If you’re into tactical shooters, 2025 has been a busy year. Bohemia Interactive’sARMA Reforgerhas reached its all-time peak, VOIDfinally announcedthe console port ofReady Or Not, and evenEscape From Tarkovgota release windowafter 8 years in the making.
Though the big boys are out in force, some smaller titles have managed to find their space as well, and that’s the case for Bellum,an upcoming tactical shooter being developed since 2023 by Astarte Industries, led by modder and content creator Ryan “Karmakut” Yuan.
After agunplay revealback in late December, Bellum’s second devlog finally reveals the core mechanics of the game and its base game mode. The video also delves into machine gun teams, grenades, and other gameplay details.
Bellum Main Game Mode
The core game mode of Bellum is called Occupation, and it pushes both teams to try and establish control over a randomly assigned area of operations.
In this mode,conventional forces need to move in and consolidate control over the area of operations, while militiamen try and prevent that from happening.
Each team has different tools at its disposal to accomplish those objectives. Professional soldiers can build a large combat outpost to solidify their footprint, while irregular forces work from smaller bases.
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This translates into a game of whack-a-mole for armies, similar to what the United States and its allies had to deal with during the Vietnam War.
The Occupation mode has three victory conditions: killing everyone in the opposing team, conquering the area through outposts, and pushing the enemy forces out of the area of operations entirely.
Besides the game mode demonstration, Bellum also showcased how machine gun teams will work in the game.Light machine gunslike the M240 or the PK can be carried by a single player, but that results in slow movement and lengthy reloads. Players are instead encouraged to work in pairs so that one person shoots, while the other adds ammunition to the belt and helps with spotting.
Accessible Realism
Bellum is trying to find a spot in the tactical shooter world. The idea is to have more accessible gameplay like in Squad, but with the level of teamwork that is expected of ARMA. According to the developers,each team will have between 20 and 60 players.
The game is one of the first to try and depict the ongoing conflict in the western Sahel, but with a fictional twist.Bellum lets players pick between local militiamen, the US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, and the Russian private military company Wagner Group.
The team working on Bellum has members with experience from ARMA, Squad, Ground Branch, and Ready Or Not. Astarte has yet to announce a release window for Bellum.
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