Arma 3

ARMA 3
Developer(s)	Bohemia Interactive
Publisher(s)	Bohemia Interactive
Director(s)	Joris-Jan van 't Land
Producer(s)	Marek Španěl
Programmer(s)	Vojtěch Hladík Ondřej Martinák
Artist(s)	David Zapletal
Composer(s)	Ondřej Matějka Grigorij Tolkačev Nathan McCree
Series	ARMA
Engine	Real Virtuality 4
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release	Microsoft Windows WW: September 12, 2013 OS X, Linux WW: August 31, 2015
Genre(s)	Tactical shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

ARMA 3 is an open world, realism based,military tactical shooter video game developed and published by Bohemia Interactive. It was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2013, and later announced for OS X and Linux in August 2015. ARMA 3's storyline takes place in the mid-2030s during the fictional Operation Magnitude, a military operation launched by NATO forces fighting in Europe against "Eastern armies" referred to as Canton-Protocol Strategic Alliance Treaty (CSAT), led by a resurgent Iranian military with a coalition of other Middle Eastern and Asian nations.

The single-player campaign has the player take control of US Army Corporal Ben Kerry. During the campaign, the player will face everything from lone wolf infiltration missions to the commanding of large scale armored operations. The player will be able to choose different objectives and weaponry (such as UAVs, artillery, and air support) according to their play style.

ARMA 3 takes place on the Aegean islands of Altis and Stratis of Greece, and Tanoa of the South Pacific. The islands feature photo-realistic terrain and water environments. Altis is the largest official terrain in the ARMA series with ground area covering approximately 270 square kilometres (100 sq mi). The smaller island, Stratis, expands over an area of 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi).

Synopsis

In 2030, war erupts on the Mediterranean islands of Altis and Stratis, resulting in the deaths of half of the civilian population and rendering thousands more homeless, in turn causing a refugee crisis. Under harsh conditions, NATO peacekeeping forces are deployed to the region to secure peace and establish joint NATO – Altian Armed Forces (AAF) bases on the islands.

Five years later, with NATO investment in the Aegean dwindling, the Canton-Protocol Strategic Alliance Treaty (CSAT), a military alliance of eastern hemisphere countries, begins subsidizing the AAF and mobilizes its own forces in the Pacific. Facing political pressure to withdraw at the end of their peacekeeping mandate, NATO begins a drawdown of their expeditionary forces, causing tensions to rise between AAF and NATO forces.

Plot

Prologue

In 2034, several months before the start of "Survive", Staff Sergeant Adams and Sergeant Conway are testing a new Virtual Reality combat simulator and preparing a firing range; both are to be used to train NATO-backed AAF troops, a joint force going by the callsign Task Force Aegis. After some brief exercises, Adams is contacted by a patrol of AAF soldiers claiming that there was an "incident" and that they require assistance. However, the patrol lack a map and a GPS, and so are unsure of their current position. After using triangulation and basic navigation techniques to ascertain the grid-reference coordinates of the patrol, Conway, Adams and the rest of their squad depart to locate the lost patrol. Shortly after leaving, a minor earthquake happens, surprising Adams' team. The team arrives at the location of the lost patrol and discover that they have attacked a group of civilians, claiming they were guerrillas. Conway and Adams become irritated by the AAF patrol's actions and order them to call a MEDEVAC for a surviving civilian. In the meantime, Conway discovers a previously undiscovered guerrilla cache. Adams remarks that the guerrillas, going by the name Freedom and Independence Army (FIA), will no doubt retaliate.

