Welcome, operator! Join Thunder, an elite international special operations team tasked with saving the world from terrorist organisations who threaten global security.

Thunder Tier One is a top-down real-time tactical shooter that lets you play as tier one operator in a 10-mission story driven single player campaign across various scenarios, as well as quick modes such as Terrorist Hunt. Set in the early nineties, players must combine leadership and tactical skills, and use military equipment to create an efficient war machine.

However, the true essence of the game is to be experienced in multiplayer, which features 4-player co-op mode and PVP modes, Death Match and Advance & Secure.

The Thunder Tier One concept was first conceived of in 2016, by PlayerUknown’s Battlegrounds' Head of Action and Gunplay Unit Pawel Smolewski, who began working on the game as a personal project with a small independent teamfragOut Studio. In early 2020, Smolewski pitched the game to Krafton, Inc.  who recognised its potential and agreed to help introduce Thunder Tier One to a wider audience. The original independent team of developers have since been working under the Krafton, Inc. umbrella.

On its full release, the game will also be accessible to modding, allowing fans to create their own modes, weapons and missions which they can share with the wider Thunder Tier One community.

Commenting on Thunder Tier One, Pawel Smolewski said: “We’re thankful to our community for their encouragement and feedback so far, and to KRAFTON, Inc. for helping our indie team. It’s exciting for us to now introduce the title to a wider audience and we’re looking forward to seeing players’ reactions to Thunder Tier One.”

Payers can now get a first taste of the title through the Steam gameplay preview, which will be hosted from Thursday, Dec. 10 at 8:00 PM PT to Sunday, Dec. 13 at 8:00 AM PT. 

As part of the gameplay preview gamers will be able to play in single player co-op mode, as well as multiplayer game modes ‘Advance and Secure’ and ‘Deathmatch’. There will also be two campaign missions available to play in either single mode or as co-op. Gameplay is highly strategic and realistic, meaning players will need to quickly assess surroundings and use their tactical skillset to make key decisions in real time.

Game modes

Advance and Secure

Maximum number of players: 8
Single player: no
Details: Advance and Secure is a game mode where two teams battle for control of various sectors across the map. Both sides start with a selected number of tickets, they must then capture their opponent’s capture points in order to take a ticket from them. The match concludes when one of the teams has no tickets left.

Deathmatch

Maximum number of players: 8
Single player: no
Details: Deathmatch mode allows players to go up against one another in a ‘free for all’ setting across two maps. Players earn points through killing one another, with the game concluding when a player reaches a predetermined number of kills - or when the timed session ends.

Campaign missions

Mission 1: Silver Dew

A high value target is held up in an apartment building being guarded by enemy forces. Outside a roadblock has been set up and there are enemy patrols all throughout the area.

Thunder operatives have to figure out how to get past the partols, past the roadblock, infiltrate the building, and capture the target. Once they’ve done all that they still need to fight their way out while keeping the HVT safe for long enough for an extraction team to arrive.

Mission 2: Cold Stone

Deep in the mountains, terrorist forces have stockpiled weapons and ammo, as well as holding a civilian hostage. Enemies patrol the woods the cover the mountain as well as posting guards at multiple fortified positions, including a network of caves that runs through the mountainside itself.
Thunder operatives must destroy the weapon and ammo caches hidden in these fortified locations, rescue the hostage, and escort them to safety.

On top of this, we’ll be inviting players to participate in the speed run challenge for a chance to win prizes. As part of the competition, teams of four will complete campaign missions as quickly as possible and share their videos with the Thunder Tier One team on Discord.

How to join

• To join the Thunder Tier One gameplay preview, simply:
• Visit the Thunder Tier One Steam page
• Click ‘request access’
• Join the Discord channel