First-Person Shooters

By Rick Lane at Eurogamer

Like a fleet of Allied landing craft storming the beaches of Normandy, Sniper Elite 5 has blown me away. I spent most of my weekend with it in a state of delighted befuddlement, constantly muttering ‘isn’t this brilliant?’ as it delivered yet another incredibly designed level to creep around while turning Nazi skulls into cornflakes. I’ve enjoyed Rebellion’s infamously grisly stealth series since the middling V2, but I never thought I’d be writing about it with the kind of breathless excitement reserved for the likes of Elden Ring.

Read on…

Sniper Elite 5, the latest game in the award-winning franchise is available now on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Steam and Windows Store. Developed by Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, Sniper Elite 5 offers an unparalleled tactical sniping experience as you fight your way across the most immersive maps ever featured in the series, with many real-world locations captured in stunning detail.

The new Launch trailer to celebrate the release of Sniper Elite 5 is available to view HERE.

Sniper Elite 5 takes place in the events around D-Day in France, 1944, as our hero Karl Fairburne joins a covert US Rangers operation to weaken the Atlantikwall fortifications along the coast of Brittany. There he makes contact with French Resistance, and they begin to uncover a secret Nazi plot that threatens to turn the tide of the war back in the Nazi’s favour: Operation Kraken. It is now down to Karl to reveal exactly what the Axis forces are planning and end Operation Kraken, and the mastermind behind it, Abelard Möller, before it can be launched.

Rebellion CEO, Jason Kingsley said: “We are extremely proud to be releasing Sniper Elite 5 today and cannot wait for players to get their hands on the game. The franchise continues to go from strength to strength and the entire team at Rebellion has done a fantastic job to create the best game in the series to date. We are particularly proud of the new Invasion Mode which we think will be a real fan favourite. The tension and challenge that the invasion creates really intensifies and heightens the gameplay experience.”

SNIPER ELITE 5 GAME FEATURES:

• Expansive Campaign – real-world locations have been captured using photogrammetry to recreate a living, immersive environment with multiple infiltration and extraction points. Side missions, hidden collectables and kill list targets provide a whole new perspective on each mission. Take on the Nazi plot solo or work with a partner, with improved co-op mechanics allowing you to share ammo and items, give orders and heal each other.
• Invasion Mode and Co-op – invade another player’s Campaign as an Axis sniper and engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse, providing a new dimension to the challenge as you stalk your prey. Invasion Mode can be toggled on/off in the game menu. The entire campaign is also playable in 2 player online co-op with players able to share items and ammo and revive each other.
• Weapon customisation – find Workbenches hidden in the missions (each mission has 3 to find) to customise and upgrade virtually every aspect of your weapon – change scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and more. Rifles, secondaries and pistols all have a huge variety of options. On top of that you can select the ammo to suit your target, from armour-piercing right down to non-lethal.
• Adversarial multiplayer – customise your character and loadout and earn XP, medals and ribbons as you take on intensely competitive 16 player battles that will really test your sharpshooting skills. If co-op’s more your style, you can team up with up to 3 other players against waves of enemies in Survival mode.
• Full crossplay – crossplay enables you to seamlessly play co-op, Invasion Mode and adversarial multiplayer with other players on all other formats.
• Enhanced Kill Cam – more realistic and grislier than ever, the trademark X-ray kill cam returns, showing you the true destructive power of each shot. Bones deflect bullets unpredictably, ripping a new path through enemy bodies. SMGs and pistols can also trigger kill cams, including multiple shots in dramatic slow motion. The frequency with which a player sees Kill Cam can be changed in the game menu, including the ability to switch it off entirely.
• Advanced gunplay – factor in rifle stock and barrel options along with gravity, wind and heart rate while you line up your sights on the target. For the first time in the series iron sights have been included for SMGs and pistols.
• New traversal mechanics – Karl can now use zip lines, slide down slopes and shimmy along ledges to reach the perfect vantage point, or to sneak past sharp-eyed enemies. Enhanced climbing abilities now allow you to explore hidden areas in the game map and unlock alternative routes.

Sniper Elite 5 is available now on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Steam and Windows Store. To keep up to date with all the latest Sniper Elite 5 news please visit sniper.com.

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, has today release a new Sniper Elite 5 video that reveals further details about the stealth options that will be available to players when the game is released on May 26th. Offering insight from the development team as well as from the game’s military advisor and motion capture artist Paul Biddiss, the new Spotlight trailer features interviews and gameplay footage showcasing the new traversal, sneaking and takedowns in Sniper Elite 5, including new non-lethal options. The new Spotlight video is available to watch HERE.

