Mil-Sim Shooter ‘Onward’ Unveils First Major Update Following Year-Long Anticipation

Onward, the tactical military simulation shooter developed by Meta’s Downpour Interactive, is gearing up for a significant transformation with its long-awaited 2.0 update. Fans have been eagerly anticipating this major enhancement, as the last substantial update to the game, dubbed the ‘Mercenary’ update, was released almost a year ago in February 2024. That update introduced a new player-versus-environment mode and featured various graphical enhancements.

Despite a period of relatively minor updates, Onward is far from forgotten. The upcoming 2.0 update promises to be its most extensive yet, according to Meta in a recent blog post. Set to arrive later this year, the update will expand the game’s content significantly.

Included in this exciting new update is what Meta describes as a “massive graphical overhaul,” which will impact weapons and utilities, providing a fresh, visually striking experience. Additionally, players can look forward to a new Operator system, introducing 20 unique characters alongside fresh map content. More specific details about the 2.0 update are expected to be unveiled soon, so stay tuned for further announcements.

This development comes on the heels of some challenging times within the gaming industry. In 2023, Downpour Interactive faced company-wide layoffs, and its founder and CEO, Dante Buckley, who established the studio in 2015, departed just before the layoffs occurred.

Onward first hit the gaming scene when it debuted on Steam in Early Access in 2016. It later made its way onto the original Oculus Quest in 2020, also in early access mode. The game is renowned for its focus on realistic, squad-based gameplay and exceptional authenticity in replicating real-world weaponry.

For those interested in experiencing Onward, it is available on the Horizon Store for Quest 2 and beyond, as well as on Steam for PC VR headsets, typically priced at $25.