Bohemia Recap – July 2023
July saw Czech Republic enduring crazy swings in weather, from dramatic thunderstorms to stretches of high heat, but it was business as usual here at Bohemia.
Vigor joined Threads and announced the winner to their Emote Event Competition, while Ylands released Update 2.1: Sunken Sands, which is sure to please even the most hardened adventurer. DayZ’s main focus was the experimental launch of Update 1.22, while Silica released a couple of updates that added fixes and quality of life improvements. Meanwhile, Arma Reforger received a major update that took its gameplay to another level, and Arma 3 released the very exciting Arma 3 Creator DLC, Spearhead 1944.
Let’s dive right into July’s headlines and happenings.
Vigor
We celebrated the 4th of July in style with in-game fireworks & cosmetics. The fun continued shortly thereafter with dev streams, a Community Corner competition, and live events such as the Booster Apocalypse and Double XP Days. We also added a Thread in the Outlands (yes, the new social media from Meta), so make sure to follow us!
The highlight of July was definitely our Emote Event Competition. We asked players to send us some cool videos using emotes from the game. We received over 40 submissions and the Vigor devs voted for the top 3. You can enjoy the winner here.
In other news, Outlanders got their hands on some interesting data we shared, like this little nugget which focuses on Myren as a Shootout map. Speaking of sharing, check out the collage below which highlights our live action shooting, special Dev Diary stream, and mockaping Vigor Chronicles: Damnation.
Ylands
Most notable of our notes this month is the release of Update 2.1: Sunken Sands! Rejoice, adventurers, as so many new things have found their way into the game, including a new set of tools, clay in tropical, a whole new story chapter, alpacas and other animals and... you know what? Horatio Elmwood summed it all up with an entertaining read.
Want to learn more about Crimson Shores and the next story chapter? Then check out our trailer!
Know what else was really fun? The regatta race our community held in July! But don’t take our word for it - see for yourself. If you’d like to participate in future fun events, make sure to join us on Discord. See you there.
DayZ
Our focus in July was on the experimental launch of DayZ update 1.22. While it’s a modest update, it nevertheless brings some significant enhancements to the game. Dive into all the details with our 1.22 Experimental Release article.
We joined in a number of global festivities in July, like #InternationalJokeDay, #IndependenceDay, and #BastilleDay. We also invited our dedicated player base to participate in the celebrations by sharing screenshots, quirky jokes, and engaging interactions.
Our DayZ developer livestreams are more vibrant than ever these days, with QA Lead Filip Konupka at the helm. The streams allow players to immerse themselves in the world of quality assurance and explore some of the unique tools we utilize. Catch the highlights here.
Our TikTok game remained strong in July, with nearly one million views for our piece Proof that not everything can be an album cover. The overwhelming response has been awesome and invaluable. It has also inspired us to channel your feedback into the conceptualization of an upcoming DayZ soundtrack (as well as an album cover, of course).
Arma Reforger
Reforger got a major update in July that added widely requested features and took gameplay to the next level. The Health System Update added the ability to revive players and heal characters, as well as new ballistic protection to help players stay protected on the battlefield longer.
In addition to the new health system features, Reforger also got two new ambulances, basic weapon deployment, and a brand new radio interface. Both the update and the thrilling trailer have received outstanding feedback, and we're excited to see how the new gameplay mechanics will unfold across Reforger servers worldwide!
If you're craving more exceptional Reforger community content, be sure to check out the latest Arma Reforger COMRAD. For all you modders out there, you can learn more about Reforger's latest features and how they'll affect your mods in July's Dev Report and Modding Update.
Stay safe, soldiers!
Arma 3
We welcomed a wave of reinforcements in July, who picked up Arma 3 and some of its DLCs during the Steam Summer Sale 2023. If any of you new recruits are reading this and are wondering where to get started (or if you’re a long-time player looking to brush up on your knowledge), we recommend playing the Showcase scenarios and Prologue campaign first. From there, you can play the East Wind campaign, or, if multiplayer is more your thing, you can use the server browser to find both official and community run servers with a number of different game modes. If you are thinking of joining a unit, you can check out Arma 3 Units, Bohemia Interactive Forums, Steam Discussions, and the FindAUnit Subreddit to see what’s available. There is definitely a unit for every player, from casual to hardcore realism!
Arma 3's biggest event in July was, of course, the release of third-party developer Heavy Ordnance Works' Arma 3 Creator DLC: Spearhead 1944. This CDLC transports you to the summer of 1944 in Normandy, France. Featuring a 150 km2 terrain, 50+ weapons, 40+ vehicles and static weapons, new clothing and gear, as well a full cooperative campaign based on Operation Cobra, Spearhead 1944 is an exciting entry in our Creator DLC Program.
You can learn more about Spearhead 1944 here and more about Heavy Ordnance Works and the CDLC's development here.
Silica
Our dear community has responded with such enthusiasm that Dram has been working on the game constantly. Don’t believe us? Then check out the video below entitled “Silica Improvements: Two Months Later”, which showcases the game’s most important advancements.
We released two important updates in July:
- The first one focused on quality-of-life improvements, such as the addition of voice barks and camera control tweaks.
- The second update included Turrets and Outposts, along with a number of smaller fixes.
July also saw us finishing our series "How to Combine RTS & FPS" with Part 2 and Part 3.
If you'd like to learn more about the world of Silica, check out our latest Silica Synopsis for a detailed recap.
Bohemia Store
Get ready for an enhanced gaming experience with our brand new DayZ and Arma mousepads!
Preorders are now available in our store, so secure your mousepad today and conquer our games in style!
Become a Bohemian
We’re always looking for more fun and creative people who are passionate about games. Check out the career board below and get in touch if you think you’re the right fit.
Don't see anything that speaks to you? Then head on over to our careers page to see all the positions that are currently open at Bohemia.
What Else?
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Until next time, stay safe and game on!