By Joseph Luster

For those just joining us in the ‘hole, the elevator pitch is war on a massively-multiplayer scale, with players zooming in close to control individual soldiers that each have their own crucial role to play in battle. In the case of Foxhole Airborne, that battle now covers land, air, and sea as players coordinate to tackle aviation logistics, paratroopers, piloting and more in an expanded and updated world.

Even knowing how Foxhole works at this point doesn’t make its conceit any less ambitious. Airborne continues to make sure every soldier on the field and in the skies is an actual player, taking out fighters, bombers, recon planes and other essential aircraft in the hopes of turning the tides of a persistent war. The goal is seamless integration, which can most clearly be seen in the form of aircraft carrier deployment and the introduction of paratroopers. Players can now go behind enemy lines in new ways, further blurring the lines of functionality and strategy within these roles.

In addition to upgraded visuals, the expansion brings a ton of new units to battle, from all the included aircraft, each with their own in-depth damage systems, to airfields and all the ground crew operations necessary to keep them running. There’s also an expanded map and newcomers to the game’s fleet of ships, including the mine boat, light freighter, and seven new combat boats.

Last time we covered Foxhole, we mentioned the players involved in the game’s logistics crews going on strike. We’ll have to wait and see if any similar concerns arise in Airborne, but it all serves to show just how realistic this type of immersive MMO warfare can get. When it gets to the point that players feel like their work isn’t appreciated, sure, adjustments may need to be made, but it also speaks to the fact that Siege Camp has something special on their hands here. If you haven’t tried Foxhole yet, Airborne seems like a solid entry point, especially for those who fancy flying the not-so-friendly skies.

Publisher: Siege Camp
Genre: Strategy
System: PC
Available: Now

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