"On wings of shadow, we will find deliverance." – Corvus Corax
Arriving on the battlefields under the cover of dark, the Raven Guard launches its ambush against the betrayers to the Imperium on Isstvan V. Corvus Corax leads his Legion as they join the game to close the new arrivals of the Dropsite Massacre expansion on Friday, August 18th. Check out all that's coming and the new card gallery before they join the game tomorrow: https://www.horusheresylegions.com/raven-guard-dm-release
Prepare to shadow-walk into the heart of battle and wreak havoc among enemy lines!
“This is an airborne to ground assault of the Konni-occupied Zaya Observatory.”
— Commander Phillip Graves, Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II
Welcome to Shadow Siege.
Shadow Company, in alignment with Urzikstan Liberation Force and its leaders Farah Karim and Alex Keller, has actionable intel on a dangerous arsenal hidden underneath Al Mazrah’s Zaya Observatory.
All Operators should complete this special operation – which is where they can watch the Worldwide Reveal Trailer for Modern Warfare III – as soon as possible on its starting date of August 17, and continue accessing this operation before its planned end time on August 21 at 10:30 A.M. PT.
Here are the principles of the Shadow Siege event, along with the rewards for completing it.
Ensure you have the latest version of Call of Duty: Warzone™ before proceeding:
Recap of Everything Leading to Rogue Arsenal
Those who completed the Atomgrad RAID series as well as DMZ, let alone the Campaign, already know everything leading up to Rogue Arsenal. For those that don’t mind spoilers, this is what you need to know:
Following the Campaign, Task Force 141 track down Hadir, Farah’s brother and Al Qatala commander, underneath Urzikstan in a Soviet bunker. Hadir warns Task Force 141 of Konni in his dying breaths, as nearly everyone returns to HQ while Alex regroups with Farah.
As we see in the Season 05 opening cinematic, Farah and Alex are working with Shadow Company and its CEO, Graves. Yes, he’s alive, and the narrative about his whereabouts were so well covered by his cyber commander Oz, that Operators like Alex questioned whether he “perished” Las Almas or somewhere else in Central or South America.
Meanwhile in DMZ, an unidentified military force funded by local philanthropist Milena Romonova invades Vondel. As Laswell partners with Phalanx and Black Mous PMC Groups to discover this military force’s true identity, the Crown Faction ramped up recruitment efforts and offered lucrative payouts for Operators that secured nuclear fuel rods.
As it turned out, the unidentified military group and the Crown were one in the same: They were both Konni.
All of that, including the false flag operation in Vondel that saw its Train Station and Police Station attacked, allowed Konni to move into Al Mazrah.
In DMZ, Shadow Company agents are fighting side-by-side with Operators (unless there is friendly fire) against Konni.
During the past few weeks, DMZ Operators also uncovered key Notes in the Koschei Complex linking Kochei and other threats together as one ultranationalist threat…
And that is not even mentioning Valeria breaking out of her Las Almas prison, invading Al Mazrah Port, and expanding their smuggling operations.
That all leads up to today: the start of Shadow Siege with Operation: Rogue Arsenal.
Operation: Rogue Arsenal Mission Details
At the beginning of the Shadow Siege event, up to 32 Operators will receive a briefing from Commander Phillip Graves. Listen up; Graves only has time to detail key intel and mission objectives once, and this information is critical to the mission’s success.
It’s your loss if you decide to tune out the Shadow Company CEO.
NOTE: Due to the severity of this mission, we recommended squading up in Quads. Be sure to bring three allies to the fight with you or use Squad Fill to complete your Quad.
For those requiring step-by-step clarity, Shadow Siege is as follows:
First, everyone is on the same team for this Operation; all Operators will battle against Konni Group AI Combatants. Shadow Company provides a Durable Gas Mask and a Self-Revive Kit to go alongside your Custom Loadout.
Furthermore, respawns are enabled. However, if you go down, it’s best to get revived by a squadmate, as that’s a faster way to get back into the fight rather than having to parachute back in.
Phase I: Secure One of Eight Missile Launchers
After dropping out of the infiltration plane, Operators must secure one of eight missile launchers around Al Mazrah with their squad. These launchers can be located on your in-game Tac Map and via missile icons in the overworld.
