To mark the one-year anniversary of the release of the multiplayer military shooter Insurgency: Sandstorm, developer New World Interactive is making the game free to play on Steam until December 17.

To jump into the action, hit the Steam page and pound the "Play Game" button. You can play to your heart's content until Tuesday next week (an exact end time isn't specified) and if you dig it, you can also pick it up for half price—$15/£13/€15—until January 2.

We liked it quite a bit, for the record: "I haven't played a multiplayer shooter as exciting as this for ages, and I'll be coaxing friends into its co-op mode for months to come." Phil said in his December 2018 review. It's expanded considerably since then, with new maps, modes, weapons, cosmetics, and other features.

Insurgency: Sandstorm, the eerily realistic military shooter, is hosting a free weekend on Steam, and it starts today. It's not the most relaxing way to spend your weekend, but Sandstorm's one of the best multiplayer shooters around, especially in co-op. 

Sandstorm creates lots of explosions of drama without relying on scripted sequences. The AI, if you're playing in PvE, is more than competent, and you'll often find yourself holed up near an objective, nervously peering out of windows as you wait for the assault. Then everything goes to Hell and there's shouting and screaming and dying soldiers trying to crawl to safety. 

The sound design is a high point, with allies and enemies chatting and barking away, and gunfire and explosions echoing down city streets. The dramatic shift from a deserted alley to a fire-drenched warzone is more than a bit jarring—just what you want for a lazy weekend inside.

Insurgency: Sandstorm is free on Steam until 10 am PT on June 24. 

The developers of excellent multiplayer shooter Insurgency: Sandstorm will add two new maps, two new game modes, a hardcore rule set for every mode, and mod support before the end of the year—all in free updates.

New World Interactive revealed the roadmap for the rest of 2019 yesterday, which also includes night versions of maps, new weapons and upgrades, and improved character customization. It hasn't put an exact date on anything, and says it's "possible that some content may need to get pushed back", but it's aiming to get it all out before the end of the year alongside additions that it hasn't yet announced.

The level editor and mod tools will no doubt be put to good use: the original Insurgency has more than 18,000 mods on the Steam Workshop, and itself started as a Half-Life 2 mod. "That same treatment is coming to Insurgency: Sandstorm as well," the team said. "This includes but is not limited to community created levels, game modes, rulesets, gameplay modifications, factions, weapons, and weapon upgrades." Players will be able to share mods on "either the Steam Workshop or a similar service".

Alongside the roadmap, we got our first look at one of the two new planned maps. It's a snow map, and it's a remake of Sinjar from the original Insurgency. "Characters will breathe cold puffs of air as they run and fight, and they’ll leave snowprints which can be tracked by other players," the team said. It didn't reveal anything about the other planned map, but said it would separately add "a night time version of every map we have", with new equipment such as flashlights, night vision goggles and infrared laser sights. Enemy AI in co-op modes will also be adjusted for the low-light conditions.

In terms of new modes, New World Interactive is adding a PvP tug of war-style mode called Frontline and a co-op horde mode called Outpost, where you defend multiple points. It's also working on a new mode based on Ambush, which was a PvP VIP escort mode in Insurgency, but that won't arrive until next year.

After testing out a hardcore version of its Checkpoint mode, which had slower-than-normal movement, the team is rolling out a hardcore rule set for every mode, available to all community servers. You'll also find a hardcore playlist in the main Play menu, letting you jump in through normal matchmaking. The team is still working out exactly what the hardcore rule set will involve, but expect the slow movement from hardcore Checkpoint to remain. The new rules will arrive "sooner than many of the other things on our roadmap", it said.

If you want more detail on any of the changes, including a look at some of the new weapons and character customisation options coming to the shooter, you can read the full Steam post here.

Insurgency: Sandstorm, the very loud, very tense military shooter, received its first big update this week. It promises to shake up the battles between soldiers and insurgents with new game modes and five new weapons, along with some tweaks to competitive matches. 

The highlight of the update is the arcade playlist. It will eventually feature a bunch of rotating modes and new rulesets, starting with team deathmatch. It's a straightforward mode with each team simply trying to net the most kills, but it also waives faction restrictions and gives you extra supply points to more easily build your dream loadout.  

You'll be able to spend that increased supply on the five new guns, which are normally limited to a specific faction. For close quarters fights, you'll be wanting one of the new MP5s. The A2 and A5 are both low caliber guns, so they won't knock you on your arse with the recoil. The two new machine guns pack a bigger bunch, with the M240B boasting high-caliber damage, while the MG3 has an "absurd" rate of fire. You can also add the PF940 handgun to your loadout, which comes with a high capacity magazine upgrade that lets you cram 31 rounds into it. 

