'83 News

[p]We’re excited to announce that ’83 will be taking part in Steam Next Fest next week, showcasing our Cold War–gone–hot tactical shooter to players around the world. [/p][p]Ahead of the festival, we’re opening up the demo for a series of limited-time play sessions this week. This is your first opportunity to get hands-on with a pre-release build of ’83 and experience the core gameplay, factions, and mechanics before the event officially begins. [/p][p]Below, we’ve answered the most common questions about the demo, what’s included, how it works, and what to expect during both this week’s sessions and Steam Next Fest itself. [/p][p]If your question isn’t covered here, feel free to drop it in the comments or connect with us on Discord. [/p][p][/p][p]To gain access to the '83 Demo, navigate to the Steam store page and click "Download Demo".[/p][p][/p][h2][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/h2][h2]Demo Availability Schedule[/h2][h2][/h2][h2]NextFest Demo FAQ[/h2][p][/p][p]What is ’83? [/p][p]’83 is a Cold War–gone–hot, combined-arms, first-person tactical shooter that pits two teams of players against each other in massive battles across sprawling maps, fighting over objectives designed to reward the team with better strategy, coordination, and teamwork to seize the day. [/p][p]Designed with accessible realism for the most enjoyable experience that gets you to the action fast without losing that realistic feel and depiction of the true lethality of war. [/p][p][/p][p]What can I expect in the Next Fest Demo? [/p][p]The Next Fest demo will feature one of the three maps that will be available at our Early Access launch, the Norwegian Fjord. A rugged, mountainous environment that offers vertical gameplay, dense terrain, and brutal chokepoints. It’s the smallest of the three maps planned for Early Access, making it ideal for fast-paced, objective-driven combat. [/p][p]The mode on offer is Assault, a two-round, objective-based battle inspired by the fan-favorite ‘Territories’ mode from Rising Storm. One team attacks, attempting to capture a series of objectives in sequence, while the defenders must hold their ground until the timer runs out, a lockdown is triggered, or the attackers run out of reinforcement tickets. Teams will then switch sides for a second round. [/p][p]Please be aware that the build you will play is a work-in-progress and you can expect to see some unfinished assets & UI elements, missing textures and encounter some bugs. And while this demo represents just a slice of what '83 will offer at Early Access launch, it’s built to give players a feel for the core mechanics, tight squad-based coordination, role-based gameplay, and the relentless push-pull of Cold War combat. [/p][p][/p][p]Why are the servers limited to 30v30, while the Steam page advertises 40v40? [/p][p]It's important for us to ensure a smooth playing experience for all our players during the Next Fest demo. To ensure this, we have temporarily lowered the player count to a max of 60 as there still is ongoing optimisation work to support 80 players . [/p][p]This is a temporary measure for testing purposes only, the Early Access release is still planned to support 80 player, 40v40 servers.  [/p][p][/p][p]What Factions and Classes will be available? [/p][p]In the Next Fest demo, you’ll be able to play as either the United States Army or the Soviet Ground Forces, the two core factions available in 83’s Early Access launch. [/p][p]Each faction offers a distinct tactical flavour, with historically grounded weapons and gear that reflect their Cold War doctrine. The demo includes a selection of core infantry roles such as Rifleman, Machine Gunner, Marksman, Grenadier, and Anti-Tank, as well as Squad Leader and Commander roles for those looking to coordinate the action or take strategic control of the battlefield. [/p][p][/p][p]How long does a match last? [/p][p]‘83 has been designed to be mindful of your time, with matches lasting around 30-40 minutes. [/p][p][/p][p]How will the demo differ from the early access release? [/p][p]The early access release will feature: [/p]

• [p]Drivable jeeps and tanks and the Tank Crew role. [/p]

• [p]Three maps set across various iconic Cold War locations. [/p]

• [p]Two fully fledged game modes - Frontlines and Assault.  [/p]

• [p]Support for 40v40 (80 player) servers. [/p]

