Letter from the Squad Leader - August 2025
[h2]Hello Squaddies,[/h2][p][/p][p]September is upon us, which means 9.0 is coming very soon. I’m back with a few updates, a sneak peek, and something exciting we’ve been working on.[/p][p][/p][h3]SQ-SITREP.[/h3][p]Let's talk about 9.0. Over the past months, many of you joined our playtests, shared feedback, and helped us shape this release. Thanks to your efforts, 9.0 has become the most thoroughly tested update in Squad's history. Together, we've uncovered and resolved long-standing issues and strengthened the game's foundation during this huge engine upgrade milestone.[/p][p][/p][p]We know there will always be more to refine and improve, but our goal is to give you 9.0 imminently so everyone can finally experience the game we're building together.[/p][p]
We're excited to get it in your hands, establish a new solid baseline for Squad, and continue shaping the game for the future.[/p][p]
Here's what you'll find added into 9.0:[/p]
Looking beyond launch, we're excited to share that we will start prototyping the new Territory Control Rework soon and hope to start playtesting it early next year. More progress on UX updates continues as well. For 9.0, there will be some Main Menu updates, and for 10.0 later this year, we plan to improve the Store / Customization pages. The party system is also well underway.[/p][p][/p][p]![]()
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BATTLEFIELD BRIEFING.[/h3][p]Before I wrap up, I want to talk about something that isn’t yet on the showcase. A brand new co-op PvE gamemode we have been working on.[/p][p]
It was conceptualized and prototyped at Offworld's 2024 Company Summit. We give our teams a week to prototype bold ideas or work on things they might not normally have time to–a week of innovation and exploration.[/p][p]
A small team created a PvE mission in Fallujah. The objective was to destroy three ammo caches in a compound with one Squad against AI bots.[/p][p][/p][p]We discovered something special - a familiar Squad experience with teamwork, tension, and tactical play - without the head-to-head pressure of PvP.[/p][p][/p][p]It opened the door to something new: a way to expand Squad, while staying true to its core.[/p][p][/p][p]PvE has the potential to:[/p]
[/p][p]To finish off, here are some screenshots from the Eastern European Biome rework. It’s coming along quite nicely![/p][p][/p][p]![]()
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Thanks, Squaddies![/p][p][/p][p]- Howitzer[/p][p]
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We're excited to get it in your hands, establish a new solid baseline for Squad, and continue shaping the game for the future.[/p][p]
Here's what you'll find added into 9.0:[/p]
- [p]Commendations system[/p]
- [p]Ground Forces of Iran[/p]
- [p]Unreal 5.5 integration (with a lot of performance optimization work)[/p]
Looking beyond launch, we're excited to share that we will start prototyping the new Territory Control Rework soon and hope to start playtesting it early next year. More progress on UX updates continues as well. For 9.0, there will be some Main Menu updates, and for 10.0 later this year, we plan to improve the Store / Customization pages. The party system is also well underway.[/p][p][/p][p]
BATTLEFIELD BRIEFING.[/h3][p]Before I wrap up, I want to talk about something that isn’t yet on the showcase. A brand new co-op PvE gamemode we have been working on.[/p][p]
It was conceptualized and prototyped at Offworld's 2024 Company Summit. We give our teams a week to prototype bold ideas or work on things they might not normally have time to–a week of innovation and exploration.[/p][p]
A small team created a PvE mission in Fallujah. The objective was to destroy three ammo caches in a compound with one Squad against AI bots.[/p][p][/p][p]We discovered something special - a familiar Squad experience with teamwork, tension, and tactical play - without the head-to-head pressure of PvP.[/p][p][/p][p]It opened the door to something new: a way to expand Squad, while staying true to its core.[/p][p][/p][p]PvE has the potential to:[/p]
- [p]Provide a different experience for players who enjoy the Squad's teamwork but prefer PvE play over PvP.[/p]
- [p]Create opportunities for modders and mission makers to expand scenarios in fresh directions.[/p]
- [p]Welcome new players into Squad in a more approachable way.[/p]
[/p][p]To finish off, here are some screenshots from the Eastern European Biome rework. It’s coming along quite nicely![/p][p][/p][p]
Thanks, Squaddies![/p][p][/p][p]- Howitzer[/p][p]
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