Hello, hello!
What’s on the menu for today? Well, a fresh WARNO map is ready to be unveiled in today’s DevBlog. Previously teased as the feature project of a novel landmark, let’s welcome the new Airport map to the stage.
The Kassel Airport Battleground
The map-building team has been hard at work on the upcoming Airport map, set to highlight a typical military objective during the Cold War. In the new map’s specific case, we are looking at the Kassel-Calden Airport, a prime target during our World War III scenario.
The Airport map is a battlefield designed for 3vs3 fights, taking up 80km², chiefly centered on the operations of a military airfield, including runway, taxiways, hangars, hardened shelters, and surrounding terrain.
What makes Airport special?
As you know, we keep a close watch on your feedback on existing maps (and wishes for new battlefields). We always analyze what works, what does not, and what could be changed to fit our vision of WARNO. As we mentioned in last week’s DevBlog, urban combat, in particular, is one special area we are busy developing and improving.
The Airport map brings not only a military airfield but also new built-up areas featuring the upcoming novel approach of close-quarter combat. Players wishing to occupy cities or towns must be able to quickly identify strategic points and determine which sections to deploy to. We want to impart to the players the feeling that their decision-making will directly impact the gameplay.
As such, Airport features the new urban “blocks”; they will have certain advantages when it comes to vision and endurance of the buildings themselves. The new map will be the first to contain this type of revised urban combat.
When we published our previous DevBlog, we clearly noted that the size of the districts and the empty areas in between were still a work in progress, and subject to change. We have reworked these particular elements to bring them more in line with player expectations.
Districts will be smaller than initially planned, which will result in denser cities. This process doesn’t stop; we are still working around the clock to improve the gameplay experience within built-up areas.
Please note that the new urban combat mechanics in Airport is just a slice. As we mentioned before, following Airport’s release, other (new) maps will feature even more extended built-up terrain.
Other gameplay changes
We have done many internal tests on Airport, all to fine-tune the placement of sectors, assets, and the like. The different Command Zones have been positioned in such a way that it provides an exciting experience to all sides without becoming too symmetrical.
Enhanced Atmosphere
We took extra steps to enhance Airport’s atmosphere by introducing a host of “war” events on the map. These include plane crashes, to give the impression of an ongoing conflict unfolding in the background. Our idea really was to say: “Okay, this airport has just been attacked - now it is our turn, guys!”
New Assets
Specifically for Airport, we developed a series of new assets (twenty new 3D models, to be exact). The city on the map also features new buildings, structures, and assets. Our 3D artist and level-building teams have redoubled their efforts to create immersive and realistic environments.
A new 10vs10 map
The Airport map is not the only new battlefield coming to WARNO. Also in the works has been a new version of Darkstream, to be playable in our 10vs10 mode. This comes on the back of a popular request to supersize the 8vs8 map. To make this a reality, we had to rewrite the AI to consider this number of players. Now, if any player leaves the match mid-game, in order not to unbalance the session, the AI will try its best to continue playing in the most optimal way.
WARNO League Super Tournament
Before we bid you adieu, a message from our esteemed community member Protosz about the second edition of the upcoming WARNO League Super Tournament.
The WARNO League Super Tournament will take place on the 8th and 9th of July. To sign up, or check for more details, be sure to visit the dedicated page for the competition here. Limited spots are still open!
Once again, the two-day event will see the best of the WARNO’s best duel it out across a series of competitive online matches. The competition is a 32-player single-elimination format. There is even a small pot of prize money for the bestest of WARNO commanders. Who will take the crown?
Prefer to watch the battle unfold from the sidelines? Be sure to check out the SDL Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/sd_league to follow all the WARNO League Super Tournament action!
See you on the battlefield
The map team is, as always, happy to share their latest works. We hope you’ll enjoy the new Airport map - “when it comes out”, Eugen trademark - as much as the team enjoyed creating it. Stay tuned!
Don’t forget to join the passionate WARNO community. Check the latest news on the Steam News page or visit the Steam Forums. Get together with other players on either the excellent Discord server, Reddit page, YouTube or our Instagram.
See you on the battlefield, commander!
