Greeting to you all, Task Force Admiral followers !
So, in our very last update we talked about the reasons why we’re going for a Kickstarter. If you are still unsure of our motivations, please do head over there for the extra intel. Today we’ll be talking more about what you’ll find in that big box of fun. All these contents are to be taken as previews and the final items featured in the campaign next month might differ a bit, but it's a good start.
Talking about good starts, those who want to be kept updated about the launch are welcome to go over to Kickstarter & follow us by clicking on the relevant button.
As for the rest, let's go!
The tiers & the rewards
Although we cannot share absolutely all the details just yet, we have progressed far enough to provide you with a solid preview of what’s coming.
First of all, this campaign will give you access to both digital and physical rewards. These are distributed across a variety of tiers (nine in total), ensuring that every backer can find something that fits their expectations and budget.
The digital tiers (Delivery: late 2025)
The digital tiers offer a lightweight way to get what you want without the hassle of storing a physical box at home. Beyond the donation tiers for those who simply want to buy us a coffee, you’ll have access to a basic digital edition (a key for the game upon release) and a deluxe version with extra digital goodies. The deluxe version also grants you access to our private beta, allowing you to play along with new builds as they go online, all the way up to the full release.
The Deluxe edition will also include the fantastic work Aleksi Aubry-Carlson & Jonathan Figoli have authored for Task Force Admiral, in a high-fidelity format. If you liked their work on Cold Waters, War on the Sea and Sea Power, we are pretty sure you will love this one too!
The Physical Tiers (Delivery: Early 2026)
The physical tiers are for those who love the tactile experience of owning something. It’s a nostalgic throwback to the 1990s, when buying a game meant getting a real box with more than just discs inside. For anyone over 40, this was a cherished ritual—unlike later generations who grew accustomed to DVD cases or purely digital purchases.
Back in the day, boxes from publishers like MicroProse weren’t just glorified containers for floppy disks; they were treasure troves filled with comprehensive manuals, real-life anecdotes, unit references, and battle histories. Classics like Task Force 1942 and 1942: The Pacific Air War even included separate volumes for their manuals and historical supplements. We aim to honor this legacy by adopting a similar approach, paying homage to the games that first introduced many of us to the PTO over 30 years ago.
The “Crazy” Tiers (Delivery: Fall 2025 for the extra rewards)
For those who want to leave their mark, we’ve designed a few exclusive rewards that offer unique opportunities only a crowdfunding campaign can provide. If you’re someone who loves to make things personal, these are for you.
We are designing a challenge coin to celebrate this event. Although it’s still in development and requires refinement to ensure it can be sculpted properly, here’s a small preview. Additionally, our talented artist Julien can immortalize you in the game—whether through a custom in-game portrait or a personalized loading screen, available in both digital and print formats.
The Timing & the Demo
We’ve pretty much finalized the timeline for the campaign, which we’re targeting for January 2025, provided everything stays on track. Kickstarter has already greenlit our landing page, so feel free to head over and click the “Notify Me” button to stay informed about the latest campaign developments.
To ensure a smooth launch, we’ve focused heavily on finalizing our demo, which will include a few key features we’re very excited about. Staying true to the tradition of classic games, this demo will allow you to judge for yourself whether Task Force Admiral is worthy of your time, attention, and hard-earned money. The demo will feature:
- One historical scenario, centered on the carrier battle of May 8 in the Coral Sea between Task Force 17 (Yorktown & Lexington) and Carrier Division 5 (Shokaku & Zuikaku).
- A functional carrier engagement generator, enabling you to customize a quick 24-hour engagement.
- A preview of our first- and third-person control systems for fighter aircraft, showcasing some dogfighting action.
We hope these features will keep you entertained for a few hours and provide enough content to make you confident in our goals and the potential of our technology. The demo will only be available during the campaign’s duration (approximately 30 to 40 days).
The Survey
Now it’s your turn to give us some feedback. After reading about what’s coming, we’d love to hear how you feel and what you’re planning to do. Head over to our survey and share your thoughts about the campaign. This will help us make any necessary adjustments ahead of the Q1 launch.
You can access the survey by clicking on this link below or by scanning the QR code. A big thanks to everyone for your kind help!
At any rate, if you’ve made it to the end of this update, our deepest gratitude for the support you’ve shown over the years. This campaign marks a significant milestone for all of us, as Task Force Admiral continues to grow into something tangible. Stay tuned for more updates before the campaign launch, and thank you in advance to everyone who helps spread the word.
Take care, everyone!
Cheers,
The TFA Team
The Task Force Admiral Team
