Ever since Bulkhead Interactive’s Battalion 1944 was successfully funded on KickStarter in early 2016, many have been eagerly awaiting the World War II multiplayer shooter’s release. Last year, Square Enix Collective jumped onboard to publish the game for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. While we are still waiting for the console versions of Battalion 1944, the developers have revealed that PC version will finally hit Steam Early Access on February 1.
For those of you who don’t know, Battalion 1944 is a multiplayer shooter set in World War II, a time that seemed to be long forgotten by larger developers at the time of the game’s crowdfunding, though we have seen Call of Duty return to the period since then. Gameplay-wise, the developers wanted to harken back to the intense close-combat multiplayer of multiplayer shooters from the 1990s.
The Early Access version of the game will include six modes cost $14.99 for those who did not back the game. Before the game hits Early Access on February 1, the developers will be holding a Closed Beta for the game between January 19 and January 21. This beta will be open to those who backed the game on KickStarter and Humble Bundle along with those that sign up at this link. The developers also stated that it is fine for players to Stream the game or discuss it on social media during that time.
Joe Brammer, the Studio Lead at Bulkhead Interactive, had the following to say about finally bringing Battalion 1944 to Early Access and the exclusive Closed Beta:
“It feels good to get Battalion 1944 into the hands of gamers after working on it so hard. We’ve been testing the game behind closed doors with our Kickstarter backers. It’s now time for us to extend our testing to Early Access to help what I believe can one of the best competitive FPS games ever.
We’re going to be using the beta to run domination on the Manorhouse V1 map, as well as showing off our new competitive mode ‘Wartide’ on the map Liberation. It’s one last chance for us to test out our wares with FPS players before we make the leap to Early Access.”
Meanwhile, Howard Philpott, Creative Producer at Bulkhead Interactive, also had the following to say about the game:
“Getting to grips with the intense nature of the Second World War is something that’s been key to our process. That’s something I also think comes across in this new reveal trailer – the action in a Battalion 1944 encounter is as feverish as it is credible. We’ve looked to bed the play down in maps that are both competitive and authentic, for which our trips to Normandy proved immensely useful”.
You can check out the game’s Early Access launch trailer below. Battalion 1944 will hit Steam Early Access on February 1. There is currently no word on when the console versions will release, though the game’s Steam Page does say that the developers plan on keeping the game in Early Access for around one year.