Summary
Bohemia Interactive’s tactical military simulator,Arma 3, received a massive jump in sales during the latest Steam Summer Sale. Despite being a niche title and almost 11 years old now, gamers are evidently still curious about whatArma 3has to offer.
Arma 3was first released into alpha back in 2013 and was one of the first games to ever make use of the Steam Early Access program. Later that year, it was released in full and was quickly regarded as one of thebest combat simulation gameson the market. Bohemia Interactive is yet to release a sequel to the game, with only the spin-offArma Reforgerarriving in 2022. Despite this,Arma 3retains a large online community with the gameplay holding up extremely well over a decade later.
Speaking toPC Gamer, Bohemia Interactive’s Pavel Křižka confirmed thatArma 3sold nearly 700,000 copies during therecent Steam Summer Sale, as well as almost 200,000 pieces of DLC alongside this. These numbers are a huge surprise for a game almost 11 years old, especially one so niche, where it can be expected that most fans of the mil-sim genre already ownArma 3. According to Křižka, one of the “two biggest factors” for the massive sales numbers was the fact thatArma 3was 90% off for the first time ever, dropping it down to just $2.99. He also markedArma 3’s presence on Steam’s front page as the other massive factor in the huge rise in sales.
Arma 3 Sells Over 700,000 Copies During Steam Summer Sale
According to Křižka, it wasn’t all down to visibility and sales, claiming, “But no doubt it’s also about the uniqueness of the whole Arma platform. Despite Arma 3 being more than 10 years old, there’s still nothing quite like it available for mil-sim game lovers.” It makes sense. There are plenty ofthings aboutArma 3that still hold up, and while most modern shooters offer a more casual approach, few do hardcore mil-sim quite like Bohemia Interactive’s title. While the game itself still offers a great experience in 2024, it’s fascinating to see how many players interested in the genre hadn’t purchased it prior to the Steam Summer Sale.
But no doubt, it’s also about the uniqueness of the whole Arma platform. Despite Arma 3 being more than 10 years old, there’s still nothing quite like it available for mil-sim game lovers.
WhileArma 3has seen an influx of new players, it won’t be long until Bohemia Interactive has players finally talking about a sequel. Back in 2022, Bohemia releasedArma Reforger, which served as a way for the studio to get to grips with its new Enfusion engine before developingArma 4.Arma Reforgercame out of Early Access in late 2023, at which point development on a full sequel was already confirmed. The studio is yet to confirm exactly whenArma 4will be released, and it’ll be interesting to see how many of the nearly-700,000 new players of the series stick around going forward.
Arma 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience true combat gameplay in a massive military sandbox. Deploying a wide variety of single- and multiplayer content, over 20 vehicles and 40 weapons, and limitless opportunities for content creation, this is the PC’s premier military game. Authentic, diverse, open - Arma 3 sends you to war.Defeat your enemy on a richly detailed, open-world battlefield – stretching over 290 km² of Mediterranean island terrain. From expansive cities to rolling hills, whether steamrolling your tank across the dusty plains, flying a transport helicopter over the dense forests, or waging asymmetric warfare from the rocky hills, the islands of Altis and Stratis are dynamic worlds, which lend themselves to the most varied engagements in gaming.Head into combat on foot, drive armored vehicles, or take to the skies in helicopters and jets. Conduct a combined arms attack over air, land, and sea, with over 20 vehicles to drive and pilot, 40+ weapons to pick from, customizable loadouts with short- and long-distance attachments, and various types of gear to suit your needs on the battlefield. With a massive arsenal at your disposal, Arma 3 moves you into a world of tactical opportunities.
