There's a lot to choose from regarding the first-person shooter these days, but perhaps not a whole lot regarding the military-themed first-person shooter. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege continues to reign supreme on this front but will face new competition from the likes of Call of Duty: Vanguard and Battlefield. For those looking to test their mettle in modern military combat, but are wary of the same franchises, look no further than Insurgency: Sandstorm. After establishing a solid presence on PC, Insurgency: Sandstorm is out on consoles today, courtesy of the team at New World Interactive.
The news comes from Tony Rivera from Sandbox Strategies and is accompanied by a press release. Insurgency: Sandstorm is an online multiplayer tactical co-op shooter, where players are pitted against each other in the midst of urban combat environments within the Middle East. While this may sound like a tired trope with games, Insurgency: Sandstorm features an attention to detail, including authentic weapon handling, realistic bullet ballistics, and attention to coordinating with a team. Players can work together in massive PvP matches that put players, not in simple deathmatches but coordinated matches in which players work together to achieve goals. Among the many challenges of the battlefield, ammo preservation and caution are imperative for survival. Pinpoint and calling out objectives, and working with teammates is the difference between victory and defeat. This is especially true, as players can coordinate and organize support strikes, such as mortar strikes on enemy positions.
Insurgency: Sandstorm was first launched in December 2018, making an appearance at E3, 2018. The game was billed as a mammoth improvement over its predecessor, Insurgency, with an improvement of what worked and a reinvention of the original experience. Insurgency: Sandstorm has sold more than five million copies, and currently, almost three years after launching on Steam, Insurgency: Sandstorm sits at 60,707 reviews and is listed as "Very Positive."
I first got ahold of Insurgency: Sandstorm and got to play the game at E3 2018. Two years later, Insurgency: Sandstorm was at the Focus Interactive booth, formerly titled Focus Home Interactive. The game felt significantly different, with improved controls and orientation. It was fun and thrilling to play a game that required teamwork as opposed to mindless shooting. I remarked on the combat and how precise the shooting needs to be, as well as how melee kills need to be direct and close. It was a sharp contrast to the aim assist and overreach of melee combat that I remember from the Call of Duty days. Having said that, Insurgency: Sandstorm doesn't appear to be a game for those drawn into single-player experiences, but for those with friends that wish to work together and experience the enjoyment of overcoming obstacles, then Insurgency: Sandstorm certainly looks to fit the bill.
Insurgency: Sandstorm comes in the Standard, Deluxe, and Gold Editions. Preordering the Deluxe and Gold Edition will allow players to receive the Warlord Gear Set and Peacemaker Gear Set. The Deluxe Edition includes Insurgency: Sandstorm plus the game's Year 1 Pass, while the Gold Edition features the additional Year 2 Pass, releasing throughout the year after launch. Each Year Pass includes 16 cosmetic sets, with an instant bonus of four rewards for the Year 2 Pass.
Insurgency: Sandstorm will launch on consoles with backward compatibility for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at 4K resolution. In 2022, the game will receive further next-gen enhancements, with added support for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S console features