Dev Diary #1 – Welcome to ‘83
Welcome to the first in our new dev diary series for ‘83! Whether you’ve been following the project for a while or are just hearing about it now, this is where we’ll be sharing updates straight from the team as we build our toward Early Access release.
What is ‘83?
‘83 is a Cold War FPS where NATO and the Warsaw Pact where tensions quickly escalate into a full-blown war in our alternate 1980s Europe. You’ll fight across large, realistic battlefields from German villages to Norwegian terrain, in 40-minute rounds filled with intense infantry combat, armoured warfare and off-map commander abilities - all coming together with team-wide tactical coordination in order to bring the team to victory.
Every role matters, whether you’re charging in as a rifleman or commanding the battlefield, the action is designed to be intense, immersive, and replayable.
Authentic Weapons & Gear
’83 will put the most iconic weapons of the Cold War in your hands, each meticulously designed and animated according to their real-world counterparts from the late 1980s, not just in look and sound, but in behaviour.
Barrels and suppressors overheat when rapid firing, machineguns are better deployed on a stable surface, and bullets don't magically teleport in between magazines when you reload a half-empty one.
In addition, your soldier's uniform & gear is also meticulously recreated to be accurate to the time period and what unit he is a part of.
Accessible Realism
We aim to make everything as realistic as possible, until the point where it stops being fun and becomes tedious instead, then we ratchet it back one notch.
‘83 is designed to respect your time with action-packed 30-40 minute matches, meaningful roles, and maps that encourage tactical play without turning into a never-ending slog.
A Veteran Team
Many members of the studio were instrumental in shaping Red Orchestra 2 and Rising Storm, so we know tactical shooters, and we’re using that experience to build something new, a true spiritual successor to these much-loved franchises.
Built in Unreal Engine 5
We’re building ‘83 from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. That gives us powerful tools like Nanite and Lumen to push visual fidelity and realism further than we ever could in previous projects.
Of course, UE5 is still evolving, and it’s not without its challenges, but we’re pushing hard to get the most out of the engine. You can hear more about how we’re tackling these challenges in our recent interview with MoiDawg.
Early Access Is Coming
We’ll be launching into Early Access later this year with a focused set of maps and features, and then expanding based on our community’s feedback. Your invaluable input is going to help shape this game throughout Early Access.
Join our Discord community to stay up-to-date with the latest about ‘83 and get a direct line with the development team themselves!
What’s Next?
In the next dev diary, we’ll be taking a closer look at the two primary factions at the heart of ’83; the United States and the Soviet Union.
We’ll break down the setting of the conflict, introduce each faction’s tactical identity, and dive into their starting arsenals, from rifles and sidearms to heavy weapons and support gear. You’ll get a sense of how we’re shaping their roles on the battlefield.
For now, thanks for being here. If you’re into tactical FPS games with weight, atmosphere, and intensity, this one’s for you.
— Blue Dot Games
Stay tuned to our channels to not miss upcoming Developer Tapes on our road to Early Access Launch.
Make sure to support & follow us on social media and wishlist us below for more updates!
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@83thegame
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/83thegame/
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/83thegame.bsky.social
Youtube: View game page
Twitter (X): https://x.com/83thegame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83TheGame/