SITUATION
Yesterday we deployed the first update on the default branch of both the Alpha and the Alpha Lite (same changes). Next to a set of miscellaneous fixes, tweaks and additions, it also included some work-in-progress shadow improvements. The main idea was to make them look more soft, hide artifacts and also optimize the shaders powering them a little. We've also learned new lessons from this first 'patch', which we'll incorporate into our processes for the next one. We do have to keep stressing that we are in Alpha, meaning even pre-Beta. This means some updates will be a step forward in various areas, and potentially a step back in certain others (temporarily we hope). It also causes a lot of maintenance for creators of custom content and server administrators. Please remain patient as updates propagate into everyone's game, their servers and the mods.

INTELLIGENCE
The 0.52 version unfortunately contained a particularly nasty crash in multiplayer, for which we have published a default branch hotfix.

Not all issues you may encounter are caused by the vanilla Alpha. Our own work is far from done, but please do take into account the potential downside of mods. If they become incompatible due to a game update, they may even cause the game not to start. First try to disable or remove mods and test again. Next, look for updates to such mods, or check with their creators about their status. This is a pitfall of being an open platform and having modding even during Alpha, but we firmly stand behind leaving it enabled throughout.

We've started to highlight cool community content via several channels. The main website has a Community Focus widget with several tabs that will be updated regularly. And on our social channels we'll occasionally link to useful websites, cool content, nice machinima and exciting mods. Let us know about nice content by Tweeting our official channel, using #Arma3, or promoting it in the forums.

It's almost time to let you know the specifics of the Supporter Edition and who made it into the credits for example. We feel we have a solution that is fair, given some of the troubles on release day. A special page with details and the opt-in functionality for those people will be made available soon. We again wish to thank everybody who is supporting us and Arma 3 development!

OPERATIONS
Your Player ID (visible in the profile settings) may have changed to be longer. This is not a bug. Please update your Squad's XML indexing if you use it for multiplayer.

Performance optimizations, anti-cheat solutions, Dedicated Server packages and tool releases are all in progress. They are big tasks and once we have specific deployment dates, we will share those.

LOGISTICS
The 0.52 update and all other updates are automatically downloaded via Steam if you did not manually disable that option. Sometimes restarting the Steam client helps to trigger the update, if it did not do so automatically.

FROM: Project Lead
TO: Alpha Users
UNIT: Arma 3 Alpha, Arma 3 Alpha Lite
ACTIVITY: Game Update: 0.52 (shadow improvements, crash fixes, destructible windows)
SIZE: ~310 MB
CHANGELOG
DATA

- Showcase SCUBA:
*More forgiving alarm threshold
*Added more hints
*Improved scenario endings
*More rockets for the launcher added
- Showcase Helicopters:
*Performance optimizations
*Few minor tweaks
- Showcase Vehicles:
*More forgiving alarm threshold
*Few minor tweaks
- MP: Escape from Stratis
*Fixed: Mission success after resuming game
*'Combat Get In' module added
*Respawn time is now 30 seconds (was 120)
*Improved mission endings
*New task appears when both choppers on the airfield are destroyed
*New mission ending "all boats and helicopters destroyed"
*Warning hint pops up when the group leader is AI controlled
*Patrolling Ka-60 Black now unloads troops when under fire
*More enemies at the airfield
*Some new map locations populated
- MP: Headhunters
*"Exfiltrate" task is now set as current after all targets are eliminated
*The mission will now end when either all players are near the exfil marker or in a boat
*'Combat Get In' module added
*Possible respawn desync in multiplayer fixed
New scenario ending screen added
Task notification visuals improved
Seagull in "BIRD", "GROUP" and "SIDE" respawn replaced by a basic spectator camera
Scenarios-button now always available, even when there's no content
Added more entries into Field Manual
Compass and watch re-sized
Ka-60 minigun now rotates
Ka-60 doors and glass made correctly penetrable
MH-9 passengers can now see the tail
Helicopter weapons tweaked
Class names for Ifrits changed to be the correct ones
Alamut and MX SW now have correct icons in command menu
Countermeasures now stored in one magazine per vehicle
Correct Alpha Lite logo in splash screens added
Most windows in houses are now destructable
Static weapons should be more durable, shouldn't be targetable by guided missiles and shouldn't be flippable by user action when destroyed
Added more camoflage selections for vests and helmets
Red faction uniforms have proper class names
Changed priorities in action menu
TRG iron-sights remodeled after feedback
Collimator sights are now default primary on combined optics (Ctrl + RMB is the default switch)
Camera shake on 6.5mm ammunition removed
Server browser UI overlapping fixed in some places
Squad URL is no longer automatically upper-cased (and thus broken)
Editor loading took long when using MX rifles - fixed
Added freelook in vehicles via default option
Correct tracer colors have been distributed among factions
Fish should be less inclined to travel on land

