Ground Branch is a first-person, realism-oriented online experience that places players in the roles of elite CIA Paramilitary Operators of the Special Activities Division.Ground Branch is the new upcoming thinking-man's first-person shooter featuring tense tactical CQB and in-depth character and weapon customization.
The game is being developed by former Red Storm Entertainment and Valve Software employees – in conjunction with US Special Operations Veterans - who saw a need to create a new type of online experience, for those who felt disenfranchised by the direction of modern online shooters. BlackFoot Studios offers a fresh take on the genre, not seen since the original “Ghost Recon” title, released for PC and Mac in 2001, but with the added bonus of removing the class restrictions found in that title.
BlackFoot Studios has embarked on a campaign to create an online multiplayer shooter, cut from the same cloth as the original Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six. Where players must think and make deliberate actions as their in game choices have very real consequences.
In Ground Branch, you will play as the elite paramilitary arm of the CIA's Special Activities Center/Special Operations Group (SAC/SOG) and lead other special operations forces through challenging deniable ops all over the globe. With deliberate, calculated and unforgiving gameplay, GROUND BRANCH aims to be the true rebirth of the tactical realism genre of the late '90s and early 2000s. Powered by Epic's Unreal Engine 4, GB puts the "tactical" back in "tactical shooter"—no compromises.
MicroProse announced that Ground Branch will officially leave Early Access and launch v1.0 on July 16, 2026.
Version 1.0 marks the game's most significant milestone yet, delivering the strongest foundation Ground Branch has ever had while introducing substantial improvements across AI, environments, animations, inventory systems, player interaction, and overall immersion.
Ground Branch Version 1.0 introduces the return of Operations, the game's campaign framework, alongside an all-new Prologue set in the mountains of Northwest Pakistan.
The Prologue features two narrative-driven missions that serve as an introduction to the events that will unfold throughout the wider campaign. Featuring full briefings, voice-over narration, and persistent progression, it represents the first step in a much larger journey for the game.
The new Outpost environment, an old mountain fort overlooking the Afghan border.
Significant enemy AI improvements, making opponents smarter, more reactive, and more dangerous.
The new Extraction mission type, featuring hostage rescue scenarios and advanced captor behaviors.
A completely overhauled player locomotion system with new motion capture animations.
A new door interaction and breaching system, expanding close-quarters combat possibilities.
Expanded customization options with new gear, weapons, attachments, and character appearance choices.
Numerous visual, audio, inventory, and quality-of-life improvements throughout the experience.
Version 1.0 Is Not the End
For BlackFoot Studios and MicroProse, Version 1.0 is not a finish line-it is the beginning of the game's next phase.
Following launch, Ground Branch will continue to receive substantial updates throughout the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
Players can look forward to:
Three new campaign chapters, each introducing new hotspots and additional missions.
Continued gameplay improvements, features, weapons, maps, and quality-of-life updates.
A dedicated Multiplayer Update, bringing new game modes, new gear, map improvements, and further systems enhancements.
The release of the Mod Kit, enabling the community to further expand the experience.
The roadmap reflects a long-term commitment to growing GROUND BRANCH well beyond its official release.
As the team likes to put it:
“Version 1.0 doesn't close the book-it opens the next chapter.”
Gather your teammates and practice in full-featured training areas, including shooting ranges with dynamic targets and customizable killhouses. Then get in the Ready Room: A physical multiplayer lobby where you can plan your approach, see your teammates' loadouts, test weapon configurations on a firing range and jointly select insertion points.
Ground Branch is a multiplayer experience at heart that doesn't forget the importance of a sound PVE. PVP modes already included in the game are: Defuse, Uplink, IntelRetrieval, Deathmatch, Team Elimination. Terrorist Hunt mode is already present as a PVE mode. Coming soon: Raid, Defense, Hostage Rescue (both PVP and PVE).
Ground Branch's unforgiving gameplay makes careful and calculated teamwork essential. Integrated VOIP with both 3D positional voice and radio ensures full communication capabilities with no need for third-party software. But be careful: if your teammate can hear you maybe a nearby enemy can too!
What you bring to your mission is determined only by your loadout choice, with realistic consequences: With the upcoming encumbrance and stamina system, too much equipment will impact your character's speed and performance; place a scope too forward on the rail and your sight picture will be too small; bring a long rifle into CQB and weapon collision may prove a hindrance.
Forget unlocks, microtransactions and loot boxes. Ground Branch operators get all the right tools for the job straight away—courtesy of the Agency.
Ground Branch is coming to PC (Steam) on July 16, 2026.
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