Ghost Recon Phantoms arrives in April

It’s alive, it’s alive! There’s been sparse news on Ubisoft’s free to play shooter in recent months, with some fearing that Ghost Recon Online was deader than disco. Turns out the game has been given a new lease of life, and will be known as Ghost Recon Phantoms.

Scheduled for an April 10 release, Ghost Recon Phantoms has implemented several changes, based on feedback gathered from fans during the open beta.

“The end of open beta is a new start to the game. The difference between where the game started and the game today is so considerable that we felt we should mark it with a fresh identity,” said Corey Facteau, producer of Ghost Recon Phantoms on the UbiBlog and in a press release.

Feedback from our five million players throughout beta enabled us to continuously increase the content of the game and to improve what makes the game unique, the blending of intense shooters with the teamwork and tactical depth of MOBAs.

Ghost Recon Phantoms brings a narrative layer to the game based around The Phantoms, ex-Ghosts and current adversaries who left The Ghosts to pursue personal agendas. We’ve also added new gameplay elements to expand the depth of the game and give new experiences to seasoned veterans. Of course, no accounts will be wiped, and our current players will not have to start over.

So what do you get now for free…mium? Features such as these which I just CTRL+C’ed from the press release:

• Updated Characters and Maps: The game’s new identity comes with a new art direction, including new character and device design for all three classes as well as a complete reworking of lighting and level design on the majority of maps. Referencing military system prototypes, the art team created realistic new gear for players which delivers an experience representative of tomorrow’s battlefields.
• Major Changes in Matchmaking and Customization: With the launch of the game, the Development team is also going to address the main concerns of the players. The matchmaking will now take into account both the skills and gear, which will create a fair gaming experience to all users, both new and veterans, paying or not. The team is also going to reveal the new “Mod Master” and weapon camo systems, which will allow countless customization possibilities.
• Upcoming Features Built With the Community: Post-launch the team will continue to develop new features and weapons to keep the gameplay dynamic. Currently the team is fine-tuning tactical insertions and smoke grenades, which are being tested in large scale playtests by the community before being released in-game in the near future.

Here’s a few before and after shots as well, to go with the game. Think I might give it a spin next month, and draft the cat into my elite team. Coming up at 11AM, stick around for news on Battlefield: Spectres, SOCOM: Poltergeists and ARMA 3: Phantasms.

Last Updated: March 18, 2014