40v40 squad-based tactical shooter ‘83 offers inside look at its Classes & Roles
Blue Dot Games have just unveiled the latest in their Developer Tapes series showcasing different aspects of 83 their upcoming 40v40 squad-based tactical first-person shooter set in an alternate 1983 where the Cold War escalated into an all-out warzone. This latest video highlights the different classes and roles in the game ahead of the Early Access launch later this year.
Before entering each game, you must choose a class, each equipped with a distinct loadout of weapons and inventory items, shaped by historical Cold War arsenals. While the US and Soviet Forces share most class types, you’ll notice slight variations in equipment and tools, reflecting the real-world differences between these factions in 1983.
Your choice of class is important, and offers loadout customisation using a slot-based system. Want to move light and fast? Drop your gear and skip the grenades. Want more utility? Carry explosives, smoke grenades, or even anti-tank launchers.
Each class offers a distinct function, ranging from: the standard Rifleman, to the suppressing fire Machine Gunner, the sniper Marksman, the explosive Grenadier, the Anti-Tank soldiers on the frontline, or the Tank Crew - who are lightly armed but are the only role capable of piloting a tank. Roles like Special Forces, NCOs, and Sappers are also part of the class lineup, and we’ll be revealing more about their specialised capabilities and tactical depth as development continues through Early Access and beyond.
To ensure balance and realism, class availability is limited, but in a 40v40 match it’s important to look at the big picture. Each faction’s Infantry squads consist of a Squad Leader and nine other members. Squads share a dedicated VOIP channel, can coordinate movements, mark objectives, and deploy temporary spawn points - but only if the Squad Leader stays alive.
Coordination is the name of the game in war, and Squad Leaders have special access to a direct command VOIP channel to coordinate with other squad leaders and the team’s Commander. Leaders can name their squad, lock it, invite players, kick players, or even transfer leadership mid-match, all while directing movement, placing rally points, and keeping the team on task. Finally at the top of the chain is the Commander, a single player per team who oversees everything from an overhead command screen, where they issue squad orders, manage resources, and activate powerful on-map and off-map abilities. It’s important that everyone play their part if your faction is to emerge victorious.
‘83 was built on the idea of “accessible realism”, with an aim to make everything as realistic as possible, until the point where it stops being fun, then it gets ratcheted back one notch. Taking you to the action fast, matches average around 30-40 minutes, and whilst dying only takes you out of the match for a short while, before allowing you to respawn, don’t underestimate this seemingly low-stakes penalty, as that time-out is enough to turn the tide of battle as 83 requires thorough communication and teamwork.
83 features era-authentic weapons and equipment with realistic handling and lethality, with each armament meticulously designed and animated according to its real life counterpart. Every weapon behaves in a realistic way, with barrels and suppressors overheating when rapid firing, machineguns require a stable surface for accuracy, and bullets don't magically teleport in between magazines when you reload a half-empty one. 83s focus on realism, coordination and large-scale immersion offers players a gritty, boots-on-the-ground experience in a world teetering on the edge of nuclear war!
