The highly anticipated Arma 3 Apex expansion is finally here, priced at €29.99. According to Czech studio Bohemia Interactive, it represents the pinnacle of fifteen years of Arma development by introducing fresh opportunities to combat operations.
The biggest addition is obviously the new terrain, the archipelago of Tanoa. There's also a campaign that can be played cooperatively with up to four players and a dynamic difficulty. Here's a comprehensive list of the features.
Tanoa
Home to lush tropical vegetation, unique landmarks, a rich history, and imposing man-made feats of modern engineering, this 100 km² South Pacific archipelago is built to bolster authentic combat on a massive scale. Tanoa’s varied locations, such as the rainforests, volcano, shanty towns, sugar cane factory, and industrial port, cater to all scenario types. Whether it’s to conduct an all-out assault, a small-scale covert op, jungle warfare, or anything else suited to a South Pacific setting – Tanoa is the destination of choice. Your next adventure awaits.New Faction, 13 New Weapons, New Uniforms & Gear
While looking to increase their strategic influence in the South Pacific, NATO and CSAT face resistance from a local criminal organization with deep roots on Tanoa. Consisting of armed thugs and ex-paramilitaries, this new faction, Syndikat, is involved in many illicit operations throughout the region, carrying familiar contemporary firearms like the AKS-74U, AKM, and AK-12 Assault Rifles, LIM-85 Light Machine Gun, RPG-7 Launcher, and the PM 9 mm pistol. NATO and CSAT, on the other hand, send in highly trained operators with state-of-the-art weaponry, such as the modular SPAR-16 Assault Rifle, the Chinese-designed CAR-95 family of weapons, Type 115 Assault Rifle, CMR-76 and SPAR-17 Marksman Rifles, and new thermal-masking uniforms, headgear, backpacks, NVGs (Night Vision Goggles), ERCO weapon optics, and more.10 New Vehicles
The Apex expansion enables more gameplay opportunities by introducing new vehicle classes to Arma 3. Take advantage of the flexibility provided by the V-44 X Blackfish and Y-32 Xi’an VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, which combine the strengths of fixed- and rotor-wing transportation. Need to move quickly on the ground? Navigate the rugged terrain of Tanoa with the fast and flexible Prowler or Qilin LSVs (Light Strike Vehicles). To complete objectives with minimal losses, Arma 3's arsenal is also reinforced by two new UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) drones: KH-3A Fenghuang and MQ-12 Falcon. Plus, as could be expected in a tropical island setting, Arma 3 Apex includes suitable new civilian vehicles in the form of the MB 4WD Offroad Car, Caesar BTT Propeller Airplane, RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat), and Water Scooter.Co-op Campaign & End Game Multiplayer
Take on the role of a NATO CTRG special operator in the 1-4 player "Apex Protocol" co-op campaign. Connected to the events in the original Arma 3 "The East Wind" campaign, your team is sent to Tanoa in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster, but quickly find themselves facing a far bigger threat than they bargained for. The co-op campaign consists of highly replayable missions, featuring a drop-in/drop-out multiplayer structure, and the difficulty scales up or down based on the number of players. In addition to the co-op campaign, Arma 3 Apex adds two brand new End Game multiplayer scenarios on Tanoa, as well as a new singleplayer Showcase End Game scenario to familiarize players with the mode's objectives and rules.Additional Apex Content
The Apex expansion is complemented by a wide range of additional content. This includes: Gendarmerie faction (Tanoa local law enforcement agency) armed with a new Protector 9 mm Sub-Machine Gun, NATO and CSAT faction reinforcements in the form of special forces and Pacific expeditionary units, a selection of existing Arma 3 weapons and vehicles repainted in a South Pacific camo pattern, new character appearances: Tanoan and Chinese, new radio protocols: French, French-English, and Chinese, new environment assets and props for content creators, a Tanoa Zeus Game Master scenario, 13 new Steam Achievements, and the Arma 3 Apex official soundtrack.Arms 3's Creative Director, Jay Crowe, said:
With Arma 3 Apex, there's never been a better time to get into the series. Built upon a diverse, open platform, the expansion offers up a multiplayer-focused set of content, complimented by some great new additions to our arsenal, all set in the truly splendid backdrop of Tanoa - a fresh experience of combat, and an exicting new sandbox for our dedicated community.
Arma 3's Project Lead, Petr Kolář, added:
We've been focused on Arma 3 Apex for over two years, and it's incredibly satisfying to finally see all of that hard work come together. Tanoa is without doubt one of the best terrains in the Arma series, providing an experience that we can only refer to as a "green hell". Together with the new vehicles, weapons, uniforms, accessories, and of course the co-op campaign, we are certain this will keep players engaged in combat for a long time. I'm extremely proud of what the team has achieved. This really is the Apex in Arma 3's development journey.
If you're new to the game and would like to begin with Arma 3 Apex, there's an Apex Edition priced at €59.99 which delivers the complete experience.