ENGINE

Shadow improvements implemented
Improved network performance (vehicles are no longer lagging as much)
Fixed several game crashes
Fixed synchronization of cargo poses in MP
Fixed various inventory-related bugs and crashes
Improved vehicle collisions
Grenades can no longer be thrown under water
Fixed airplane / helicopter camera shaking
Default and Development versions have different numbering to prevent incompatibilities in multiplayer

SITUATION
Last week was busy with a more hidden release: Arma 3 Alpha Lite. There should already be plenty of codes available for it via people who purchased the Alpha earlier, via social channels and via many organized giveaways. The team is now working on two major parallel paths of development: Alpha maintenance and internal work on content such as the full game's campaign and the Altis environment. It's quite a different approach to how we are used to working, so we're still ironing out the kinks.

INTELLIGENCE
If you purchased any of the Alpha editions, your Alpha Lite codes should be available as gifts in your Steam Inventory.
Cross-joining multiplayer between default and Development branch was disabled on request of 124th Seagull Aviation Squadron.
The Feedback Tracker now has a most-voted issue overview.
Supporter Edition medals are being awarded on the forums.
Not sure you want to use default or Development branch? Have a look at this brief summary.

OPERATIONS
Quality Assurance have begun evaluating a new default branch update (could be released later this week).
Our programmers are experimenting with improved shadows in the Development branch (smoother, minor optimizations).
We are trying to maintain a manually compiled Development branch changelog, while we set up automation for this process.

LOGISTICS
Head over to the forums to read up on switching between default and Development branches for the Alpha (not available for Lite).
When you see us doing or releasing something you feel does not have priority (because it's not optimization or anti-cheat): keep in mind different tasks have different experts working on them. Campaign designers do not work on anti-cheat and vehicle artists do not optimize the engine code. Both tasks are also massive undertakings that will not be done quickly.

While the Arma 3™ Alpha leads Steam’s Top Sellers chart since launch, Bohemia Interactive today also made a free invite-only variant available. The Arma 3 Alpha Lite is a limited version of the Arma 3 Alpha – providing people with the opportunity to try out the singleplayer showcase missions, a selection of weapons and vehicles, and the scenario editor. Unlike the regular Arma 3 Alpha, the Arma 3 Alpha Lite does not feature a multiplayer component or modding support, and does not include access to the Arma 3 Beta and complete game later on. To participate in the Alpha Lite, people need to be invited by those who have purchased the regular Arma 3 Alpha. The Arma 3 Alpha Lite will be discontinued on June 18th, 2013.

Upgrading to the complete Arma 3 Alpha can be done by purchasing the Arma 3 Alpha (24.99 EUR/19.99 GBP/32.99 USD) or Arma 3 Digital Deluxe Edition (39.99 EUR/34.99 GBP/49.99 USD) on Steam. Extras in the Digital Deluxe Edition include a digital soundtrack*, digital maps*, digital tactical guide*, and a Steam Gift of Arma: Cold War Assault (formerly known as Operation Flashpoint™: Cold War Crisis). Both versions provide access to the Arma 3 Beta plus a digital version of the complete game upon release. The price of each edition will increase once the Arma 3 Beta and final game become available.

