, until the point where it stops being fun, then it gets ratcheted back one notch. Taking you to the action fast, matches average around 30-40 minutes, and whilst 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 organisation 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!

’83 is coming to Steam Early Access later this year.

Watch the ’83 – Cold War Gone Hot Trailer HERE.

This offers the first look at the Fulda Gap map. Set in Germany between the Hesse-Thuringian border, the Fulda Gap was a strategically important region during the Cold War, as its two narrow corridors of lowlands offered the Warsaw Pact a potential path for its tanks to initiate a surprise attack. That makes it the perfect playground to enact this invasion that very well could have been. ‘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.

Join a core group of community members currently helping shape ’83 behind the scenes. Sign up today at the games official website to become an Alpha Tester.