Paul Biddiss, the military advisor and action coordinator for a number of high-profile movies and TV shows, provided his expertise to the Sniper Elite 5 development team as well as being the motion capture artist for Karl Fairburne, helping to ensure the highest possible level of authenticity to his movements and takedowns. Speaking about his involvement in the game Paul said: “All the takedowns are realistic to the training that was given to SOE operatives… everything is realistic. There is no embellishment.”

The new video also gives details of the other stealthy options open to Karl including new traversal mechanics which open up hidden areas of the maps as well as giving the player alternative routes to approach their objectives. The player will also have to consider the audible distance of both their weapon and ammo when taking a shot if they want to remain undetected.

For Sniper Elite 5 the player will have a host of non-lethal options at their disposal including the ability to incapacitate the enemy with non-lethal takedowns and ammunition. These options provide the player with even greater scope to approach each mission and game scenario in a way that best suits their playstyle and their objective.

The latest game in the award-winning franchise, Sniper Elite 5 will release simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 & 5, Steam and Windows Store on May 26th 2022.

To keep up to date with all the latest Sniper Elite 5 news please visit sniper.com.

Source: Blue’s News

Arma Reforger is already available in Early Access on Steam, offering a new Windows Cold War shooter as the latest installment in the Arma series. This comes just a couple of days after rumors first emerged about its existence. This post has an outline of what this offers, saying it represents “the beginning for the evolution of the Arma franchise.” Word is: “Arma Reforger, currently in Early Access, offers you a glimpse of things to come. Functioning as a creative platform, you can modify and adjust the experience with the tools given to you. Remember, this is just the beginning for the evolution of the Arma franchise. It’s going to be an exciting journey, and we’re glad to have you with us!” This kicks off the road to Arma 4, and this trailer takes a look at that. Here’s the elevator pitch on the new game:

Powered by the new Enfusion engine, Arma Reforger lets you fight for supremacy over 51 km2 of incredible island terrain in an authentic Cold War setting, or create unique scenarios in real-time with the Game Master curation mode. Return to Everon, the war-driven microstate from the hit game that started it all, Arma: Cold War Assault.

Arma Reforger is the first step towards Arma 4 and a versatile, creative, fully-moddable platform for the future, offering a glimpse of things to come.

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, has today released a new gameplay trailer for Sniper Elite 5 which showcases the enhancements made to its genre defining slow motion Kill Cam. For the first time in the series Kill Cam can now be triggered by particularly clinical shots using SMGs and pistols as well as for eliminations using rifles and takedowns. Watch the new trailer HERE.

Enhancements have been made to both the physics and the visuals behind Sniper Elite 5’s Kill Cam. Bullets can now ricochet off bones causing even further internal devastation which is shown to the player in more detail thanks to enhancements in the visual representation of the characters including more definition on the skeleton, muscles, organs and sinew.

The inclusion of iron sights for both SMGs and pistols, a first for the series, will allow players to be more accurate with those weapons, which will in turn trigger a Kill Cam for the most clinical of shots. Players will also have control over the Kill Cam in real time with ability to speed up/slow down the cinematic as well as being able to adjust the camera angle.

A favourite feature with fans of the franchise, the frequency with which a player sees Kill Cam can be adjusted in the game’s menu, including the ability to turn it off completely.

The weapons in Sniper Elite 5 have been painstakingly recreated from real world reference to ensure maximum authenticity. Players can now customise their weapons by discovering workbenches hidden within the missions. Each workbench will unlock further customisation options. This means that they can adjust their chosen loadout to suit their individual play style and the objective that they are undertaking.

Sniper Elite 5 releases simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Steam and Windows Store on Thursday May 26th. The game features an immersive campaign, which is playable in single player and two player co-op, adversarial multiplayer for up to 16 players and a new Invasion Mode which allows another player to join your game as an Axis Sniper tasked with taking you out.

Players who pre-order Sniper Elite 5 will also receive the latest mission of the much heralded ‘Target Führer’ campaign entitled “Wolf Mountain”. The Deluxe Edition is also available to pre-order and will include Season Pass One (2 Campaign Missions, 2 Weapon skin packs, 2 Character Packs, 6 Weapon Packs), Target Führer and a P.1938 Suppressed Pistol for those who pre-order.

To keep up to date with all the latest Sniper Elite 5 news please visit sniper.com.

