Arma 3 mod project promises to make Arma even more realistic

Arma 3 just got real. More realer. Incrementally more realismistic than it was just hours ago.

I asked ShackTac founder Dslyecxi what excited him about the ACE3 announcement, and he rattled off: “Consolidation of talent, open-source, modular, top devs, that sort of thing. I have confidence they'll deliver a quality product.” Given the history of stuff like Black Mesa, any uber-ambitious modding project gives us a bit of pause even as we applaud its lofty goals. ACE’s track record is excellent, though. And despite the long feature list, the way its announcement is tempered with focus is encouraging. “We are devoted to NOT reinventing the wheel, finding the best solutions, and bringing them to one place, while also fostering a development environment that promotes stability and performance,” developer NouberNou writes on the Arma 3 official forums.

Noubernou says that ACE3’s “initial release goals” will be made playable following Bohemia’s release of the Arma 3 Marksmen DLC. Below, a list of planned features from the team. If you missed it, check out the winners of Bohemia's Make Arma Not War modding competition.

Core features

Completely new 3D Interaction/Action System
Performance and reliability framework
Focus on modularity and customization
New flexible client and server settings & configuration
Improved medical system with various levels (Basic/Advanced) focus on gameplay/realism
Proper & consistent network synced weather
Wind and Weather Advanced Ballistics
Captivity System
Explosives System including different trigger types
Map screen improvements, marker placement and map tools
Advanced missile guidance and laser designation

Additional features

Carrying and dragging
Realistic names for vehicles and weapons
Realistic ballistics/FCS calculated in C/C++ extensions
Backblast and overpressure simulation
A fire control system for armored vehicles and helicopters
Disposable launchers
Realistic G-forces
Vehicle Locking
Realistic Night and Thermal vision modes
Magazine repacking
Realistic weapon heating
Combat deafness simulation
Improved Ragdoll Physics
Improved interactions for AARs and ammo bearers
Adjustable sniper scopes
No Idle Animation with lowered weapon
No talking player Avatar
Jumping over obstacles, climbing over walls and cutting down fences
Vector, MicroDAGR and Kestrel devices

Evan's a hardcore FPS enthusiast who joined PC Gamer way back in 2008. After an era spent publishing reviews, news, and cover features, he now oversees editorial operations for PC Gamer worldwide, including setting policy, training, and editing stories written by the wider team. His most-played FPSes are Hunt: Showdown, Team Fortress 2, Team Fortress Classic, Rainbow Six Siege, and Counter-Strike. His first multiplayer FPS was Quake 2, played on serial LAN in his uncle's basement, the ideal conditions for instilling a lifelong fondness for fragging.