One week after the incident, the government of Altis and the FIA agree to a peace talk at the Ministry of Defense in the capital Kavala. Adams' team is tasked by Task Force Aegis' commander, Colonel MacKinnon, to locate an AAF security convoy that has gone missing en route to Kavala. Searching via helicopter, the team quickly discover the missing convoy; it has been destroyed in an apparent ambush. Upon setting down to check for survivors, the team is attacked by FIA guerrillas. After the fight, the team calls a MEDEVAC for a wounded AAF soldier and are recalled to Kavala. On their way they pass several destroyed AAF checkpoints and, upon arrival in Kavala, discover that the "sitdown went haywire" and the FIA attacked the AAF. The team is assigned to get to the Ministry of Defense. Moving through the streets of Kavala, they find nothing but death and destruction. Arriving at the Ministry, they discover a high-ranking AAF officer about to execute prisoners. They threaten the officer but are ordered to stand down by Commander MacKinnon, who informs them that the officer is Colonel Georgious Akhanteros, the commanding officer of the AAF. Conway and Adams leave the area as the credits begin to roll, explaining that after the Battle of Kavala, relations between NATO and AAF deteriorated, resulting in the NATO peacekeeping mandate reduced to the smaller island of Stratis. The world - and NATO - has begun to turn its attention away from Altis.

Episode 1 – Survive

By July 2035, after a bloody fight between FIA and AAF, the AAF have control of most of the two islands. NATO has nearly finished dismantling its equipment and bases, and only a few infantry units and a helicopter group are left in Stratis to finish up the drawdown. The NATO commander, Colonel MacKinnon, is called to the Kamino Firing Range for unknown reasons. At the same time, U.S. soldier Corporal Ben Kerry and Staff Sergeant Adams are dispatched way to a NATO installation called Camp Rogain via helicopter. On the way, they notice what appears to be NATO forces at an already decommissioned installation and are puzzled as to their identity, but choose to dismiss it. Arriving at Rogain, they are ordered to drive a supply truck to Kamino by the Camp's commander. They find the AAF soldiers at the checkpoints on the road to Kamino tense and aloof, but proceed nevertheless. Not far from Kamino, they find MacKinnon's vehicle and MacKinnon himself dead nearby. Before they are able to ascertain what has happened, AAF forces launch a massive surprise attack on the remaining NATO forces on Stratis, quickly causing command elements to fall and severing communication with the outside world. Kerry and Adams fight through determined AAF resistance but before they can rally with other survivors, Adams is killed by a landmine, forcing Kerry to continue alone. Meeting up with a surviving squad of NATO troops, Kerry is informed that a group of British special forces have established a foothold and are rallying surviving NATO forces at the decommissioned camp Kerry and Adams had seen from the helicopter.

After arriving at Camp Maxwell, the special forces leader, Captain Scott Miller, takes command. He splits his forces into four squads, Alpha through Delta, and organizes a number of hit-and-run missions on the island, but these are met with limited success. Miller eventually manages to contact NATO MEDCOM and arranges for a re-invasion of Stratis. To assist with the invasion, Miller leads a mission to strike a decisive blow against the remaining AAF forces on Stratis. The operation appears to be a success as AAF forces retreat, but things suddenly take a turn for the worse when CSAT forces arrive to reinforce the AAF.

Captain Miller reveals the operation's real goal was never to retake the island, but instead clear a path for the survivors to evacuate from Stratis. The NATO survivors escape Stratis by boat and make for the island of Altis. Kerry voices his frustration with Miller's deceit, but Miller only divulges that on arrival they will link up with a local guerrilla group called the FIA. Before they can make it much farther, however, AAF attack jets attack and capsize the boats.

Episode 2 – Adapt

On Altis, Kerry wakes up and finds himself in a skirmish between the FIA and the AAF-CSAT forces in the outskirts of Kavala. He manages to reunite with Miller and his team and is taken to the FIA. He is given charge of a guerrilla squad and helps the FIA carry out numerous insurgent missions on Altis. Later on, they learn that NATO will be invading the island through the main airport. The FIA plan to assist NATO by attacking a smaller airfield, drawing forces away from the main one. Meanwhile, Kerry's squad destroy a nearby artillery position controlled by CSAT special forces before withdrawing back to the airfield, which by now has fallen under FIA control.

