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 are proud to reveal that ‘83 is coming to Steam Early Access on April 23rd, and will remain so for about a year.

To commemorate the Early Access release date reveal, Blue Dot Games has unleashed the above new trailer offering an extended look at its 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.”

“Currently we have 3 maps, with 2 different gamemodes per map. Two factions (US Army & Soviet Ground Forces), each with vehicles (tank and jeep) and well over a dozen weapons per faction. Most major gameplay systems are in place, including commander and squad leader functionality.”

“Our aim for the full release version is to make gameplay more balanced, ensure there will be (even) fewer bugs, and have the game run even more smoothly than the initial EA launch. We're currently planning to have double the number of maps, and release an extra faction, and more gameplay systems. But we also plan on updating and adding content after Hard Launch; our goal is to continue the updates with new maps, weapons, vehicles and factions far into the future of the game.”

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 on April 23, 2026.