First-Person Shooters

Good news reaches the trenches!

Joyous news for the troops in the trenches; the official launch date for Verdun is set on the 28 th of April 2015! During the Steam Early Access, the developers have taken the time to perfect the game. By listening to the community’s desires the game has grown into a unique FPS with a lot of historical depth, something the developers have always strived for.

The constant development and releases of updates have created a close and dedicated community that the developers can be proud of. The most notable improvements are; the introduction of the dreadful and iconic gas weapon combined with a claustrophobic gas-mask experience, the introduction of new troops, realistic maps such as the swampy Flanders map and the Artois map, and the Unity 5 engine upgrade which was a big improvement on performance and stability. Of this and more, a ‘Verdun – Development progress’ trailer has been released.

Find out more about Verdun at the games official website.

By Ryan McCaffrey, IGN

Much to my chagrin, Rainbow Six: Siege went completely dark following its jaw-dropping, IGN Best of Show-winning E3 2014 reveal. So to say I was excited to see it again after a nine-month wait is an understatement. And after getting to spend several hours with the upcoming closed alpha build on PC, my enthusiasm for the tense, tactical, trash-everything first-person shooter has not diminished. But I have a few concerns as well.

Read on…

Bohemia Interactive today released the second developer diary about the upcoming Arma 3 Marksmen DLC.

While the first developer diary explored the new weapons and free platform features, this new developer diary takes a closer look at the new showcase scenarios, training courses and firing drills, Virtual Garage, the new End Game multiplayer mode, and some of the experimental multiplayer systems.

The Arma 3 Marksmen DLC includes seven new weapons, two scopes, remote designators, ghillie suits, firing drills, and the Marksmen showcase scenario. The DLC will be accompanied by a major platform update, which will be free for all people who own Arma 3. The supporting update will introduce weapon resting and deployment, improved recoil simulation, improved AI suppression, various sound enhancements, a new multiplayer mode and showcase scenario, suppressor and bipod weapon attachments, heavy and grenadier vests, nine additional face paints, and Virtual Garage.

For more information about Arma 3, please visit the games official website.

Be a part of The Revolution.

Source: IGN

In an effort to increase the diversity in their in-game world of occupied Philadelphia, Deep Silver Dambuster Studios is accepting applications from the public to be scanned and modeled as non-player characters (NPCs).

Those interested can submit photos via the studio’s official website. According to the terms and conditions, one must be at least 18 years old and able to travel to Nottingham in the UK for the 30-minute facial scanning process.

The developer will be contacting applicants throughout the year and reassures people to not become upset if they don’t hear back right away. It’s possible these scans will also be used in the studio’s prospective projects, as a note on the site clearly states they’re “looking for new faces to feature in Homefront: The Revolution and other future video games.”

Homefront: The Revolution is a follow-up to the 2011 FPS Homefront and is expected to release sometime in 2016. It was recently delayed when development shifted over to Deep Silver Dambuster Studio and given extra time.

To provide a more in-depth perspective on development, Bohemia Interactive today released the first of a two-part series of developer diaries about the upcoming Arma 3 Marksmen DLC.

Exploring the new weapons and supporting platform features, in the video. Arma 3′s Creative Director Jay Crowe, Project Lead Joris-Jan van ’t Land, and Encoding Lead Petr Kolar discuss the vision behind the Marksmen DLC, its development process, and the contribution it makes to the Arma 3 sandbox.

In the next developer diary, members of the Arma 3 development team will discuss the new End Game multiplayer mode, showcase scenarios, firing drills, training courses, as well as the Virtual Garage feature, which will all be shipped alongside the Marksmen DLC.

The Arma 3 Marksmen DLC consists of seven new weapons, two scopes, remote designators, ghillie suits, firing drills, and the Marksmen showcase scenario. The DLC will be accompanied by a major platform update, which will be free for all people who own Arma 3. The supporting update will introduce weapon resting and deployment, improved recoil simulation, improved AI suppression, various sound enhancements, a new multiplayer mode and showcase scenario, suppressor and bipod weapon attachments, heavy and grenadier vests, nine additional face paints, and Virtual Garage. The Marksmen DLC, and the supporting platform update, will be released on April 8th 2015.

More information on the Marksmen DLC, and supporting platform update, can be found here. A more in-depth explanation of Bohemia Interactive’s approach to DLC for Arma 3, and how it prevents a split in the game’s multiplayer community between those who own DLC and those who do not, is available in a previously released dev blog.