En route, they witness NATO gunships fire upon the airfield and Kerry is informed that NATO forces have mistakenly engaged the FIA at the airfield. Confused, Kerry approaches a downed gunship and finds its pilot, who is shocked to hear they had been firing at friendly forces. The pilot radios his superior, who promptly orders NATO to disengage their attack on the FIA-held airfield. The NATO commanding officer, Colonel Armstrong, meets with Kerry and tells him that they were unaware of the FIA's activities on the island. When Kerry asks about Captain Miller, Armstrong responds that he has no knowledge of 'Scott Miller' and tells Kerry that British forces moved off from Stratis many months ago. Confused by what he has heard, Kerry boards a helicopter to be debriefed.

Episode 3 – Win

Kerry meets with the NATO commander Colonel Armstrong, going by the callsign "Crossroads", and learns NATO has failed to capture the Altis airport. Crossroads says that Captain Miller is to be considered hostile until further notice, and he sends Kerry to the front line on Altis. While on patrol one night, CSAT launches a counter-offensive against NATO positions near the airport. After receiving Crossroads' approval, Kerry links up with the FIA and leads a squad. After repelling the counter-offensive, NATO launches an assault on the airport and secures it right before an earthquake hits the island. Tectonic activity increases, and NATO forces continue their assault on Altis, taking the capital before launching a final effort to wipe out the remaining AAF troops. Crossroads again warns Kerry to avoid Cpt. Miller or any of his team. Later, as NATO is on the verge of defeating the AAF, Kerry is contacted by Lt. James, one of Miller's subordinates. Here, the player must make a decision: join NATO for the final offensive or disobey orders and find Lt. James.

If the player chooses to regroup with NATO, Kerry scouts out and marks enemy artillery for close air support elements so that friendly forces can move in. Shortly after the assault begins, the AAF unconditionally surrender. Six weeks later, life on Altis has returned to normal, albeit with heavy NATO and private military company presence. Kerry, now promoted to Sergeant, is tasked to escort a journalist. On the way, the journalist asks Kerry about his involvement in the Stratis incident. Hiding what he knows about Captain Miller or the truth of what had happened, Kerry tells of his experience during the NATO withdrawal. Not long thereafter, Crossroads calls Kerry back to base to help deal with a 'situation', and the story ends.

If the player chooses to look for James, Kerry finds him alone and wounded. Just before dying, James orders him to find a truck loaded with a special device and take it to Miller. Fighting through CSAT special forces, he brings the device to Miller. The device is revealed to be a tectonic weapon responsible for the recent tremors, and it is implied that Miller had caused the incident on Stratis. It is also revealed that he provided misinformation to the FIA, and caused the failure of the first NATO invasion attempt on Altis, all in an effort to buy time to acquire the device.

CSAT launches a massive invasion and Crossroads orders all NATO forces into tactical withdrawal. Miller tells Kerry that he will come back for him and orders him to stay put while he and his team take the device off the island. After some time, Kerry contacts Miller, but Miller replies that with the invasion it will be impossible to come back for him. Kerry's ultimate fate is left in the hands of the player: he can either escape from the island by boat or helicopter, with or without friendly forces, or die trying.

Characters

• Ben Kerry – The main protagonist of the game, Kerry is a US Army corporal later sergeant from Oregon deployed on Stratis. After the AAF attack, he becomes a member of Alpha Squad, led by Sergeant Conway. He later joins the FIA and fights against joint CSAT-AAF forces on both Altis and later Stratis, leading Omega Squad, before returning to NATO on Altis and leading Nomad Squad.
• Scott Miller – A British captain who is the highest-ranking surviving NATO officer on Stratis in the first episode of the campaign. He leads NATO soldiers against the AAF and later helps the FIA. His team's callsign is Falcon.
• Kostas Stavrou – The leader of the northern FIA forces during the events of Adapt, he cooperates with Miller and Kerry. His callsign is Slingshot.
• Colonel Armstrong – The commander of the NATO forces deployed to the Republic of Altis & Stratis after the events of the first two episodes. His callsign is Crossroads.
• Sergeant Conway - Playable character in the prologue, is later seen during Survive as a non-playable character.
• Nikos Panagopoulos – An important member of the FIA responsible for the unity and supply of the organisation. He is last seen in the third episode as the new leader of the FIA.
• Lieutenant James – Second in command of Miller's Combat Technology Research Group team.
• Staff Sergeant Adams – Kerry's commanding officer and friend. He fights the AAF alongside Kerry when the conflict begins, but is killed not long after by a landmine.