Also included in the update are flashbang improvements, new cosmetic items, the ability to kick players off community servers and competitive tie-breakers. Check out the full patch notes here. 

I’ll never forget the screaming. We'd just locked down checkpoint C, a three-storey townhouse in a wartorn village, and the six of us had taken up positions guarding all windows and entry points, waiting for the counterattack. First a pregnant silence, then a racket of assault rifle bullets and panicked shouts. We were repelling them. The timer had almost expired. Then a squadmate threw a speculative incendiary grenade at a doorway, and the screaming started. The area was being contested, and the insurgent contesting it had just been set alight. The round ended with six of us watching in mute horror as he crawled, wailing, through the fire, into the hallway where he eventually expired. 

This unscripted moment from one of Insurgency Sandstorm's eight-player co-op matches against waves of AI forces really does speak of its qualities. Not just of the eerily convincing soundscapes it conjures, full of dialogue and terrifying reverberations, and not just of the inherent tension to its control point-based modes. It also demonstrates an ability to convey the ugliness and horror of modern military combat, without the need for overwrought scripted sequences as with Battlefield and Call of Duty. Not bad for a series that started life as a Half-Life 2 mod.

Sandstorm is equally brilliant as a co-op or competitive multiplayer game, offering competent large-scale 16v16 fights with vehicles but really excelling at tighter encounters on chokepoint-heavy maps with fewer combatants. The exact nature of the conflict you're fighting and dying for is non-specific but the reference points span Black Hawk Down to Zero Dark Thirty via The Hurt Locker—in other words, a patchwork of post-millennium war in the Middle East. Among the men in bomb vests sprinting at you and the RPG fire, what stands out in particular is that no one's playing the hero. 

Instead, every player-controlled and AI soldier sounds terrified. They shout out when they spot an enemy, when they need to reload, or when an objective state has changed, but they never sound like they're relishing the fight like Call of Duty's psychopathic operatives do. They're bricking it, like any sensible person would do. I'd love to see the inner workings of Insurgency: Sandstorm's code so that I could understand how developers New World Interactive manage to trigger appropriate canned dialogue at just the right junctures. That said, they've probably got their hands full, what with this game releasing, so walking an imbecile through their complex systems maybe isn't the most sensible use of their time. 

Nevertheless, the game's unusually articulate soldiers have plenty of provocation to sound terrified in a given match, treated as they are to very few lulls in the action and bombarded by surprise attacks. Co-op consists of a series of checkpoint captures, in sequence, while AI attack each one in waves. Competitive modes, meanwhile, range from Hardpoint-like power struggles to traditional two or three point control scenarios. There's no attempt to reinvent the wheel that's turned at the centre of modern military online shooters, nor any great imperative to do so. Insurgency: Sandstorm just gets on with doing the fundamentals brilliantly.

Weapon behaviour takes a bit of getting used to, mind you. There's no extra layer of visual or sonic feedback for successfully shooting an opponent, so you're sometimes at a loss as to whether your long-range shots connected or not. The active reload mechanic is also sure to catch the new player out at least a dozen times, but these are concessions to realism that Insurgency Sandstorm absolutely convinces you are worth making. 

Eventually the absence of hit confirmations becomes something to actively enjoy, just like those moments you remember to lean around a corner and hit your mark. Here, more than anywhere except arguably ArmA, you can take tremendous pride in playing like a professional soldier and forgetting about K:D ratios.

If nits must be picked, it's the vehicles that stick out for their rough and ready implementation. I've had some great moments in the gunner seat of a converted pickup, true, but the vehicle handling itself and the extent to which map design actually accommodates them just isn't quite there. There's the lightest touch of jankiness reminding you this isn't a triple-A shooter, but it's only with vehicles that you feel the experience actually suffers for it.

Even with those creases, I haven't played a multiplayer shooter as exciting as this for ages, and I'll be coaxing friends into its co-op mode for months to come. I'll also try—and occasionally fail—to describe just how good it sounds from moment to moment to anyone who'll listen. See you at checkpoint C.

Update: This review has been updated to reflect the maximum co-op player count of eight, and that bullets do not self-replenish.

Insurgency: Sandstorm launched yesterday, and I was just about to share that fact with you when, instead, I found myself hiding behind walls, sprinting between alleys and trying not to get shot as insurgents poured into courtyards under the cover of smoke. It’s a startlingly loud shooter, especially with headphones, and extremely stressful. I rather like it so far. 

Sandstorm has the air of a sim without getting too bogged down in the details. It feels authentic, even though it’s as brisk as an arcade shooter. Guns are hefty, mechanical bits of kit that take a while to reload; bullets are very, very lethal; and if you die, you can only respawn when your team captures a new objective. 

