Mil-Sim Shooter ‘Onward’ Unveils Its First Major Update After a Year-Long Hiatus

At long last, Onward (2020), the tactical military simulation shooter developed by Meta’s very own Downpour Interactive, is set to receive a significant 2.0 update. It’s a change that’s been eagerly awaited, especially considering that the last noteworthy update went live almost a year ago.

Contrary to what some might believe, Onward hasn’t been left to gather dust. Its previous major update, the expansive ‘Mercenary’ update, was rolled out in February 2024. This update introduced a new PVE mode along with a series of graphical enhancements, marking a noticeable evolution in the game.

Now, the team at Downpour Interactive is preparing to unleash the 2.0 update. According to a recent blog post from Meta, this is touted as “its biggest update ever” and is slated to bring a wealth of new content to the game within the year. Players can look forward to a “massive graphical overhaul” that will revamp weapons and utilities, along with the introduction of a new Operator system featuring 20 fresh characters. Additionally, new map content is on the horizon. More details are promised to be shared with the community “very soon.”

This upcoming release comes against a backdrop of upheaval in the gaming industry, including significant layoffs at Downpour Interactive in 2023. These challenging times were compounded by the departure of the studio’s founder and CEO, Dante Buckley, who left the company one month prior to the layoffs. Buckley originally launched the studio back in 2015.

Onward first saw the light of day on Steam in Early Access back in 2016 and later made its debut on the original Oculus Quest in 2020. The game has always emphasized authentic squad-based operations and a meticulous representation of real-world weaponry.

For those who are interested in knowing more, Onward is available on the Horizon Store page for Quest 2 and higher, and on Steam for PC VR headsets, typically priced at $25.