Introducing the second major free content update in Year 2 of New World Interactive and Focus Entertainment’s smash FPS hit Insurgency: Sandstorm. Now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam, and EGS, Operation: Glasshouse features a new map, new weapons, and new character and weapon cosmetics. Watch the launch trailer HERE.

Operation: Glasshouse is themed around one of the winning entries of the Insurgency: Sandstorm Mapping Contest, Prison. Breakout of Mabarak Prison as the Insurgents, or lock it down as Security in the new free map for all players. Immerse yourself in the intensity of close quarters combat within a penitentiary under attack.

The prison theme continues on through the other free and premium content included in Operation: Glasshouse. The premium content is available in the Glasshouse Set Bundle which can be purchased separately or as part of the Year 2 pass and Gold Edition.

FREE CONTENT

• New Map: Prison
• New Security Weapon: KSG (shotgun)
• New Insurgents Weapon: KS-23 (shotgun)
• New Security Cosmetics Set: Detainer
• New Insurgents Cosmetics Set: Captive

PREMIUM CONTENT

• New Weapon Skin: Woodland
• New Weapon Skin: Carbon Fiber
• New Security Cosmetics Set: S.O.R.T.
• New Insurgents Cosmetics Set: Brute
• New Security Melee Weapon: Baton
• New Insurgents Melee Weapon: Shiv

Update 1.12 Operation: Glasshouse also includes a number of improvements and bug fixes for all platforms. For more information take a look at the microsite.

Visit the official Insurgency: Sandstorm website for more game information.

By By Jonathan Bolding @ PCGamer

A leaked marketing guide has alleged that the next game in the Arma series may be Arma Reforger, a game using Bohemia Interactive’s new Enfusion engine which is not, notably, Arma 4. Due to the complexity of developing Arma 4, says the guide, Bohemia intends for Arma Reforger to be a bridge between the current Arma community and the new game that will also introduce the franchise to a new audience—console players. Arma Reforger will supposedly launch on both Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

The marketing guide was posted to a Reddit forum called Gaming Leaks and Rumours. It’s being widely treated as credible given that Bohemia themselves are giving a The Future of Arma presentation on May 17th, per a post last week.

The leak says that the game will take place on a fictional island called Everon in the Atlantic ocean, near to other fictional “Armaverse” island Malden. The most notable upset is that it’ll be set in “an alternate 1989″ during a conflict between US and Soviet forces. It’s being positioned as a “military simulation game (as opposed to ‘simulator’)”, which is a more direct way to say that perhaps Arma Reforger will be a bit more accessible than previously. Bohemia also apparently hopes that by releasing the Enfusion engine and technology to modders before the launch of Arma 4 proper, a capable modding community will already be in place for launch.

Notably, the marketing guide also emphasizes Bohemia’s continued work with the International Committee of the Red Cross, previously exemplified by the Laws of War DLC for Arma 3. The marketing guide says that Arma will continue to cultivate the features of the series that have an “anti-war humanitarian focus” by continuing “to expose, disseminate, and promote International Humanitarian Law in-game.”

Alpha Squad has just been set its final mission as they must descend further into hell to destroy Project Ragnarök and bring the nightmare to an end once and for all. The new Ragnarök Campaign & Character Pack for Zombie Army 4: Dead War contains a 2-part campaign mission as well as new outfits for Karl, Marie and Josiah and is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Epic Games Store, Steam, Microsoft Store, Google Stadia as well as for the newly released Nintendo Switch version. Additionally all Zombie Army 4 players will also receive the new “Death Collector” Horde Map free as part of a title update today.

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, has released a hellish new trailer showcasing the content from the Season 4 pack.

In the new mission the few surviving members of the cult have retreated deep into hell and put the mysterious Projekt Ragnarök into effect. With the help of Schweiger, Alpha Squad need to stop the plan which threatens to destroy the world.

The Ragnarök Campaign & Character Pack contains:
• Ragnarök Campaign – Parts I & II
• Future Karl Outfit – 2 Hats for Karl (Robot Eye + Ballistic Helmet)
• Marie Lounge Singer Outfit – 2 Hats for Marie (Tilt Hat + Quick Disguise Kit)
• Josiah Detective Outfit – 2 Hats for Josiah (Detective Fedora + Sunglasses)

Developed by Rebellion in partnership with Flix Interactive and Radical Forge, the Ragnarök Campaign & Character Pack is available now priced £12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99. The items are also available to purchase individually. Zombie Army 4: Dead War is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Epic Games Store, Steam, Microsoft Store and Google Stadia. It’s also playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with upgraded new-gen features.