Those who would like to sponsor development further also have the option to purchase the Arma 3 Supporter Edition (69.99 EUR/59.99 GBP/91.99 USD) from Store.bistudio.com. Besides the additional Arma development support, this edition ships with all the extras from the digital deluxe edition, plus Supporter-exclusive rewards like a Steam Gift of Arma X, all future Arma 3 DLCs and a special forums medal. The full overview of editions, and their conditions, can be found on the official Arma 3 website.

For more information on Arma 3 and the Arma 3 Alpha, be sure to visit the official website at www.arma3.com

SITUATION
Our entire team has received a big morale boost from the positive reception of the Alpha! Many of us have been collecting feedback from all channels and are making sure it ends up with the appropriate developers. We realize there is a long road ahead towards Beta and full release, but we are confident we are on the right track.

INTELLIGENCE
"G is for Grenade"
We are aware of requests for a more stream-safe GUI. Our designers are looking into the possibilities. MP hacking is another topic we are trying to tackle from several angles.
The Alpha Lite is starting this Thursday (14 March), which is when the codes will start to be distributed.
Modders, please have a look at our official stance on forward-porting Arma 1 / 2 content.
There are several scams running that promise free and working Steam Codes. Note that these are often malware designed to hijack accounts for example. We thank all of you who have shown their support by buying the Alpha on Steam and via Store.bistudio.com!

OPERATIONS
The programming team's priority is stability: targeting the most common crashes first.
Another priority fix being worked is the synchronization of MP cargo positions (everybody seeming dead).
Showcase and COOP fixes are also coming up, along with an assortment of things reported via the Feedback Tracker.

LOGISTICS
We've pushed the first updates to the Development branch on Steam (including the first fixes for crash opportunities). See this guide on how to opt into that branch if you accept the risks of a less stable version. Some of our developers have immediately started to publish useful scripting and modding documentation: e.g. scripting, characters and weapons. The collection of documentation will be evolving and growing continuously.

SITUATION
The Arma 3 Alpha was released, and our team is actively monitoring all feedback flooding in. We’re prioritizing and starting work on fixes deployed onto the Steam Development branch.

INTELLIGENCE
There were unfortunate issues with Store.bistudio.com during the release, and getting access codes to people took far too long. Our apologies! We are very happy on the other side to read the many positive reports regarding performance and the fluidity of movement, and the Alpha in general.

OPERATIONS
Store support is still working through remaining requests and will focus on solving the issues for everyone. Read the updated statement on that here. We are evaluating how to best handle the ‘first 500’ situation, but will not ignore many of you were not able to get to the Store due to no fault of your own.

LOGISTICS
Store.bistudio.com is up and running again, and all editions are available there. The Alpha and Digital Deluxe Edition are also available from Steam. Your feedback is most welcome in the Feedback Tracker. Check out the Known Issues page for some workarounds.

Marking today’s release of the Arma 3 Alpha, Bohemia Interactive has deployed a brand new ‘2013 Sneak Preview’ trailer for its upcoming military tactical shooter game, Arma 3™. The video explores the playable and sandbox content in the Alpha and scans the horizon for what is to come later this year.

The Arma 3 Alpha, which was officially announced one week ago, provides players with the opportunity to try out and provide feedback on the game’s military sandbox gameplay. The content in the Arma 3 Alpha is limited, and includes four showcase missions (Infantry, Vehicles, SCUBA and Helicopter), a subset of weapons and vehicles, two multiplayer scenarios, the scenario editor and modding support. Whereas the final game will also feature the 270 km² Mediterrean island of Altis, the Alpha is positioned on Stratis – which hosts 20 km² of rugged terrain, expansive forests and a man-made airbase.

The Arma 3 Alpha is now available for purchase on Steam and Store.bistudio.com.

For more information, be sure to take a look at the Alpha Briefing on the Arma 3 website. Here, you can also find an overview of the various Arma 3 bundle editions that give people access to the Arma 3 Alpha. Each of these editions include beta-access and a Steam version of the final game later on.

Last but not least, Bohemia Interactive also plans to release a free, limited version of the Arma 3 Alpha on March 14th, 2013. This version, named Arma 3 Alpha Lite, does not include multiplayer or modding - and requires an invite from people who have purchased the regular Arma 3 Alpha.