Factions

ArmA 3 features 4 (7 with the expansions) factions, each one with different equipments, roles, vehicles, weapons and role in the main story.

• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a military alliance and has a peacekeeping mission on Stratis, called Task Force Aegis. Decades of economic and political turbulence across member states has left NATO weakened and facing a strategic paradigm shift. The peacekeeping forces on Stratis are planned to be withdrawn, with British forces said to be pulled out before the events of the game, as the US focuses more on the Pacific theatre, amid increasing tensions with CSAT in the east. The equipment used by NATO is mostly based on current next-generation NATO equipment that is slowly begin implemented (Such as the "Hunter MRAP", based on the Oshkosh M-ATV, or the IFV "AMV-7 Marshal", based on the Patria AMV), Israeli tracked vehicles (The "M2A1 Slammer" tank based on the Merkava IV, both IFV-6a Anti-air platform and IFV-6c APC, based on the Namer) and with their air assets mostly based on stealth helicopters and airplanes—the "UH-80 Ghost Hawk", based on stealth UH-60 Black Hawk used during Operation Neptune Spear, or the "F/A-181 Black Wasp", based on a combination of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-22 Raptor. NATO also has access to a large variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). As their small arms platform, NATO uses the fictional "CMMG MX series", designed by the real life arms company CMMG Inc. for the game.
  • CTRG - The Combat Technology and Research Group, or CTRG for short, is a multinational special forces group deployed to Altis and Tanoa specializing in cyberwarfare and covert operations, with the primary mission of identifying and disrupting secret CSAT operations. They don't, however, seem to be part of the main NATO forces, as seen in "the East Wind" and "Apex Protocol" campaigns. They mostly use advanced equipment based on the United States future soldier program, such as having high ballistic protection and thermal vision shielding.
• CSAT – Canton-Protocol Strategic Alliance Treaty is an alliance of states with the goal of mutual defense, expanded global influence, and sustained economic growth. Set against the context of floundering economies and civil unrest across the west, CSAT has risen in prominence over the last decade. Its forces support the Altian government. It is reminiscent of the real-life SCO or CSTO; according to their speaking language and design of their assault rifle (named Katiba and similar to Iranian KH-2002 assault rifle), the CSAT forces encountered in ARMA 3 appear to be composed of the Iranian Armed Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the Apex expansion pack. The equipment used by CSAT is mostly based in current prototypes with a futuristic twist, designed by China, Russia and other eastern countries. Their primary MRAP is the "Ifrit" (Based on the Russian ZiL Punisher prototype), complemented by the "MSE-3 Marid" APC (based on the Turkish Otokar Arma), "BTR-K Kamysh" tracked IFV (a modified amalgamation of the Belarusian 2T Stalker and the Russian BMPT Terminator), the "T-100 Varsuk" MBT (largely based on the Russian Black Eagle tank prototype), and the "Qilin" LTV, from the Apex expansion, based on the Singaporean ST Kinetics Light Strike Vehicle. Their air assets are mostly Russian, with their main gunship being the fictional "Mi-48 Kajman" with a mixed design of the MI-28, KA-50 and the transport cababilities of the MI-24, and with their primary attack aircraft begin a Yak-130, named "To-199 Neophron" in game. The Apex expansion also introduces the fictional "Y-32 Xi'an" VTOL aircraft, with the simultaneous capabilities of a transport jet, helicopter and gunship combined with a very futuristic design.
• AAF – The military armed forces of the Republic of Altis & Stratis. The current AAF was created after the Jerusalem Cease-Fire of 2030 after the civil war of 2026 between the AAF And FIA. Although it officially operates under the observation and training of international peacekeepers, the force remains loyal to the new, hard-line Altis government and acts with de facto judicial and executive authority. However, it is debilitated by an inexperienced command structure and is blighted by widespread corruption. The size of the AAF is limited to a small Brigade-sized army with support from an air force that flies helicopters and jets. The AAF uses mainly second-hand early 21st-century military equipment from NATO member states. Personal protection equipment includes the MICH helmet and a modified ACU sporting green camouflage. The small arms of the AAF are mostly FN F2000 rifles (called "Mk20") and the Stoner LMG (called "Mk200"). The vehicle pool of the AAF is smaller than CSAT or NATO, though still quite formidable in its own right. The primary light vehicle is the German Fennek LGS (Designated "Strider" in game), complemented by armored IFVs (the Austrian Pandur II, called "AFV-4 Gorgon" in-game, and the British Warrior IFV, called "FV-720 Mora" in-game) and their main battle tank, the Leopard 2 (or "MBT-52 Kuma" in-game). The AAF's helicopters are from British origin, with the AW101 Merlin (called "CH-49 Mohawk") as their main transport helicopter while the "WY-55 Hellcat" (an advanced Wildcat) as their multirole attack helicopter and transport helicopter. The primary multi-role attack aircraft of the AAF is a Czech Aero L-159 Alca, designated "A-143 Buzzard", while the primary fighter jet is a Swedish JAS 39 Gripen, designated "A-149 Gryphon".
• FIA – The Freedom and Independence Army is the main guerilla rebel group active in Altis and Stratis, fighting against the AAF which defend the main government in Pyrgos. Believed to be chiefly composed of former and defected members of the AAF, disparate fragments of opposition to the 2026 Kavala coup d'état joined together in the grind of bloody civil war. The FIA have begun to gain traction among the largely displaced population of Altis and has found international support in the west. The FIA differs from NATO, CSAT, and the AAF in that it relies mostly on asymmetrical warfare, and their small arms equipment is mostly stolen from the AAF, including their once-retired TAR 20 and TAR 21 rifles (called the TRG-20 and TRG-21 respectively). Their vehicle pool is composed of retrofitted civilian vehicles and technicals.
• IDAP - The International Development & Aid Project is a new faction introduced in the Laws of War DLC. It differs from the other factions in that IDAP is a civilian NGO dedicated to helping those living in war-torn regions of the world.

