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Greetings, commanders!
In this post, we would like to share some details we haven’t talked about before: the story behind the game, the challenges we are currently facing, and what the future holds for Broken Arrow. We understand that the road ahead is long, and fixing some of the issues will take time. However, we are more determined than ever to tackle them step by step and bring the game to the level it truly deserves.
Broken Arrow is a story about a dream becoming reality. About people with no prior gamedev experience who dared to turn their passion for wargames into the work of their lives. It is the story of a group of strangers, united by their love for military strategy games, who in 2018 decided to create a game they themselves had always wanted to play-featuring dynamic battles and modern, customizable military equipment.
Working late evenings after their regular jobs, team members from different cities and even different countries wrote code, created models, tested mechanics, discussed future gameplay, inspired each other, and moved forward step by step.
After two years of crossing the so-called “Valley of Death”- the place where most first projects remain forever unfinished-our efforts were finally rewarded. We managed to build a functional prototype that attracted a publisher and gave us the chance to take the project to a new level. In 2021, the team was able to switch to full-time development and fully dedicate themselves to creating Broken Arrow.
And at last, on June 19, the game was released. For us, this was the moment we had been working toward for many years. The road was far from easy: we faced difficulties more than once, postponed plans, and searched for solutions when it seemed there were none. But throughout all those years we were doing what we loved, watching Broken Arrow grow alongside us.
The release marked the beginning of a new chapter. We were amazed to see how many people share our passion for military strategy. The community’s reaction exceeded all expectations. For us, this was more than success, it was proof that everything we had done was not in vain. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who supported us, wrote feedback, shared ideas, and believed in the project.
However, the success of Broken Arrow brought new challenges as well. The high number of players during the open beta tests required a major overhaul of the network architecture to support the increasing load, an enormous challenge for our small team of programmers.
Although each open beta test came with connection issues for some players, the team carried out tremendous work stabilizing and optimizing the online infrastructure. Thanks to these efforts, Broken Arrow managed to withstand a peak load of 50,000 players during the first weekend after release. The fact that the multiplayer experience runs thanks to the work of only two programmers is nothing short of phenomenal.
We fully understand that we still have much to learn. Game development is a difficult path filled with challenges, but your feedback and involvement help us grow. All we can do is continue improving the game step by step, striving for the level of quality it deserves.
Today, we had the pleasure of hosting a special community event dedicated to Broken Arrow. We were joined by Felix Habert, Creative Director at Steel Balalaika, as well as two key members of the Slitherine team: Marco Minoli, our Director of Publishing, and Alberto Casulini, our Business Development Manager. Together, we offered an extensive overview of the journey Broken Arrow has taken so far and where it’s headed next.
During the presentation, we explored the game’s development from launch up to its current state, then we revealed the roadmap sharing what’s coming next and lastly we hosted a Q&A session, where Felix, Marco, and Alberto answered numerous questions from the community.
If you missed the event, you can re-watch it here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2627717698
And now that we’ve looked back and shared the journey so far, it’s time to talk about the future.
We have prepared a roadmap that outlines our long-term development plans, our near-term goals, and the key directions we aim to pursue. It will show you where we’re heading, what our priorities are, and what we hope to achieve in the coming months.
2025
Alongside the visual roadmap, we would like to elaborate a bit on the tasks planned for this period. The year will conclude with a series of technical updates aimed at strengthening current systems, improving overall quality, and laying the groundwork for future growth.
An important step forward will be the introduction of allied bots in Skirmish mode. Players will now be able not only to fight against AI opponents but also to take them as allies. This will allow for flexible scenario creation, experimentation with different tactics, and better team balance. Our goal is to make the AI a true tactical partner-one that reacts to the battlefield situation and supports the player at critical moments.
2026
Entering the new year, we will continue improving the network foundations of Broken Arrow. The main focus during this period will be on optimizing the online infrastructure and further strengthening server-side systems to ensure a fair and seamless gameplay experience.
At this stage, we plan to release several DLC that will introduce three new specializations. Each expansion will enrich the gameplay by offering new sets of units with unique weapon systems as well as additional vehicles. This will allow players to explore the tactical potential of their forces more deeply and broaden the range of strategic options available in battle.
Another key milestone of this period is the introduction of the match replay functionality. Developing this system has proven significantly more complex than we initially expected, largely due to technical specifics. To ensure its stable and accurate operation, we must build a series of supporting tools and internal mechanisms. Despite the challenges, we are putting in maximum effort to bring this feature to life.
Major features planned for this period:
Match History - a tool that will help players analyze their battles and refine their personal playstyle.
A large-scale reorganization of the server architecture. Key gameplay systems will be moved to the server side, including the in-game economy, unit spawning, and action processing. This shift will improve synchronization, minimize cheating, and lay the foundation for one of the most anticipated features: the full match replay system.
Spectator Mode - a long-awaited feature enabling real-time match viewing, especially valuable for tournaments and educational streams.
New multiplayer maps variants.
A new gameplay mechanic: loitering ammunition.
Savegames - players will be able to pause a mission and return to it later.
Co-op Campaign Mode - the ability to complete story missions together with friends, coordinating actions in real time.
Match Replay System - allowing players to rewatch past battles, share them with others, and use recordings to create content.
All these improvements aim to make the gameplay experience more thoughtful and intuitive. We want to create a stable environment where every tactical detail matters and where in-game interactions feel both convenient and genuinely alive.
During this period, we plan to release a major DLC that will introduce substantial changes and enrich the game with new content. The DLC will feature a completely new faction with its own unique weaponry, structure, and gameplay mechanics. New theaters of war will be added, expanding the battlegrounds available for combat. Additionally, new vehicles and units will be introduced, further enhancing tactical diversity, along with an expansion for existing specializations to deepen and broaden their playstyles.
Key features include:
A new campaign featuring a deck-modification system that allows players to customize their army composition with great flexibility.
New maps set in thematic, visually distinct locations.
A new faction with several specializations, offering additional tactical possibilities.
Below is a list of features that will be gradually implemented throughout the development process, starting in 2026. These updates are aimed at enhancing the overall user experience and improving the usability of in-game systems.
Updated Victory Screen - the victory screen will become more informative, and players will gain the ability to submit reports after a match, allowing faster response to violations.
Battle chatter expansion - more voice commands, unit reactions and dynamic audio cues.
Improved In-Battle Communication - marker usage limits, the ability to block chat, and streamlined team interactions.
Enemy Unit Check - players will be able to select enemy units and view their statistics.
Units statistics panel improvement - a clearer, more visual display of unit parameters.
Updated Line of Sight Tool - visualization of viewing range.
Offline Skirmish Lobby - allows players to enjoy Skirmish mode without an internet connection.
Minimap Improvements
Prevent label overlap - options for merging or preventing the overlap of unit tags.
Working on the project involves many complex aspects, each of which directly affects the pace of development, the volume of content, and the introduction of new features. Since the beginning of development, we have been gradually expanding the team, forming a long-term vision for the project, and focusing on technical stability. This process requires time, attention to detail, and carefully considered decisions to ensure that the final result is both high-quality and sustainable.
Over this period, we have made significant progress: we strengthened the foundation of the game, implemented important improvements, and laid the groundwork for future updates. We are proud of how far the project has come, and we look to the future with confidence, knowing that this is only the beginning.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our players. Your patience, support, and interest in the project inspire us every day. Thanks to you, we continue to move forward, striving to deliver new content and improvements that will bring you joy for many years to come. Thank you for staying with us and believing in our work.
