It wasn’t long ago that Arma Reforger was regarded as the unlovable misfire spin-off, an experiment that long-time fans of Bohemia’s realistic milsim series didn’t take seriously. Caught between Arma 3 and Arma 4, Reforger had its exponents, but seemed doomed to relative obscurity. But now, that’s all changed. After a whirlwind comeback in January and February, Arma Reforger is still enjoying a Steam renaissance, with impressive player numbers and some notable plaudits. Gray Zone Warfare, Escape From Tarkov, and newcomers like Wraith Ops and Dagger Directive are still competing for the realistic, tactical FPS top spot, but Bohemia’s black sheep just keeps on fighting – and the new Arma Reforger update makes it stronger than ever.
A quick recap. Fully released in November 2023, for the first year of its existence, Arma Reforger was doing okay on PC, but struggling to attract the same adulation as the main FPS game series. A more accessible, mainstream variation on Bohemia’s esteemed military shooter, Reforger was neither fish nor fowl – too realistic and punishing for newcomers, but also too streamlined for Arma veterans. December 2024 is when everything changed.
Once PS5 crossplay arrived for Arma Reforger and more people started to give it a shot, word spread and the PC player base responded in kind. In October 2024, Arma Reforger peaked at 5,000 players on Steam. By January 2025, it hit a record number of concurrent users (CCU) with more than 22,000.
And it’s kept momentum – just this month, Arma Reforger has achieved 19,500 CCU, while its Steam player reviews are 84% positive. The sentiment is still strong, and now the new Arma Reforger update aims to revamp the simulation game with additional vehicles, combat systems, missions, and tweaks.
The Arma Reforger Fire Support update introduces two new armor pieces in the form of the LAV 25, a light-armored, amphibious reconnaissance vehicle for the US forces, and the BRDM-2 for the Soviets and FIA. The UH-1H and Mi-8MT helicopters can now be fitted with rocket pods and are also compatible with a variety of ammunition types.
More significantly, there’s an entirely new weapon system in the form of mortars. Used from a distance, mortars can help to slow enemy advances and will also destroy buildings and terrain. However, to get the best out of them, you need multiple players and good cooperation, with spotters calling out targets for the gunners behind the lines.
There’s a brand-new single-player mission, where you play as US special forces operatives sent to assassinate a high-ranking Soviet officer, and enemy AI has been greatly improved – computer-controlled opponents will now take cover more effectively, track targets with greater precision, and use flanking tactics.
The new Arma Reforger Fire Support update is live today, Thursday March 27. If you want to try the game for yourself, just head here.
Otherwise, try some of the other best war games, or maybe the best multiplayer games on PC.
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