Development

Jay Crowe is the game's creative director and provided some voice acting for the game.

Bohemia Interactive officially announced the development of ARMA 3 on May 19, 2011. In June 2012 an alpha version of the game was demonstrated at E3. In August 2013, Bohemia Interactive announced that they will release three downloadable content episodes for free after the game's initial launch. An alpha version of the game was released on March 5, 2013, allowing players to experience the game during development, as well as assist in development by reporting bugs and giving feedback on their experience. The beta version was released on June 25, 2013, and anyone who owned the alpha would have their copy automatically upgraded. The final version of ARMA 3 was launched on September 12, 2013. At its launch, ARMA 3 featured more showcase missions and the large island of Altis.

ARMA 3 uses a new version of Bohemia Interactive's Real Virtuality game engine.

Downloadable content

Zeus

In February 2014 the first, free DLC for the game, entitled Zeus, was announced. It allows players to use the game's Zeus mode in multiplayer where the player(s) designated as Zeus gain god-like powers and can control scenarios in real time using a full 3D overview of the match reminiscent of the game's Eden editor's primary interface. Zeus was released on April 10, 2014.

Karts

Bohemia Interactive featured an April Fool's joke video on April 1, 2014. It announced a DLC Karts that would add a Go-kart racing into the game. The video was a parody of Jean-Claude Van Damme's Splendid Split video using the character of Scott Miller. The video became popular and fans liked the idea so Bohemia Interactive released the DLC on May 29, 2014. The DLC added 20 types of Karts and objects useful for creating tracks and driver models. ARMA 3: Karts is the first paid DLC for ARMA 3.

Helicopters

This DLC was released on November 4, 2014. It was announced on May 1, 2014, alongside another DLC, Marksmen, and an unnamed expansion for the game. ARMA 3 Helicopters featured two new transport helicopters and new flying mechanics. Features exclusive to those who have bought the DLC include:

• CH-67 Huron, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter.
• Mi-290 Taru, coaxial rotor, modular, heavy utility helicopter.
• Sling Loading Showcase, a tutorial-like scenario to practice the sling loading mechanic in.
• Four helicopter time trial course missions.