[p]How long is the Next Fest demo available? [/p][p]The ‘83 demo will be available 24/7 over the course of Steam Next Fest from the 13th-20th October. [/p][p]What are the in-game controls? [/p][p] [/p][p]I encountered a bug, or have feedback on the game at large – where do I share/report it? [/p][p]Submit all your bug reports and feedback on our official website or the official ‘83 Discord [/p][p]Website: https://83thegame.com/feedback/[/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/JhpgysJuex[/p][p]  [/p][p]Looking forward to your honest feedback and bug reports! [/p][p][/p][p]I am a content creator/streamer and would like to create content around the demo, is this allowed? [/p][p]Yes! You can stream and record the Steam Next Fest demo as you wish, we’re looking forward to seeing your content covering ‘83! [/p][p][/p][p]Make sure to support & follow us on social media and wishlist us below for more updates! [/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/JhpgysJuex[/p][p]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@83thegame [/p][p]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/83thegame/ [/p][p]BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/83thegame.bsky.social [/p][p]Youtube: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Twitter (X): https://x.com/83thegame [/p][p]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83TheGame/ [/p][p][/p][h2]Wishlist '83 Today![/h2][p] [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[h2]'83 Technical Test[/h2][p]We're excited to announce that this weekend, September 19th-21st we will be running a limited scope Technical Test as a part of our overall preparations for our Early Access launch later this year.[/p][p]If you want to participate, head over to the '83 Steam Store page right now and click the "Request Access" button.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Steam will notify you if you were accepted within a maximum of couple of hours, and if we need further testers during the weekend we may allow in additional waves.[/p][p]Please note that this Technical Test is under strict NDA and no sharing of screenshots or videos is permitted and we reserve the right to revoke your Technical Test access if footage/screenshots is leaked.[/p][p][/p][h2]Technical Test Schedule[/h2][p][/p][h2]FAQ[/h2][p][/p][p]This is my first Technical Test, what should I expect as a player? [/p][p]The build you will play is truly a work-in-progress and you can expect to see some unfinished assets, missing textures and of course encounter bugs. We want to involve our community as early as possible in the development process and to do that we will be offering access to builds that are less polished than what you might be used to from other tests or Beta’s you’ve participated in. [/p][p][/p][p]Why are the servers limited to 30v30, while the Steam page advertises 40v40? [/p][p]It's important for us to ensure a smooth testing experience for all our players during this technical test. To ensure this, we temporarily lowered the playercount to a max of 60 as there still is ongoing optimisation work to support 80 players while also ensuring quality server performance. [/p][p]This is a temporary measure for testing purposes only, the Early Access release is still planned to support 80 player, 40v40 servers. [/p][p][/p][p]I launched the game but can’t find any active servers? [/p][p]The technical is not 24/7 and takes place during specific timeslots, please see the infographics above for the exact timings. [/p][p][/p][p]Outside of these hours, you can still launch the game and check settings, keybinds etc. but you won’t be able to connect to a server and play. [/p][p][/p][p]I requested access but haven’t been accepted or received any further information, why is this? [/p][p]This is a limited scope technical test, and once we hit the required number of players we will stop accepting new players. There is a possibility that we might let additional players in if we need additional testers during the test – so make sure to request access through Steam even if we’re currently full! [/p][p][/p][p]I am a current Alpha playtester, do I need to request access? [/p][p]If you are one of our current Alpha playtesters with access to the game, you do not need to request access – all our current playtesters will have automatic access to this technical test. [/p][p][/p][p]What should I be doing as a playtester, are there any specific tasks or focus for participating players? [/p][p]There are no specific testing needs to be done, we encourage you to play the game as you normally would and provide us with your honest feedback and submit bug reports on these dedicated pages: [/p][p]Bugs & Feedback Link: https://83thegame.com/feedback/[/p][p] [/p][p]I am a content creator/streamer and would like to create content around the test, is this allowed? [/p][p]No, this current test is under NDA and we don’t allow the capture of the gameplay for use in content creation purposes. If needed due to leaks, we might have to submit a copyright infringement claim on I.E. YouTube/Twitch to take it down – and we don’t want that any more than you do. [/p][p]Intentional leaking will result in your access to the Technical Test being revoked. [/p][p]You as a creator will have plenty of opportunities to create content around ‘83 in the future, and we are also keen on working closely together with creators as we move closer to our Early Access launch later this year. [/p][p][/p][p]I encountered a bug, or have feedback on the game at large – where do I share/report it? [/p][p]Submit all your bug reports and feedback on our official website, due to the NDA this is the only place you can submit these. Do not share them on other channels, including our official Discord for now. [/p][p]Bugs & Feedback Link: https://83thegame.com/feedback/[/p][p] [/p][p]Looking forward to your honest feedback and bug reports! [/p][p][/p][p]Am I allowed to capture/screenshot the game as a part of my bug report and feedback submissions? [/p][p]Yes, you are allowed to capture video and screenshot the game as long as that footage only gets submitted through our official website forms for bug reporting and feedback collection. [/p][p][/p][p]Does this Technical Test represent the scope of content that will be available for Early Access release? [/p][p]No, while both Early Access launch factions are in, the U.S. Army and Soviet Ground Forces – only one map is available in the Technical Test and the playable tanks are also not available during this test. [/p][p]Further content updates are also planned following our Early Access release. [/p][p][/p][p]I found a player who is breaking community standards and/or leaking the content, where do I report this? [/p][p]You can report players through our official website form and we will take the appropriate action from there. [/p][p]Please provide proof through screenshots or other relevant pieces of information. [/p][p]Examples of breaking community standards: [/p]

