It's 1983. The tensions between NATO and the USSR have reached their breaking point, and the Cold War has quickly turned into an all-out conflict across Europe. Take the side of NATO or Warsaw Pact forces in an authentic, realistic, yet accessible online first person tactical shooter. Welcome to '83!

A spiritual successor to Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, ‘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.

Originally announced in 2019, ‘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 30-40 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!

Blue Dot Games have just unveiled the latest in their Developer Tapes series showcasing different aspects of ‘83.

This latest video offers an overview of its two core game modes: Frontlines and Assault. Both demand coordination, communication, and tactical play, but with very different objectives and rulesets.

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.

Key Features:

• 40 vs 40 large scale battles with infantry, vehicles, tanks and fire missions
• 30 to 40 minute matches that take you straight to action
• Objective focused, squad-based team gameplay
• Team Commanders guide their faction to victory in an RTS-style metagame
• Era authentic weapons and equipment with realistic handling and lethality
• Spiritual successor to Rising Storm 2 Vietnam

‘83 is coming to Steam Early Access in 2026.