40v40 squad-based tactical shooter '83 details its war-town mapsNews

40v40 squad-based tactical shooter '83 details its war-town maps

Cornwall, England October 22nd, 2025 - Blue Dot Games have just unveiled the latest in their Developer Tapes series showcasing different aspects of '83, their upcoming 40v40 squad-based tactical first-person shooter set in an alternate 1983 where the Cold War escalated into an all-out conflict. This latest video offers a sneak peek at its three war-torn maps awaiting players at '83's Early Access launch.

If there was ever a point where World War III was expected to start, it was West Germany's Fulda Gap. This crucible of modern armoured warfare is where '83 shows its scale. Soviet forces have launched a massive offensive across this key corridor, backed by tanks and artillery. Rolling hills, fortified towns, dense forests, and exposed plains create a dynamic combat space where NATO forces scramble to hold the line against the relentless Soviet advance.

In the far North a Norwegian Fjord offers a strategically vital flashpoint due to its proximity to Soviet naval bases and the Atlantic sea lanes. While Soviets aim to control sea lanes, project naval power, and cut off NATO reinforcement routes to Western Europe, NATO aims to preemptively lock down this critically contested territory. Gameplay here is defined by verticality and harsh terrain. Mountain passes, fortified bunkers set deep into the rock, and coastal facilities offer diverse tactical opportunities and demand flexibility from both attackers and defenders.

Finally there's the massive Duga over-the-horizon missile detecting radar, known as the "Woodpecker". In '83 this is a key command-and-control hub, integral to the Soviet early warning network. Gameplay here blends open woodland with dense interior fighting around the radar structures, mixing long sightlines with brutal close-quarters battles. It's a map that favours stealth, surprise, and sabotage and rewards teams that can coordinate under pressure.

More about '83
'83 was built on the idea of "accessible realism", with an aim to make everything as realistic as possible, until the point where it stops being fun, then it gets ratcheted back one notch. Taking you to the action fast, matches average around 30-40 minutes, and whilst 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 as '83 requires thorough communication and teamwork.

'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!