Calling all new recruits, the battlefield needs you!
Cornwall, England - March 16th, 2026 - Blue Dot Games is excited to announce that their upcoming 40v40 squad-based tactical first-person shooter '83 is hosting a 36-hour Closed Beta, from 15:00 GMT / 11:00 EDT on March 20th, until 23:00 GMT / 19:00 EDT on March 21st. The Closed Beta introduces the Woodpecker map, while giving players a deeper look at '83's alternate 1983 setting, where the Cold War escalates into open conflict and massive combined-arms battles are won through teamwork, coordination, and battlefield tactics.
During the Closed Beta, players take the fight to one of the three maps planned for Early Access: the Woodpecker battlefield. Set around the iconic Duga radar installation, the map features a dense forest battleground built around long sightlines, flanking routes, hard cover and intense fights where mid-range engagements can turn into sudden close-quarters clashes over the objective. The Closed Beta will feature Assault mode, a two-round objective battle inspired by the Rising Storm fan-favourite game mode, where teams alternate between attacking and defending capture points, with attackers pushing forward before running out of time or reinforcement tickets. Players can join either the United States Army or the Soviet Ground Forces, the two core factions available in '83's Early Access launch, and can choose from infantry roles such as Rifleman, Machine Gunner, Marksman, Grenadier, and Anti-Tank, alongside Special Forces and leadership roles like Squad Leader and Commander to coordinate their team and call in support.
To join the Closed Beta, visit the '83 Steam store page and click "Request Access" - it's that simple!
More about '83 '83 puts players in the boots of a soldier in this shadow history, wherein massive 40v40 matches feature authentic Cold War-era weapons, vehicles and squad-based objectives. Coordinate with teammates, capture critical points and dominate the battlefield with smart tactics and teamwork.
'83 was built on the idea of "accessible realism", where the game is mindful of players' time, while also offering an accurate portrayal of how a historical battle could play out. Matches average around 30-40 minutes, while 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 since '83 requires thorough communication and teamwork, with Team Commanders guiding their faction through strategic organization and nail-biting calls.
Players can choose from a variety of roles: from frontline riflemen to vehicle operators and support units - each with their own loadouts and strategic value. '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!