• [p]Intentional Teamkilling. [/p]

• [p]Intentional Trolling. [/p]

• [p]Inappropriate In-Game Behavior. (Racist, Sexist, Homophobic etc.) [/p]

• [p]Leaking Technical Test content. (Screenshots and screen captures/videos etc.) [/p]

[p]Report Link: https://83thegame.com/feedback/[/p][p] [/p][p]Make sure to support & follow us on social media and wishlist us below for more updates! [/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/83thegame[/p][p]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@83thegame [/p][p]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/83thegame/ [/p][p]BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/83thegame.bsky.social [/p][p]Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Itsnotreditsblue[/p][p]Twitter (X): https://x.com/83thegame [/p][p]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83TheGame/ [/p][p][/p][h2]Wishlist '83 Today![/h2][p] [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[h2]Dev Diary #3 – Classes[/h2][p]Welcome back to our series of Developer Tapes leading up to our early access launch. [/p][p]Today we take a closer look at the classes within '83 and how each class have their own role to play on the battlefield.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]In ‘83, victory depends on coordination, role discipline, and the decisions you make before you even fire a shot.[/p][p][/p][p]Every match begins with a crucial choice: your class. This determines your weapons, equipment, and overall role on the battlefield. Each class is grounded in authentic Cold War doctrine, with loadouts shaped by the arsenals of the 1983 U.S. Army and Soviet Ground Forces. [/p][p][/p][p]While both factions share most core roles, you’ll notice subtle differences in the tools and equipment available, reflecting the real-world divergences between East and West at the time. [/p][p][/p][p]Classes offer limited loadout customisation through a slot-based system. Want to move fast and light? Ditch extra gear. Need more utility? Carry smoke, frags, or anti-tank weapons. But every added item has a weight cost, affecting stamina and movement, meaning each loadout choice comes with trade-offs. [/p][p][/p][p]Infantry squads consist of 10 players: one Squad Leader and nine soldiers. Squads share a dedicated VOIP channel, allowing for coordinated movement, objective marking, and the placement of temporary squad-only spawn points. These spawn points are powerful tools, but they’re fragile, can be disabled by nearby enemies, and come with a longer respawn timer. Protect them and use them wisely. [/p][p][/p][p]Each class in ‘83 plays a distinct part: [/p]

• [p]Rifleman – The backbone of the platoon, armed with standard issue rifles and grenades. [/p]

• [p]Machine Gunner – Provides suppressive fire and anchors defensive positions. [/p]

• [p]Marksman – Picks off high-value targets at range, avoiding direct engagements. [/p]

• [p]Grenadier – Clears entrenched enemies and denies ground using their underbarrel grenade launcher. [/p]

• [p]Anti-Tank – Specialised in disabling and destroying enemy vehicles. [/p]

• [p]Tank Crew – Minimally armed, but the only class capable of operating armoured vehicles. [/p]

• [p]Special Forces and NCOs – Specialist roles with unique tactical capabilities we’ll be showcasing in more detail as development progresses through Early Access. [/p]