I died three times in the tutorial alone. I could pretend it was because I was distracted by a bee, but it’s December and all the bees are dead. I just got surprised. Enemies aren’t especially smart, but they’re very adept at appearing right where you aren’t looking, which is typically fatal. They love a smoke grenade, too, and will use them to quickly surround surprised soldiers.

My first mission went considerably better, backed up as I was by a large group of gun-toting chums rather than AI stand-ins. It was a brutal fight down a street-turned-warzone, surrounded by too many doorways and windows to cover. There was rarely a quiet moment, and while there were plenty of discrete, objective-based shootouts, the whole thing felt like one giant, terrifying battle. When the gunfire briefly relented, it usually meant a lot more of it was coming.

Fighting to objectives was wild, trying to make sense of the streets and open buildings all while trying not to get shot. Walking up to one door, I’d barely opened it before a shotgun blast filled me with holes. It’s full of surprises. I stopped opening doors so boldly after that. Allies started dropping off but the insurgents kept coming. It was trying to protect those objectives after capturing them when things got really hairy, though. With smoke everywhere, bullets from friends and foes cutting through everyone indiscriminately and enemies pouring out of every doorway, it can devolve into a mess very quickly.  

It looks fine but sounds incredible. It’s extremely loud, and the explosions and bullets—the din of battle—sound unnervingly close. It’s the audio, rather than the minimalist UI, that helps you make sense of the chaos, too. It’s a very chatty game, with both allies and enemies barking updates and orders, or just reacting. Positional VOIP is helpful, but the in-game audio does a brilliant job on its own. 

The 8-player co-op is probably where I’ll be staying for now, but there are also 16 vs 16 PvP modes. There’s a surprising amount of cosmetic customisation, too, and it’s available right out of the gate. Both factions, Security and Insurgents, get unique clobber to wear, ranging from flashy military gear to a regular hijab. As well as clothes and accessories, you can choose your gender and a few other physical traits. 

Insurgency: Sandstorm is out now.

The team-based tactical FPS Insurgency: Sandstorm is set to go live on December 12, and before that happens you'll have the opportunity to play it for free in an open beta that will begin on December 7 and run through the weekend. To give players an advance look at what's in store, developer New World Interactive has put up a "gameplay overview" trailer showcasing co-op and PvP game modes, environment, audio, vehicles, movement, and plans for post-release content. 

The video emphasizes Insurgency: Sandstorm's commitment to realism: Some surfaces can be penetrated by gunfire, bullets slow and drop over long ranges, and the HUD is basically non-existent. "Insurgency is all about immersion," the narrator says. "We keep our HUD very minimal. There's no kill feed, hit markers, or anything that might distract from the action in front of you. The only way to confirm a kill in Sandstorm is to watch the body drop." 

New World Interactive is currently working on a "massive update" that will go live when the beta begins; the studio said it will be "a big content upgrade on the current closed beta offering," including "the full map pool, character improvements including new voice lines, an optimization pass, and much more." 

It did not say, however, whether it will address the AI shortcomings we talked about in September preview. 

"When it comes to combat, Sandstorm delivers that trademark Insurgency brutality with gusto, even in beta. The Insurgency series has always leaned towards realism where it could, and that continues here," we wrote at the time. 

"Unfortunately, the AI is going to need a significant amount of work as well. There are moments where it can seem clever: planning an ambush or lying in wait in dark corners for unsuspecting players. At other times, an enemy might spin 180 degrees to pick players off across the map, or become so focused on one player that they completely ignore others and expose themselves for an easy kill." 

If you just can't wait until Friday to start shooting at people, immediate access to the ongoing closed beta can be had by preordering the game on Steam. It's currently available for ten percent off the regular $30 price, with another ten percent cut for owners of the original Insurgency. 

Insurgency: Sandstorm, the third game in the series that began as a Source Engine mod in 2007, has been delayed. Originally planned for a September launch, Sandstorm's release was pushed back to December 12 as developer New World Interactive announced it need extra time to make improvements, upgrade to Unreal Engine 4.20, and 'deliver the best experience possible.'

In the meantime, I tried out the PvE mode in the Sandstorm beta. It's an objective-based horde mode in which players push across maps while battling scores of AI enemies and completing one of three objectives: capturing points, defending points, or blowing up enemy supplies. It's not as deep as a good Payday 2 mission, but it's not as simplistic as a Call of Duty Zombies match, either.