Fire seven brand new weapons, supported by new content and features

Bohemia Interactive today announced the official release date for the upcoming Arma 3 downloadable content pack, Arma 3 Marksmen. Flexing its guns on April 8th, the Marksmen DLC looks to build upon Arma 3‘s infantry experience by adding new premium weapons, attachments, and gear. Alongside the new DLC, Bohemia Interactive will also release a major platform update, which implements a new multiplayer mode, training courses and showcase scenario, plus several much-anticipated platform features related to weapon handling (#bipods) and sound.

Serving as the backbone of the Marksmen DLC are the seven new weapons. Among these are five marksman rifles, namely the Cyrus 9.3 mm, MAR-10 .338, Mk-I EMR 7.62 mm, Mk14 7.62 mm, and ASP-1 Kir. The other two weapons are the SPMG .338 and Navid 9.3 mm medium machine guns. The weapons will be complemented by the AMS and Kahlia medium range scopes. There will also be new ghillie suits for the NATO, CSAT, and AAF factions to provide camouflage for various terrain types. Furthermore, the Marksmen DLC will add two Remote Designators, which can be used to spot and laser designate targets from afar. Those who want to hone their shooting skills can pay a visit to the shooting range for brand new firing drills, or go on a reconnaissance mission in the Marksmen showcase scenario.

Overall, the Marksmen DLC aims to redefine what it means to fire a weapon in Arma 3. This idea will be reinforced by a major upcoming platform update, that will be released alongside the Marksmen DLC, and will be free to everyone who owns Arma 3. Besides new playable content and major upgrades to weapon handling, this update will include suppressor and bipod weapon attachments, as well as nine new types of face paint, and three new heavy and grenadier vests designed specifically for improved explosive shielding and ballistic protection.

In terms of playable content, the aforementioned platform update will deliver a brand new multiplayer mode called End Game. Here, two teams compete to locate and secure valuable schematics. On top of this new multiplayer mode, the update will also include the Firing From Vehicles showcase scenario, as well as new VR training courses, objects for content creators, and a brand new set of Steam achievements.

With regards to platform features, the upcoming Arma 3 update will introduce weapon resting and weapon deployment – which have been on the list of most requested features by the Arma 3 community. Weapon resting means that players will benefit from an accuracy bonus whenever they are near a stable surface, while weapon deployment will enable players to use bipods for a more steady shot. Together with improvements made to the simulation of recoil, and improvements to enemy AI suppression, this should provide a more tactical, intuitive, and rich experience to the players of Arma 3. Finally, the new platform update will make significant upgrades to sound by adding more sound samples and new sound technology. These improvements should enhance the immersion and contribute to gameplay by providing players with a better situational awareness.

To round out the Marksmen DLC package and the supporting platform update, Bohemia Interactive will be expanding Arma 3’s existing Virtual Arsenal feature with Virtual Garage. This means players will not only be able to preview soldiers, weapons, and gear, and create custom loadouts for their characters, but also examine and customize the extensive collection of vehicles in Arma 3. In addition, the new update will open up Virtual Arsenal so that people will be able to try out all of Arma 3’s premium weapons, vehicles, and other DLC content, without restrictions – even if they do not own the DLC. A more in-depth explanation of Bohemia Interactive’s approach to DLC for Arma 3, and how it prevents a split in the game’s multiplayer community between those who own DLC and those who do not, can be found in the studio’s previously released blog.

The Arma 3 Marksmen DLC will be available from April 8th for 12.99 EUR/10.99 GBP/15.99 USD on Steam and Store.bistudio.com. People can already purchase the Arma 3 DLC Bundle, which includes the Arma 3 Karts, Arma 3 Helicopters, and the upcoming Marksmen DLC, for 19.99 EUR/16.99 GBP/24.99 USD – saving them more than 25% over buying the DLC packs separately.

For more information about Arma 3, please visit www.arma3.com.

Take the Fight to the Streets in this New Take on Battlefield Built on Strategy, Speed and Story in a Cops versus Criminals World

Visceral Games, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio, today announced that Battlefield Hardline is now available in North America in retail stores and for digital download on Origin for PC, the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. Battlefield Hardline delivers the ultimate cops and criminals, blockbuster, action fantasy delivered through a world-class multiplayer experience that fans have come to love from the Battlefield franchise and an all-new episodic single player campaign inspired by modern TV crime dramas. The game is already receiving great critical praise as USA Today says that, “it’s a fascinating direction for the Battlefield series” and IGN says it’s “fast and furious.”