Bohemia Interactive today announced their plans for the upcoming PC-exclusive tactical military shooter game, Arma 3™. From next week onward, Tuesday March 5th, all are welcome to try out the authentic military gameplay and assist in the game’s development by participating in the Arma 3 Alpha. The Alpha will feature a limited amount of playable and sandbox content, receive regular updates and remain accessible until Arma 3’s Beta starts – which is expected in the second quarter of this year. The full and final version of Arma 3 is scheduled for release in Q3 2013.

Featured in the Arma 3 Alpha are four showcase missions (Infantry, Vehicles, SCUBA and Helicopter), a limited subset of weapons and vehicles, two multiplayer scenarios, the powerful scenario editor and modding support. The 20 km² island of Stratis, which is positioned right off the coast from Arma 3’s main destination ‘Altis’ (270 km²), will form the backdrop of the Arma 3 Alpha.

“The Arma 3 Alpha is a big milestone in the project's development. Testing early and often puts us on the right track towards improving performance, stability and delivering on our goal of creating a robust final release. It's also a big opportunity to get the game in the hands of our passionate community, which enables them to start work on their own creations, tailored to the fourth generation of the Real Virtuality engine.”Jay Crowe, Co-Creative Director on Arma 3.

To participate in the Alpha, people can purchase the Arma 3 Alpha (24.99 EUR/19.99 GBP/32.99 USD) or Arma 3 Digital Deluxe Edition (39.99 EUR/34.99 GBP/49.99 USD) on Steam. Extras in the Digital Deluxe Edition include a digital soundtrack*, digital maps*, digital tactical guide*, and a Steam Gift of Arma: Cold War Assault (formerly known as Operation Flashpoint™: Cold War Crisis). Both versions include access to the Arma 3 Beta plus a digital copy of the complete game upon release. The price of each edition will increase once the Arma 3 Beta and final game become available.

Those who would like to sponsor development further, also have the option to purchase the Arma 3 Supporter Edition (69.99 EUR/59.99 GBP/91.99 USD) from Store.bistudio.com. Besides the additional Arma development support, this edition ships with all the extras from the digital deluxe edition, a Steam Gift of Arma X, all future Arma 3 DLCs, a special forums medal and the opportunity to have their names featured in the game’s credits. The full overview of editions, and their conditions, can be found on Arma 3’s new website.

Last but not least, Bohemia Interactive also intends to release a free, limited version of the Alpha, named Arma 3 Alpha Lite. The Alpha Lite will be available one week after the initial Alpha release, on Thursday March 14th, and does not include a multiplayer component and modding support. Access to the Alpha Lite is invite-only and can be obtained from people who have purchased the Arma 3 Alpha. Invites will also be randomly distributed via the Arma 3 social channels and as giveaways by selected media outlets. The Arma 3 Alpha Lite expires on June 15, does not provide access to the Arma 3 Beta and does not include a copy of the final game.

The Arma 3 Alpha will be available on Steam next Tuesday March 5th, 2013. For more information on the Alpha, be sure to visit the brand new Arma 3 website at www.arma3.com

*Available upon release of the full and final game.

What's the deal

As we stand on the verge of revealing our plans for Arma 3, there is one big topic we'd like to get out there first. A long four months ago, I took over as Project Lead for Arma 3, having previously worked on the game as Lead Playable Content. As a team we were facing two quite serious situations: we were not happy with how the project was going, and on top of that two of our colleagues were suddenly arrested for alleged espionage in Greece. The first two months on the job were all about taking an inventory of the project and team, seeing what was going well, what was not, and coming up with plans to fix it all. The mission set by our CEO, Marek Španěl, was clear: do all we can to release Arma 3 in 2013.

One of the steps in this plan has been to select Valve's Steam as our primary platform. Not only is Arma 3 PC-exclusive, but now we have decided to make it Steam-exclusive as well. Since we expect this will upset some of our fans, I'd like to take the time to honestly explain our motivations.

