Fighters of the visible front: a project from the Russian Federation entered the top 30 most coveted games in the world

The computer game from the Russian studio Steel Balalaika ("Steel Balalaika") Broken Arrow got into the top 30 most coveted games for personal computers. She was able to rise to 28th place in the world ranking on the Steam platform. The game is dedicated to the military confrontation between Russia and the United States, and later China will join them, the developers said. Izvestia has figured out what will surprise this strategic project.

What is the Broken Arrow game about?

The Broken Arrow genre is a real-time strategy game set in the Baltic States, in a fictional conflict between the United States and Russia in the modern world, the press service of the Russian studio Steel Balalaika said. In the future, the authors plan to add more nations, regions and campaigns, expanding the content — the project will be released on June 19.

Screenshot from the game "Broken Arrow"

Photo: Steel Balalaika

In the game, you can fight with all modern military equipment, presented with a high degree of detail. There are infantry and armored vehicles fighting from building to building in cities, helicopters that allow you to throw infantry and ammunition behind enemy lines, and planes can hit each other with long-range missiles, "practice" ballistic and cruise missiles at ground targets, and much more.

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— We focus on the action and dynamics, as well as on immersing ourselves in what is happening on the screen, heating up all this action with sound and visual effects. The game does not collect resources or build bases for the production of units. You get gain points automatically, and your units appear on the border of the map," the company's press service clarified.

Screenshot from the game "Broken Arrow"

Photo: Steel Balalaika

According to the developers, the genre of real-time strategy is dead only for giant multinational publishers who are interested in selling millions of copies. For small companies like Steel Balalaika, a half—million audience is a good indicator, so the genre is quite alive as long as there are people for whom Broken Arrow remains a sought-after game.

— The game will be sold in a classic way: you pay for it and get the product. Then we will offer additional content that you can buy if you want. In addition, a script editor is included with Broken Arrow. People will be able to create their own missions with dialogues and scenes, so you will constantly find new free content that will be waiting for you in the Steam Workshop," the developers concluded.

China is planned to be added as the third party to the conflict, but the developers will implement this version of the game after the release of the project. They are currently focused on preparing for the release, which promises to be a major event — the game has already risen to 28th place among the most coveted Steam projects and ranked 62nd among the bestsellers on pre-order.

The topic of Russia versus the United States attracts people

Broken Arrow demonstrates an ambitious approach, combining recognizable wargame mechanics from Eugen Systems with a detailed modern setting, according to video game expert Ivan Kalmykov. Strengths are an impressive arsenal, deep customization of troops, and visual authenticity. However, there are questions about the balance, optimization, and intuitiveness of the interface. Kalmykov noted the potential of the competitive multiplayer part of Broken Arrow, but success will largely depend on the game's support after release.

Screenshot from the game "Broken Arrow"

Photo: Steel Balalaika

— Already in 2024, the project gathered over 250 thousand fans at the testing stage. People are not confused by the possibility of playing for Russia as a participant in a military conflict, and they did not try to "cancel" the developers in accordance with global trends, he summed up.

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Despite its realism, Broken Arrow is surprisingly easy to learn: the interface is intuitive, commands are given easily even in the most stressful situations, and visualization of the actions of troops allows you to clearly control the situation on the battlefield. This is especially important for beginners, who can quickly dive into tactical depth without feeling overwhelmed. Realistic weapons, carefully written scenarios of military operations and an atmosphere of close confrontation add to the interest — all this works and creates a sense of engagement, says Mikhail Pimenov, Director of development of the gaming industry at Synergy University.

Screenshot from the game "Broken Arrow"

Photo: Steel Balalaika

— "Broken Arrow" will occupy its niche, skillfully balancing between arcade and hardcore strategies. It has enough depth for advanced players, but it remains accessible to beginners, making it a universal choice for fans of the genre. This explains the growing popularity of Broken Arrow and its rise to the forefront among modern RTS, of which there have not been many lately," he noted.

Obviously, the main advantages of the game are cinematic tactical combat and a deck creation system with the ability to customize units. But the most interesting thing is the authentic portrayal of the Russian army in this fictional conflict, said Svyatoslav Pegov, director of the Center for Sports Programming, Algorithmic Robotics, Cybersecurity and Esports at Ufa University of Science and Technology. He compared the novelty with the classics of the genre, among which are Combat Mission, Close Combat and World in Conflict.