Powered by the award-winning Frostbite 3 game engine, Battlefield Hardline delivers a stylish and fresh new approach to the critically-acclaimed franchise as players experience both sides of the law in a crime-fueled, cops and criminals showdown. Unfolding on the gritty and glamorous streets of Los Angeles and Miami, Battlefield Hardline ushers in an all-new era for Battlefield fans with inspired new game modes, like Hotwire and Heist, new weaponry, vehicles, and gadgets for players to take down the opposition their own way. From police choppers to muscle cars, ziplines to stun guns, Battlefield Hardline lets gamers choose their approach in jaw-dropping and chaotic urban warfare.

Get more information about Battlefield Hardline at the games official website.

THE FRONT LINE, 1945 – Rebellion are calling all new recruits and seasoned vets to team up, reload and move out as Zombie Army Trilogy launches today.

Available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, Zombie Army Trilogy marks the apocalyptic conclusion of the cult shooter series, swelling the re-animated ranks with two eye-popping remasters and summoning an all-new brand of horror in a blood-curdling third chapter. Joining the collection is a brand new Horde mode, new enemies, a new cast of player characters and of course, a demonic zombie Führer.

Check out the launch trailer HERE.

PC players are able to get four copies for the price of three with an exclusive Steam 4-pack, or up to 60% off if they own any of the first two Nazi Zombie Army games via Steam (offer ends April 3rd, normal price £29.99 / $44.99 / 41,99 €)

Stop by the official website, www.ZombieArmy.com for more game information.

Standalone Prequel to the Award-Winning Game Wolfenstein: The New Order Available From May 5, 2015

Bethesda, a ZeniMax Media company, today announced Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, the standalone prequel to the critically-acclaimed first-person action-adventure shooter, Wolfenstein: The New Order. In development at MachineGames, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood will be available digitally and in retail for £14.99 / €19.99 / AUD$39.95 from May 5, 2015 for the PlayStation®4 system and PC, and digital only for the Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The year is 1946 and the Nazis are on the brink of winning World War II. In an effort to turn the tide in the Allies’ favour, B.J. Blazkowicz must embark on an epic, two-part mission deep within Bavaria. Part one of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood – Rudi Jäger and the Den of Wolves – pits BJ Blazkowicz against a maniacal prison warden as he breaks into Castle Wolfenstein in an attempt to steal the coordinates to General Deathshead’s compound. In part two – The Dark Secrets of Helga Von Schabbs – our hero’s search for the coordinates leads him to the city of Wulfburg where an obsessed Nazi archaeologist is exhuming mysterious artefacts that threaten to unleash a dark and ancient power.

“Diving back into the world of Wolfenstein has really been fun for us,” said Jerk Gustafsson, executive producer at MachineGames. “We’ve enjoyed exploring the events leading up to The New Order. We think fans will really enjoy the story, all the action and, of course, jumping back into the combat with new weapons.”

Wolfenstein: The New Order, released in May 2014, enjoyed worldwide critical and commercial success with over 75 Game of the Year awards, and was hailed by The New York Times as “one of the very best releases of the year.”

To view the first gameplay trailer and first released screenshots from Wolfenstein: The Old Blood visit: www.wolfenstein.com.

This Saturday March 7th, starting at 17:00 UTC, Bohemia Interactive will be hosting an exclusive First Look Livestream for its upcoming Arma 3 Marksmen DLC.

Straight from Bohemia Interactive HQ in Prague, members of the Arma 3 development team will be showcasing the seven new DLC weapons – alongside much anticipated new features, such as Virtual Garage, weapon resting and bipods, the improved simulation of recoil and suppression, and various enhancements to sound. The session is expected to be about one and a half hour, and will be streamed to the official Arma 3 channel on Twitch.

“After many months of hard work, we’re excited to finally present the upcoming Marksmen DLC to Arma 3 fans. There’s a lot to show. We have seven new weapons, new showcase scenarios, a feature called Virtual Garage, a brand new multiplayer mode – and not to forget, major free platform features, such as weapon resting and deployment, which have been on the community wishlist for a long time. We hope to see all of you joining us for the livestream this Saturday!”, said Matt Lightfoot, Associate Producer at Bohemia Interactive.

For more game information, please visit the official Arma 3 Website.