[p]Class availability is limited to preserve balance. If all sniper slots are filled, you’ll need to choose another class, or wait. Squads also have internal class limits, encouraging a functional, complementary mix of roles to keep gameplay tactical and dynamic. [/p][p][/p][p]Squad Leaders aren’t just fielding orders, they’re tactical lynchpins. With access to specialised gear and a direct command channel linking them to other squad leaders and the team’s Commander, their decisions shape the pace and positioning of the team. Squad Leaders can name, lock, manage, and restructure their squads on the fly, while also placing rally points and setting the tone for engagements. [/p][p][/p][p]At the top sits the Commander, one per team, who plays the game from a strategic perspective, managing the battle via an RTS-style command interface. They issue orders, coordinate squads, manage resources, and deploy powerful abilities, from artillery and smoke barrages to recon flights and rapid reinforcements. Commanders are valuable, and vulnerable.  [/p][p][/p][p]From the front-line Rifleman to the Commander orchestrating strikes from above, ‘83 is built to reward co-ordination, teamwork, and knowing your role. Whether you're holding the line, clearing bunkers, or pushing behind enemy positions, your decisions shape the outcome of every battle. [/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned to our channels to not miss upcoming Developer Tapes on our road to Early Access Launch. [/p][p][/p][p]Make sure to support & follow us on social media and wishlist us below for more updates! [/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/83thegame[/p][p]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@83thegame [/p][p]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/83thegame/ [/p][p]BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/83thegame.bsky.social [/p][p]Youtube: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Twitter (X): https://x.com/83thegame [/p][p]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83TheGame/ [/p][p][/p][h2]Wishlist '83 Today![/h2][p] [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[h2]Developer Tapes Bonus - Voice Sessions[/h2][p]A quick look behind the scenes of the ongoing voice over work for the Soviet Ground Forces in '83 - this time with veteran voice talent, Oleg Mirochnikov.[/p][p]If you're an old school Red Orchestra fan, there's a couple of easter eggs in there you'll surely recognize.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Stay tuned to our channels to not miss upcoming Developer Tapes on our road to Early Access Launch. [/p][p][/p][p]Make sure to support & follow us on social media and wishlist us below for more updates! [/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/83thegame[/p][p]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@83thegame [/p][p]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/83thegame/ [/p][p]BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/83thegame.bsky.social [/p][p]Youtube: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Twitter (X): https://x.com/83thegame [/p][p]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83TheGame/ [/p][p][/p][h2]Wishlist '83 Today![/h2][p] [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[h2]Dev Diary #2 – Factions [/h2][p]Welcome back to our series of ‘83 Dev Diary series leading up to our early access launch. [/p][p]In this instalment, we’re turning our focus to the two military powers at the heart of the conflict: the United States Army and the Soviet Ground Forces. [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]A major inspiration for the game’s setting comes from a real historical event - Able Archer 83. In November of that year, NATO ran a large-scale exercise simulating an escalation to nuclear war. Though intended as a drill, it was interpreted by the Soviet Union as a potential first strike. Soviet forces went on high alert. For several tense days, the world sat on the edge of full-scale war. [/p][p]It’s this high-stakes tension, the sense that one misstep could change everything that forms the foundation of ‘83. In our version of history, diplomacy breaks down and the Cold War turns hot. [/p][p]To build this world authentically, the team has spent years researching the era, drawing from military archives, photo references, re-enactment groups, Cold War museums, and consultations with military history communities. The result is a grounded depiction of the factions, their equipment, and their doctrine, accurate to what would have been in widespread use in 1983. [/p][p][/p][h2]United States Army[/h2][p]In ‘83, the US Army is built around structure, fire discipline, and precision. Players will have access to a wide array of authentic weapons from the era, including the M16A1, the M60 LMG and the M21 SWS. [/p][p]Each class within the US faction has a defined role. US Special Forces introduce further specialisation with close-quarters tools like combat shotguns. Gear is consistent and modernise, standardised uniforms, with machined parts and synthetic materials that reflect the transition from post-WWII military kits to a more agile force. [/p][p][/p][h2]Soviet Ground Forces[/h2][p]Opposing them, the Soviet Ground Forces embody a doctrine of pressure, volume, and momentum. In ’83 you can choose from a variety of iconic weapons like the AK-74, the PKM and the RPG-7, which allow Soviet squads to apply constant forward pressure across the battlefield. Their tactics revolve around massed infantry pushes, massed firepower, and armored vehicle support. [/p][p]Soviet equipment also tells a different story. Uniforms are more rugged and made from natural materials such as canvas, leather, and repurposed stock. This reflects the utilitarian, production-focused mindset of the Eastern Bloc, where practicality often outweighed aesthetics. [/p][p] [/p][h2]A Clash of Doctrines[/h2][p]In ‘83, each faction allows you to bring each faction’s philosophy, equipment, and battlefield doctrine to the fight. Play as the US and choose to adopt the strategies of fire discipline, coordination, and role-based tactics. Or play as he Soviets and pile on the pressure, with numbers, and volume of fire. Two distinct potential approaches. One contested battlefield. Victory will go to the team that best understands and plays to their strengths and group tactics. [/p][p] [/p][h2]Coming Up Next[/h2][p]In our next dev diary, we’ll be breaking down the many playable roles in ’83, from frontline riflemen and anti-tank specialists to the Commander, who oversees the flow of the battle with powerful off-map support. Each role plays a critical part in shaping the outcome of every fight, and we’re excited to show you how squad tactics and strategic planning come together to create intense, large-scale Cold War combat. [/p][p]Stay tuned, and thanks for your continued support. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned to our channels to not miss upcoming Developer Tapes on our road to Early Access Launch. [/p][p][/p][p]Make sure to support & follow us on social media and wishlist us below for more updates! [/p][p]Discord: https://discord.gg/83thegame[/p][p]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@83thegame [/p][p]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/83thegame/ [/p][p]BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/83thegame.bsky.social [/p][p]Youtube: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Twitter (X): https://x.com/83thegame [/p][p]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83TheGame/ [/p][p][/p][h2]Wishlist '83 Today![/h2][p] [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]