Arma 3 free update adds a new ship, SAMs, and small-diameter bombs

YouTube

Bohemia Interactive has released a new "Encore Update," technically known as update 1.84, to its realistic military FPS Arma 3. The update adds two new SAM and radar systems, anti-radiation missiles and small-diameter guided bombs, and the pièce de résistance, the USS Liberty, a static, placeable destroyer with detailed interiors and new naval fire-support options that can launch and recover helicopters and smaller ships.

Created by Jets DLC co-developer Bravo Zero One studios, the update also makes numerous adjustments to all existing Arma 3 scenarios and campaigns, to ensure that older content (Arma 3 has been around since 2013, remember) "makes optimal use of the assets and gameplay features" that have been added over the past few years. The full changelog is available at arma3.com and includes such tidbits as "Penetration materials of the industrial shed were adjusted," "The Car-95 GL reload sound was incorrect," and, let's see, "The next target action no longer skips targets if the missile has manual control or autoseek enabled." That's a very Arma-sounding bug indeed.

Bohemia recommended verifying the local game cache in Steam to avoid corrupted data after the download is updated, and you should probably defrag your hard drive (just don't defrag your SSD). It also clarified that the Encore Update is separate from the "Old Man" single-player scenario announced in June, which will be out later this year and free for everyone.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.