For more information, please visit ZombieArmy.com.

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, has today released a new trailer for Sniper Elite 5 which showcases the game’s features and game modes, including the first glimpse of multiplayer and Invasion Mode. With all footage captured in game, the new Features Trailer is available to view HERE.

The game’s expansive campaign is set in France in 1944 and centres around the events of D-Day. Elite marksman Karl Fairburne uncovers a Nazi plot called Operation Kraken that could turn the tide of the war back in their favour. Working in the shadows behind enemy lines, Karl has to use all the skills at his disposal to destroy Operation Kraken and the mastermind behind it Abelard Möller. The full Campaign is playable in two player online co-op allowing players to team up as they fight the Axis force and track down Möller.

However, human players can also try to thwart Karl’s progress as the new Invasion Mode allows an opposing player to join your game as an Axis Sniper tasked with hunting Karl down and taking him out. The invading player can make us of AI Axis soldiers to help them find Karl’s location, creating a high stakes game of cat and mouse. Meanwhile Karl can utilise phones placed within the level to gather intel on the invader and their location. Invasion Mode can be toggled on/off in the game menu.

Multiplayer is not restricted to the campaign as a suite of tense multiplayer combat modes are also available. Complete with all format crossplay, Sniper Elite 5’s multiplayer features four core game modes each with a host of customisation options allowing players to create their own matches.

The Sniper Elite franchise has always been recognised for its advance gun physics and this have been elevated even further for Sniper Elite 5. With weaponry painstaking recreated from real world reference to ensure maximum authenticity, the guns in Sniper Elite 5 contain a meticulous level of detail and all have their own unique feel and characteristics to the player.

The series defining Kill Cam has also been elevated. Clinical kills with pistols and SMG will now trigger the Kill Cam in addition to rifle and takedown kills. Bullets will ricochet off bone, causing increased devastation which is shown to the player in even more gory detail than ever before.

Weapon customisation has also been greatly enhanced with players now able to change a weapon’s stock, magazines, receiver, barrel, scopes and iron sights as well as its materials. This allows every player to create a suite of weapons that perfectly suit their individual playstyle as well as the mission that they are undertaking. Customisation options are unlocked in the game by discovering workbenches that are hidden within the maps. At these benches players can then customise their loadout meaning that they can adapt their playstyle and approach on the fly without having to restart a mission.

New traversal mechanics have unlocked even more playstyle options. The routes you take can define if you are stealthy and stay in the shadows or go loud and take the fight to the enemies head on. The ability to climb vines for example allows Karl to reach new areas of the map giving him sneaky routes, great vantage points and access to secret locations further adding to each mission’s replayability.

Sniper Elite 5 will launch globally on Thursday, May 26th 2022 on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Epic, Steam and Windows Store.

Learn more about Sniper Elite 5 on the games official website.

The Sniper Elite development team give insight into the creation of in-game weapons in the new Spotlight video

Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful independent studios, has today released a new video for Sniper Elite 5 which gives in-depth insight from the development team about the variety of weapons in the game as well as the incredible customization options available to the player. The new Weapons & Customization Spotlight also reveals the steps the team at Rebellion takes to recreate the authentic weapons in minute detail and is available to view HERE.

Rebellion worked with renowned military historian and star of the Combat Dealers TV show, Bruce Crompton as well as the Imperial War Museum and Royal Armouries Museum to capture thousands of reference images and audio recordings of World War 2 weapons and vehicles to help ensure maximum authenticity. The new video takes you behind the scenes and shows the meticulous level of detail that goes into creating the game.

Sniper Elite 5 offers a level of customization never seen before in the franchise with players able to change a weapon’s stock, magazines, receiver, barrel, scopes and iron sights as well as the materials. This enables the player to finesse their weapons to best suit their playstyle, whether that is stealthy and methodical, ‘run and gun’, or a mixture of the two. Customization options can also be accessed during gameplay as the player discovers Workbenches in the game maps. These will in-turn unlock further customization options.

The latest game in the award winning franchise, Sniper Elite 5 will release simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Epic, Steam and Windows Store on May 26th 2022. The game is available to pre-order now and players that do pre-order will receive an additional Target Führer campaign mission entitled “Wolf Mountain”. A Deluxe Edition is also available, which will include Season Pass One, as well as the P.1938 Suppressed Pistol for pre-orders.

To keep up to date with all the latest Sniper Elite 5 news please visit sniper.com.