Developer Bohemia Interactive has officially unveiled the recently leaked Arma Reforger, the next step in its long-running first-person military shooter series. Described as the “first milestone on the long road to Arma 4”, Reforger launches into PC and Xbox Series X/S early access today.
Bohemia broke the news in a lengthy livestream that began with confirmation the long-awaited Arma 4 is in development (its predecessor, Arma 3, celebrates its 10th birthday next year), but the remainder of the stream’s focus was very much on Reforger. It’s being called a new standalone “platform” for the series, consisting of several key parts: there’s a new engine, a new open-world sandbox, three gameplay modes, and integrated modding tools, enabling users to create and download mods directly in-game.
Reforger’s sandbox should be immediately familiar to fans of Bohemia’s previous titles, taking the form of the Everon map seen in 2001’s Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, albeit thoroughly reworked and reimagined using the developer’s latest tech. As that might suggest, it marks a return to the Cold War era for the series, circa 1989, with Bohemia saying it’s keen to capture the atmosphere of the 80s across its 51 sq km map.
In terms of gameplay, Reforger will feature three multiplayer modes as part of its early access launch. There’s the team-versus-team Conflict mode, Capture & Hold mode, plus a real-time scenario editor Bohemia is calling Game Master.
Crucially, however, the developer is promoting Reforger as much as a “versatile platform” and a chance for the community to experience its new tools as it is a game. “Through an interactive, collaborative approach,” it explains, “we hope to learn valuable lessons and push the franchise further than ever before, showcasing exciting developments on our new Enfusion engine while offering a rewarding and independently playable experience along the way.”