Alongside the release of this DLC a platform update was released for the game, with features available to all players regardless of DLC ownership. Notable features and content include:

• Firing from vehicles, using personal weapons from certain passenger positions in vehicles.
• Improved flight model, based on a modified version of the flight dynamics used in Bohemia Interactive's Take On Helicopters, made available for all helicopters in game, including those outside this DLC.
• Sling loading mechanics to carry externally slung cargo under helicopters added to all suitable helicopters.
• Support multiplayer mode, sector control-inspired game mode focusing on support, logistics and medevac.
• Four courses for the VR training mode, focusing on helicopter flight.
• Various objects, mostly relating to the helicopter theme, for custom scenario and content creation.

Marksmen

ARMA 3 Marksmen includes new weapons and shooting mechanics, and was released in May 2015. Weapons released for Marksmen are:

• Sniper rifles: MkI-EMR 7.62mm, Mk14 7.62mm, Cyrus 9.3mm, ASP-1 12.7mm, MAR-10 .338 Lapua Magnum
• Medium machine guns: SPMG .338 Norma Magnum, Navid 9.3mm.

Bipods were made available for most rifles, light machine guns, and sniper rifles.

Apex Expansion

ARMA 3: Apex is ARMA 3's first expansion, released on July 11, 2016. It was announced as part of Bohemia Interactive Roadmap for ARMA 3 in 2015-2016. The expansion costs $35 and includes some free features for users which optimize the game and act as a visual update as well. The main features for this expansion are:

• Tanoa – A new map for ARMA 3 set in the South Pacific Islands with an overall map size of 100 square kilometres (38.6 sq. mi).
• A cooperative campaign.
• A new faction, the Syndikat, a local criminal organisation with deep roots in Tanoa.
• New vehicles types such as: VTOL aircraft (e.g. Y-32 Xian and V-44X Blackfish) and Light Strike Vehicles (e.g. Prowler and Qilin).
• New weapons including: the AKS-74U, AKM, AK-12, LIM-85, RPG-7, PM 9mm, SPAR-16, SPAR-17, CAR-95, Type 115, CMR-76 and the Protector SMG.
• New uniforms, headgear, backpacks, NVGs, weapon optics and other gear.
• Important legacy issues.

Jets

Arma 3: Jets is the first piece of DLC developed in cooperation with a partner, Bravo Zero One Studios, led by "Make Arma Not War" winner Joshua Saul Carpenter. Its aim is to totally change the way players interact with aircraft. It is included as part of DLC Bundle 2 and is $11.99 by itself, and was released on May 16, 2017. Its features include:

• Four new aircraft – Three fighter jets and a UCAV, NATO's F/A-181 Black Wasp II, AAF's A-149 Gryphon, CSAT's To-201 Shikra, and NATO's UCAV Sentinel. While they take inspiration from real-life aircraft, only the A-149 Gryphon can be said to be truly similar to its inspiration, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. This part of the DLC is considered "Premium" and requires purchase to access.
• USS Freedom Aircraft Carrier – a new static object providing NATO a place to base its operations from provided there is deep water. It comes with its own incorporated air defense system and has the ability to launch and recover F/A-181s, UCAV Sentinels, and helicopters. It is usable by all players whether or not they have purchased the DLC.
• Sensors and Targeting – Previously, sensors were absolute and faultless, able to detect anything within 2 km without fail, though it was useless beyond that. Targeting was little more than repeatedly pressing the "Next target" key until you had targeted what you wanted. With Jets, sensors are no longer absolute, operating realistically, albeit heavily simplified. Stealth aircraft will be harder to detect and targetv leaving radar on will give you away to the enemy, and the new custom info panels allow the player to adjust their sensor display range out to 16 km
• Custom Info – Players will now be able to turn on two side panels, displaying various information. Pilots can have sensors and navigation open, vehicles with multiple crew or passengers can see their available seats, Squad leaders can keep an eye on the GPS and drone camera while fighting, etc.
• Damage Model – Planes previously had an all-or-nothing damage model. Either it would still fly perfectly fine while billowing smoke and showing signs of damage, or it became a fireball hurtling towards the ground. With the extended damage model, everything can be independently damaged, i.e. engines will put out less power, wings will reduce lift, flight control system damage will make the plane sluggish or lock up completely, landing gear damage will impede landings, and so on.
• Dynamic Vehicle Loadouts – While community modifications had provided similar solutions for a while, Dynamic Vehicle Loadouts makes it possible for players to customize what weapons go on an aircraft's weapon pylons.
• Other Improvements – New HUD functions such as runway outlines, continuously-computed impact point, clock, co-ordinates, countermeasures display, etc., support for catapult and arresting hook functionality to enable naval aviation, ejection seats, a new control system incorporating a proper throttle, and audio enhancements.