Once all missile launchers are secured, the Zaya Observatory is bombarded with missiles, changing Al Mazrah forever.
This is also when Phase II of the Operation begins.
Phase II: Collect Gas Canisters
After the target — an underground weapons facility for manufacturing chemical weaponry — is revealed underneath the Zaya Observatory, all Operators must collect 45 gas canisters combined across all squads.
The second you collect a gas canister, your perspective will shift from first to third person until the canister is deposited at a helicopter transport vehicle outside the facility. Once you have a canister, the helicopter transport is clearly marked on your Tac Map, as well as within the overworld, with an icon of said vehicle.
Because the arsenal contains chemical weapons, every Operator has a Durable Gas Mask for safety. The Tac Map shows the area (in yellow) where there is too much chemical radiation for an Operator to handle without a Gas Mask, just like a Circle Collapse in other modes.
Be prepared to frequently replace Gas Masks while inside the facility; open Supply Boxes, grab them off dead enemy agents, or look to the exfil chopper to find more Gas Masks — this is vital to your Operator’s health.
Expect some hard-hitting enemies to be stationed in, around, and above the Observatory complex as you battle your way to the chemical weapons arsenal and attempt to extract those gas canisters.
Along the way, Operators may face Commanders in the air (attack helicopters) as well as on the ground (Wheelsons and Juggernauts). These are highly dangerous enemies compared to the regular Konni Group, but it’s vital to engage them if you’re intent on earning the new M13C Base Weapon reward.
While moving through the underground facility, Konni agents may drop their Burner Phones. Keep your head on a swivel to intercept enemy communications… And maybe figure out why they are here defending this lab underneath Al Mazrah.
Phase III: Exfil
The second that 45th canister is collected, all Operators must find the exfil location (the icon is the same as the Exfil Chopper icon in DMZ) to leave Al Mazrah immediately. At this time, the gas (a green circle on the Tac Map) will explode outwards from the facility.
It is possible to get left behind if you don’t reach the Exfil Chopper before it leaves — keep that in mind when trying to complete all reward objectives for Shadow Siege.
Whether you reach the Exfil Chopper or not, the ultimate threat is revealed… In participating with Shadow Siege, you become the first to learn Konni’s true agenda, as well as see the Worldwide Reveal Trailer for Modern Warfare III.
Note – Operation: Rogue Arsenal is replayable until its planned removal from the Call of Duty: Warzone playlist rotation on August 21 at 10:30 A.M. PT.
Operation: Rogue Arsenal Rewards
All Operators will receive the following rewards for completing specific challenges within the Shadow Siege event:
“Serpent Slayer" Vehicle Skin - Secure a Missile Launcher
"Konni Group" Emblem - Blow up the Observatory
"Crimson Sound" Calling Card - Exfil with a mission success
"Gas Canister" Charm - Deliver multiple Gas Canisters as a Squad in a single deployment
1 Battle Token Tier Skip - Intercept 5 radio transmissions
"M13C" Assault Rifle (New Weapon)*** - Assist in killing 5 Commanders – NOTE: Juggernauts, Boss Choppers, and Wheelsons all count towards this challenge
All these rewards are immediately available in Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare II.
In addition, all these rewards will carry forward to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
Learn more the Operators, weapons, and cosmetic items that carry forward from Modern Warfare II to Modern Warfare III, by reading this blog.
***The M13C Assault Rifle also has a Weapon Blueprint included as part of pre-ordering Modern Warfare III. More details here.
Operation: Rogue Arsenal Final Tips
The Shadow Siege event is something for you to experience for yourself, especially with all the rewards you can earn.
With that in mind, here are some tips for playing this experience and earning all rewards:
1. Move as one. A squad that sticks together — including when eliminating enemies and taking on objectives — wins together. Everyone in a four-person squad will receive rewards if at least one squad member completes objectives and if all squad members complete the match. Move as one unit throughout Shadow Siege to accomplish the mission and earn all its rewards.
2. Remember the reward objectives. If it means putting this blog post on a second screen (e.g., a spare monitor or a phone) or writing down the reward objectives, do so. Along with looking at the in-game objectives that appear under the minimap, remember all six of the objectives tied to rewards. Even if you played this Operation once, keep replaying it to unlock all six rewards; there might not be many opportunities in the future to earn them again (outside of the M13C).
