After nearly eight years in early access, BlackFoot Studios has announced that its tactical first-person shooter, Ground Branch, will officially launch version 1.0 on July 16. The game, which emphasizes realism and was co-founded by John Sonedecker, an artist who worked on the original Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon titles at Red Storm Entertainment, has been in development in various forms since 2007.
Ground Branch initially launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 that did not meet its funding goal, but it later found a community that supported its development through Steam's Early Access program since 2018. The upcoming 1.0 release introduces the long-awaited campaign mode, starting with a prologue designed to introduce the game's narrative and set the stage for future chapters. This replaces the previous "Operations" mode, which consisted of disconnected missions.
Alongside the campaign, Ground Branch is also adding a new Extraction mode. This mode tasks players and their teammates with infiltrating a map to rescue an AI-controlled hostage from AI guards. The notes emphasize that making too much noise during the approach could lead to the guards executing the hostage, highlighting the game's focus on careful planning and execution. The developers also noted a "smoother, more responsive door system" as part of the update, underscoring the game's detailed approach to mechanics.
BlackFoot Studios plans to continue post-launch development, with new single-player chapters scheduled for release in the months following version 1.0. Additionally, a mod kit is planned to allow players to expand the game's content themselves. This commitment to ongoing development aims to fulfill the game's core promise to players.
The impending full release of Ground Branch may appeal to players nostalgic for the more direct, tactical gameplay of early Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon titles, a style that has become less common in recent entries of those franchises.