The bottom-line: we feel that without going Steam-exclusive, we would not be able to release Arma 3 in 2013.
Benefits for development

Proven distribution platform

Steam is the leading digital distribution platform for PC games. We have sold our games through Steam for a while now, and Valve has been a good partner. There may be other platforms that handle certain things in a way we or you would prefer, but they simply do not have the reach, support and status Steam does. Recent upgrades to Steamworks have made it an even more interesting option for us as developer and publisher. These include Delta-patching and more direct administration of our games without a middle-man. Had it not been for that, we would have been much more hesitant to make the decision.

Fewer distributed versions

Some of you will remember the huge amount of different distributed versions for Arma 2, and all of the problems associated with it. We needed to spend far too much time on creating and testing all the master copies. Every patch had to be tested for every conceivable combination of distribution, patch and DLC. This drained so many of our resources, that we could not support the game itself as much as we'd have liked. By targeting Steam as our primary distribution, we can take those resources and put them to much better use: making the most splendid game possible.

Ready-made functionality

Arma 3 Steamworks offers a library of features which we can fairly quickly hook into Arma 3. Some of them we wanted to develop anyway, but to do it ourselves would again cost valuable resources. External solutions have their own issues, such as the lack of immediate control, but Steamworks saves us needed time. We can take what we want, make adjustments and make sure it all benefits players and mod makers. I am convinced that without this choice, most of the features would not be available at all.

Piracy

Think of it what you want, but piracy is affecting us as a business. However, Bohemia Interactive has tried to grow with the evolution of the Internet, rather than to fight it. We have removed intrusive Digital Rights Management (DRM) from our games several months after release, but cannot afford to launch without such technologies. We strongly believe the best anti-piracy comes from offering valuable online services that people are willing to invest in. Supporting that philosophy: we saw we could not deliver in-house solutions on time, but could take Steam's and expand upon them. It will be possible to run Steam in Offline mode, and still play the game (with the exception of online services obviously, including multiplayer itself).

Focus on game development

All in all, this means we can as developers do what we like most: game development. And by doing what we like, the results are inevitably better. There is a lot of work that surrounds delivering a game that is anything but creative. Without such work however, we could not survive as a business and keep making games. Please realize that any benefit to us as developers, ultimately should be a benefit to you as player. By going with the chosen approach, we get back into the game.
Benefits for players
Smoother experience

Our belief is that the previous Arma games have had an unacceptably rough setup experience, involving the installation of various support packages and patches. On Steam, all you do is buy the game, download it, and play. Patching is done automatically, and with the introduction of Delta-patching no longer means downloading gigabytes of data. Whereas a few months ago, you would have to re-download entire add-ons when we moved a single tree in the virtual environment, you now only download the offending few kilobytes. Additionally Steam supports some more advanced tools to participate in experimental versions and testing programs via its beta branches. Players who want the smooth experience can just stick with the default version at all times, others get a sneak-peak glimpse at the future and can participate.
Online services

Arma 3 As was eluded to before, Steamworks offers some cool features that we can leverage to enhance the Arma experience where it matters. Internally we did an analysis of which features would make sense in Arma 3, and we even invited you to participate. This resulted in some cool ideas, which are in progress of being implemented. We'll save the exact details for a later update, when we can guarantee these features make it in. One quick and simple thing available to any Steam-powered game is taking screenshots and sharing them. How to best support Dedicated Servers and their admins is another topic we are looking at. To give you two keywords summarizing our priorities: User Generated Content and multiplayer.
Arma 3

It is important not to forget the bottom-line as set out above: we honestly believe that we would not be able to deliver Arma 3 in 2013 without this decision. Now, a few months ahead, we feel strongly that it is paying off, and soon you'll get a chance to see why.

Preemptive answers

- So, when will you release Arma 3 then?
"Soon" has become an overused word, but we are preparing all we need to unveil our plans right this moment.

- Do I have to run the game through Steam?
Yes, it will be required to run the game through Steam. We do not believe in always-online types of DRM however, so Offline mode will be supported.

- Will I be able to buy a boxed copy of Arma 3?
There will be boxed copies in most regions. These may either be Steam Codes in a retail package, or also contain DVD data (speeding up installation). You will still have to run and update through Steam the first time.

- I don't want any of the benefits Steam brings me, so why should I care?
There was a very real chance there would be no Arma 3 this year otherwise.