When it comes to combat, Sandstorm delivers that trademark Insurgency brutality with gusto, even in beta. The Insurgency series has always leaned towards realism where it could, and that continues here. An unthinking player will go down hard if they aren’t careful. Shotguns hit like a truck, even at ranges far beyond the standard videogame expectations. This dedication to realistic gunplay creates a distinct pacing in Insurgency where players might spend several minutes hiding in a corner, listening anxiously for footsteps, only to pop out and frantically deliver a headshot on a single enemy. A traditional horde mode pushes you to kill everything you see, but Insurgency’s realistic combat encourages avoidance-heavy play instead, setting it apart from many other horde mode games out there.

Combat clarity could be improved, however: the best shooters communicate heavily with their players by using identifiable silhouettes, smart sound design, and rich feedback to avoid confusing the player. The sound design in beta is a disparate mix that makes it difficult to tell if a friend or enemy is nearby, and that can be frustrating in a game so reliant on sound for positioning. Enemy silhouettes could be a lot clearer, and hit markers or hit sounds would make the combat more readable, though that might stray from the game’s attempts to feel realistic.

There are performance issues throughout, but New World Interactive’s delay will hopefully result in better optimization. Unfortunately, the AI is going to need a significant amount of work as well. There are moments where it can seem clever: planning an ambush or lying in wait in dark corners for unsuspecting players. At other times, an enemy might spin 180 degrees to pick players off across the map, or become so focused on one player that they completely ignore others and expose themselves for an easy kill.

It would be great if the AI was a bit more human-like, focusing on self-preservation and only possessing knowledge of what it could actually see and hear. Right now, the AI seems so stupid that it has to cheat to keep up, which can make combat encounters feel unfair.

Making progress

Sandstorm’s progression system is cosmetic-only. You earn cash by completing missions, and you can spend that cash to buy the cosmetics you want. It’s a fair, easy-to-follow system that rewards you without feeling exploitative. 

Gear customization is based on points, with a set amount of items you can carry, so if you want heavy armor and a modded shotgun, you might not be able to carry any grenades. This pick-and-choose system gives players the freedom to make interesting tactical choices right away, but it also means there are no new skills or tools that can be discovered later on. New World has made a deliberate choice with this system, and it might not satisfy everyone.

Despite the issues I encountered, Insurgency: Sandstorm is immense fun that manages to successfully differentiate itself from other horde mode games out there. If the lack of a progression system is a positive and not a negative for you, then there's little to worry about outside the AI and performance. Hopefully New World Interactive can polish it successfully in time for launch, with special attention focused on improving the bots.

Insurgency: Sandstorm, the tactical team-based FPS previously planned for a September release has been moved back nearly two months. The new date is December 12, though the 10% pre-order discount and beta access will be extended through the new release date.

"This was one of the hardest decisions our team has ever had to make and not one taken lightly," reads a post on New World Interactive's site. "However, we feel it is in the best interest of the game and our community to spend more time working to ensure we deliver the best possible experience."

During the beta the developers received feedback from players, and "we are acutely aware that not all of you are having the ideal experience we want to deliver," the post continues. "By extending the beta and moving our launch date to December, the additional time will allow us to make significant improvements to the game with continued input from you."

Some of those planned improvements include:

• Upgrade to Unreal Engine 4.20 and continue optimizing
• Improve the character models, textures, and animations in the game
• Improve the “scoped” experience for both high and low-quality scope settings
• Improve the level visuals, gameplay and optimization
• Add more cosmetic item variations and a new forearm tattoo cosmetic type which can also be seen in first person
• Expand in-game server options to include a server browser, community-run server support, and a custom games system allowing users to specially configure games hosted by our server infrastructure.
• Refine the game to the point it has far less bugs, glitches, visual inconsistencies and other issues.

You can find Insurgency: Sandstorm on Steam, where there's also 10% loyalty discount for owners of the original Insurgency that has been extended until the end of March, 2019.

Publisher Focus Home Interactive announced today that the team-based tactical FPS Insurgency: Sandstorm will be out on September 18. Ahead of that, two "preorder beta" tests will take place, the first of which is live right now. 

"Preorder beta 1" will feature three maps, dozens of weapons (and hundreds of loadouts), and all planned game modes, with fully-implemented vehicle and fire support systems. It's set to run over the weekend, and will come to a close on August 13. The second preorder beta is slated to begin on August 30 and will run right through until the release date (September 18), and will include all six maps that will be available in the release version of the game. 

As the name suggests, you'll need to preorder the game to get in on the beta action. It's currently available on Steam at a ten percent pre-release discount, dropping it to $27/£23/€27 until launch. Owners of the original Insurgency will receive a bonus ten percent discount, which is good until the end of the year.