3. The first mile to success. Vehicles are paramount to a quick and successful run of Operation: Rogue Arsenal. It’s quicker to reach the missile silos or Observatory via vehicle – the MRAP and Helicopter, for example — compared to on foot. It’s also possible to drive the Dirt Bikes and ATVs through the bunkers as well.
4. Commanders are no pushovers. If you play DMZ, you know the tactical prowess it takes to neutralize a Commander head-on. Be creative and ensure you have the right tools for the job — weapons, equipment, and other items — to dispatch these deadly foes.
5. Reap the rewards. All rewards carry over into Modern Warfare III (including what you get in the Battle Token Tier Skip, which will be applied to the Season 05 Battle Pass). Start leveling up that M13C — we recommend it for stealth missions and pairing it with stealth-based Perks and other Loadout Items — and get it maxed out (or even Gold, Platinum, Polyatomic or Orion) before bringing it into a new fight starting on November 10.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. For Call of Duty Updates, follow @CODUpdates on Twitter.
Gaucho and the Grassland brings an exciting new feature in its latest update: the introduction of a new biome - The Coastline.
Within the vast world of the game, already known for its diverse landscapes, including the iconic pampas biome, players will now have the opportunity to explore the sun-drenched beaches of Southern Brazil. With its white sands and the soothing sound of waves gently breaking on the shore, this addition provides an entirely fresh dimension to the game, delivering a unique virtual vacation experience.
While the pampas dazzle us with their expansive vegetation and captivating sense of freedom, the coastal biome presents us with a completely contrasting scenery. This visual shift invites players to explore the beauty of beaches and oceans, adding a distinct dimension to the gaming experience.
Although the main attraction lies in the picturesque landscape of the pampas, there's much more to discover beneath the surface of the coastline. Players will have the opportunity to venture into crystal-clear waters for a tranquil fishing session, for instance. So, picture yourself holding the fishing rod, eagerly awaiting the moment when a fish will bite the bait by the seaside.
This inclusion not only offers a serene activity but can also reward players with valuable resources for their journey. Fishing isn't just about a new relaxing activity; it can provide significant rewards to further enrich the gaming experience.
Furthermore, players will have the chance to build themed seaside houses in the new biome, creating their own paradise retreat adorned with coastal elements and details that capture the relaxing essence of a beachside getaway. These themed houses not only add a personal touch to the game but can also serve as restful havens as players face the challenges of the "Gaucho and the Grassland" universe.
The striking contrast between the vastness of the pampas plains and the intimacy of coastal landscapes is truly impressive. Every meticulous detail of the scenery perfectly captures the serene and relaxing atmosphere of the beaches, crafting an ideal environment for exploration and discovery.
Moreover, the inclusion of the coastline in the game isn't merely a visual change; it represents a significant expansion that enriches players' experience in various ways. From tranquil fishing to creatively building beachfront houses, the coastline offers an array of activities that seamlessly harmonize with the game's essence.
Be prepared to explore the coastal sands, feel the sea breeze, and dive into a new dimension of virtual fun.
And don't forget to add Gaucho and the Grassland to your and join our Discord community.
Our new game in the Secret Histories universe - that’s the one Cultist Simulator started, with the Hours and the Principles and the Suppression Bureau and the early twentieth-century occultism played out in text-boxes and cards - is out now. Manage an occult library in BOOK OF HOURS, where you can’t be murdered by Dread!
You may be interested in the weeklong Perpetual Edition deal, the same deal we offered in Cultist's launch week. This means if you buy BOOK OF HOURS in its first week of sale (that’s any time from now to 6PM BST / 10AM PDT on Thursday 24th August) you automatically get ‘Perpetual Edition’, meaning all future content expansions are free forever. There’s also a 10% launch discount, and a bundle of free desktop and mobile wallpapers included in it, so it’s a fantastic deal if I do say so myself! But the choice, as always, is yours.
