Developed by Offworld Industries, Squad is a team-based competitive shooter with a heavy emphasis on teamwork, communication, and large scale warfare. It launched into Early Access on December 14, 2015, and has been getting updates ever since. Particularly notable is the in-game VOIP, which features both command channels and positional voice chat, forcing players to coordinate both between themselves and as part of a larger force. The game is seen as a spiritual successor to the popular Project Reality mod for Battlefield 2 and tries to bridge the gap between fast-paced arcade shooters like Call of Duty and the more hard-core Milsim games, such as Escape from Tarkov. It’s a difficult balance to maintain, so there’s been constant tweaks and changes for one reason or another throughout the game’s development.
Squad features massive environments to play in, from Asia to Eastern Europe. Each map comes with its challenges and playstyles since logistic supply lines are necessary to keep players in the game. Additionally, there’s an element of base building, with players being able to establish their bases at key strategic locations, which makes for a unique experience each time you play. There are vehicles, too, from the humble motorcycle to the mighty Abrams battle tank. All in all, there’s always something going on at any one time in a standard game of Squad, making for a hectic, sometimes stressful, immersive first-person shooter.
And now, after five years of development, Offworld Industries has announced that Squad is ready for version 1.0. With over 2 million unique players on Steam and 91% of recent reviews being positive, it’s clear that the community is eager. There are a few new features to celebrate the launch, including a new Middle East faction and the city of Fallujah, while also opening up mod support. Offworld Industries aren’t finished with development just yet, however, as the roadmap for the remainder of 2020 features even more factions and maps, along with new vehicles and tweaked gameplay mechanics.
Squad is currently available on Steam for 25% off.