Malden 2035

To celebrate the 16th Anniversary of Operation Flashpoint, Bohemia Interactive announced it was working on a full recreation of one of the game's maps: the fictional Mediterranean island of Malden. It contained new assets as well as many already created for Altis and Tanoa, and was released free for all game owners in June 2017.

Laws of War

This DLC was developed Bohemia Interactive's new studio in Amsterdam, Netherlands under the code-name Orange, and pursued an aspect of warfare not often covered by other games. This DLC was released on September 7, 2017.

The DLC added many new features, including a new faction called the International Development and Aid Project (which specialises in rapidly responding to crisis requiring humanitarian aid), a new miniature campaign for users to play, new vehicles, two new unmanned aerial vehicles, an APERS Mine Dispenser, cluster munitions, and various new clothing items.

Tac-Ops Mission Pack

This DLC is included in DLC Bundle 2 and was released in late November, 2017. It includes three distinct singleplayer military "operations" (essentially mini-campaigns), each focusing on different aspects of ground combat. Each operation requires careful planning in order to succeed (as all decisions the player makes can affect the outcome) but all offer high replayability.

Other features include an "After Action Report" video, which includes insights for each operation from one of Bohemia Interactive's military consultants, new music tracks, new Steam achievements, and improvements to the game's scripting system in order to help players more easily create complex scenarios.

Tanks

"Roll in heavy firepower and take control of the battlefield with three brand new armored vehicles in the Arma 3 Tanks DLC." It was released on 11 April 2018 for a price of $11.99/9.99€.

• Three new vehicles - The NATO Tank Destroyer "Rhino", based on the south african Rookiat, CSAT tank "T-140 Ankara", based on the russian T-14 Armata, and the AAF Tankette "AWC Nyx", based on the german AWC Wiesel. All this content is "Premium", meanign that is necessary to pay to access it. The AAF also got a free Multiple rocket launcher truck called the "Zamak MLR".

• New free Launchers - The MAAWS Mk4 based on the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle for NATO, AAF and FIA, and the Vorona, based on the Metis M for CSAT.

• Enhancements to Targeting – Vehicles would previously have to use a 100m-increment manual targeting system, with a supplementary lead-prediction function for moving vehicles. While this was sufficient for most main armaments, it meant that the often widely-offset secondary machine guns were difficult to use, as were grenade launchers, and rangefinders worked "real time," constantly updating the range to target. The enhancements allow for a more realistic simulation of fire control systems, with manual laser rangefinders, lead computation, and exact ranging putting the shots directly on target.

Other content updates

The Bootcamp Update was released on July 14, 2014. It features training content, a Virtual Reality terrain, and a short campaign. The Bootcamp Campaign serves as the prequel to the main game. It follows Sergeants Conway and Adams one year prior to the East Wind Campaign. The goal of this update was to present the game to new players.

The Nexus update was released on December 1, 2015. It brought an improved version of the official multiplayer mission "End Game", a spectator mode, and multiple improvements such as soldier protection, stamina, and an audio overhaul.

The Eden update, released on February 18, 2016, added an in-game 3D editor, making the creation of missions easier. It also included launcher and server browser improvements, and an update to the audio system.