BOOK OF HOURS is a kinder, less punishing game than Cultist Sim, but I strongly suspect if you like Cultist you’ll enjoy this new game too. It’s three times the size in terms of content; its recipes are more complex; and there’s no way to actually die - except sort of, I suppose, if you set fire to your journal or throw it down a well. See how that works out for you.
Cultist Simulator is in a good place right now. It’s stable, there’s a healthy mod community to keep things fresh, and we’ll still be updating it regularly with bug fixes and QoL improvements. (We might even come back with some larger DLC later down the line, but no promises yet!) So while our focus for the moment is on BOOK OF HOURS, I just wanted to let you know that we’ve not forgotten about the game that started it all. It’s just walking Streets Strange By Moonlight, and dreaming strange sweet dreams.
Thanks for playing, and may you glimpse the Mansus in your dreams tonight.
If you like what you see, leave us a review. Our games tend towards the weird and inexplicable, and it’s incredibly helpful to let other gamers know that we’ve not just, like, knitted a sock and drawn a face on it or something. Help unweird and explicate us! As much as is possible. ♥
After Cultist Simulator, we wanted to set our next game in the same universe - but AK felt bad that he’d made another game about eating people and bringing the apocalypse, and he wanted to write something kinder. Fast forward four years and here we are, in the soft golden glow of a deep auburn game about managing an occult library, of organising things carefully and thoughtfully, of being left alone in a beautiful Gormenghastian abbey to light candles and read books and walk the parapets, where every so often someone drops by to ask you something or give you a book - and then they go away again. BOOK OF HOURS: the introvert’s dream!
I thought you might be interested in some fragments of development history. You might recognise some things that evolved into the game we’ve just released, and others that (rightly) were left by the wayside because for the love of god how was that UI ever going to work? Here’s a little sample:
Early sketches for our hero art:
Some of the earliest design notes:
The first draft layout of Hush House:
Early Hush House design:
Some early prototypes of what BoH's art might look like:
Our 'porthole' phase:
We wanted to build something that had the crunchy recipe-based mechanics of Cultist Sim but was a welcoming place, somewhere you could go just to be on your own even if you weren’t working to achieve anything: a sun-dappled hammock; a candle-lit nook; a secret walled garden whose only key is yours. BOOK OF HOURS will not be for everyone, but I hope everyone can feel the love we poured in radiating from the worn stones of Hush House, the wave-weathered rocks around Crowcross Sands, the lamp-lit leaded-glass windows of the Sweet Bones, and the purr of the well-fed cat you brought in from the cold.
The mellifluous Systemchalk is broadcasting BOOK OF HOURS live on the Steam page, if you'd like to see the game in action. Alternatively, join us at 8PM BST / 12PM PDT for an AMA on r/Gaming (live here!), or in a live interview on GOG’s Twitch stream tomorrow at 7PM BST / 11AM PDT. Thank you so much for reading, and if you decide to pick up BOOK OF HOURS this week, may the Hours look kindly on your deeds.
August is back to school month! I know, probably one of the *worst* times of the year for young people (and for people young in spirit, like me)! But it’s an important time for prep and all that hullabaloo. HOWEVER, when you do have some free time, why not download and play the demo for #LongStory2?
It's been a while since we made available the demo for this one! We've been very busy juggling various other games and tasks, but here it is at last, the full The Wratch's Den experience now available on Steam!
We're actually releasing all our games on Steam, one every week, and we have quite a few. The Wratch's Den was the third game we made as PUNKCAKE Délicieux and it remains one of our favorites of the bunch!
If you get it and play it (please do!) and of you enjoy it, please remember that positive reviews on the game really help us, and that they can just be one sentence or a few words since what really helps the game shine is the review score. But of course if you're in a tale-telling mood please do tell us about something that happened in your game and that you enjoyed, we love to read that stuff!
And if you ever want to chat about the game (or our other games) with other player, you should join our Discord! It's a great place to come to know us more as well since we, the devs, are also on there chatting with the community!
Anyway that's it for now! Thanks for all the love, we hope you enjoy the game! Long live The Wratch! -PUNKCAKE Délicieux 🥞
I know, probably one of the *worst* times of the year for young people (and for people young in spirit, like me)! But it’s an important time for prep and all that hullabaloo. HOWEVER, when you do have some free time, why not download and play the demo for #LongStory2?