A 'Visual Update' was released with the 1.60 update, in May 2016, in advance of the Apex update.

Mods & Modding

As with previous games in the Arma family, Bohemia Interactive supports expansion of Arma 3 functionality using custom mission scenarios and mods that can add new maps, objects (buildings, vehicles, weapons, clothing, etc.), and behaviours to the base game.

Arma 3 has a large community of content developers, who make such mods available through the Steam Workshop and game fan sites: the Steam Workshop alone hosts over 42,000 scenarios and 7,000 mods that are freely usable by game owners.

Mods can use (depend) on other mods, sometimes creating large hierarchical families of mods the can greatly modify and/or enhance the base game: for example the Red Hammer Studios family of mods for contemporary military equipment for Russian, US, and other armed forces.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	74.87% (16 reviews)
Metacritic	74% (38 reviews)

Review scores

Publication	Score
GameSpot	8.0/10
IGN	7/10
PC Gamer (US)	8.4/10
AusGamers	7.2/10
GamingTrend	8.1/10

ARMA 3 has received generally favorable reviews, garnering a score of 74 out of 100 on the review aggregation website Metacritic based on 38 reviews. Some reviewers praise the modifications Bohemia Interactive have done with the engine, animations and sound. However, others criticised the lack of single-player content on release, namely a campaign.

PC Gamer selected the game to be the simulation game of the year. ARMA 3 also gained Czech game of 2013 Award for technological contribution to Czech video game output and was elected to be best Czech video game of the Year in Booom 2013. Rock, Paper, Shotgun selected ARMA 3 to be 16th best FPS of all time and the 10th best Simulation Game of all time.

The islands of Altis and Stratis also received much praise. The Guardian even included them along with Chernarus (the setting of ARMA 2 and DayZ) in its list of 10 most beautiful video game environments. Other video game worlds in the list included Skyrim, Los Santos, Empire Bay etc.

It was announced on May 28, 2014, that the game had sold one million copies. In October 2015 sales had reached two million units, and in March, 2017 it reached 3 million sales.

Controversies

Espionage arrests

The Greek media reported on September 10, 2012, that two Czechs were arrested on the Greek island Lemnos and charged with espionage. According to Greek media reports, the two men claimed to be working for Bohemia Interactive in an official capacity, recording videos and taking photographs for the development of ARMA 3. Under Greek law taking photographs of military installations and the like is prohibited for reasons of national security. Prior to the incident, the issue of the game causing potential threats to Greek national security was discussed in the Greek Parliament in 2011.

The two were initially identified as David Zapletal and Pavel Guglava, although it was later confirmed that the two were actually Martin Pezlar and Ivan Buchta. The duo's employee status under Bohemia Interactive was confirmed, but the company later stated that they were on the island "with the sole purpose of experiencing the island's beautiful surroundings". Buchta and Pezlar refuted the charges of espionage, maintaining that they "went just to a holiday [...] to enjoy the beauty of the island", noting that the layout of the virtual island in the development studio "was practically done" prior to their arrival, and that any video or photographic recordings were intended for memorabilia purposes and that they would have little or no use in the game's development. After being held in custody for 128 days, the Greek government released the arrested developers from jail on January 15, 2013.

While the two were in jail, Bohemia Interactive shut down access to one of the threads on their official forums titled Greek Military which was created on August 1, 2012. Bohemia Interactive has since made several statements regarding the situation on their official forums, discussing legal matters and warning users regarding the problems arising from photographing Greek military installations. As a result of the incident, on February 2, 2013, Bohemia Interactive announced that the name of the main island 'Lemnos' would change to 'Altis'. The Greek island of Lemnos was chosen as inspiration after Bohemia Interactive CEO Marek Spanel had visited the place on vacation. According to Bohemia Interactive, the name change is meant to emphasize the game is fiction. The game's smaller island named 'Stratis' will remain unchanged.

Ban in Iran

In September 2012, Iran's National Foundation of Computer Games and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps refused to allow the sale of ARMA 3 due to the game portraying the CSAT faction (similar in equipment and language to Iran) as an enemy to NATO.

External links

• Official website