Mil-Sim Shooter ‘Onward’ Unveils Highly Anticipated Major Update After Year-Long Hiatus

Onward, the tactical military simulation shooter developed by Downpour Interactive, a company under Meta’s umbrella, is gearing up for a substantial 2.0 update. Fans have been eagerly anticipating this, especially since the previous significant update was released almost a year ago.

Despite the lengthy gap between major updates, Onward hasn’t been forgotten. The last big change, the ‘Mercenary’ update, dropped back in February 2024, introducing a PvE (Player vs Environment) mode alongside some graphical improvements. Since then, updates have been relatively minor.

Now, Downpour Interactive is preparing to unveil the 2.0 update, which, according to a recent Meta blog post, promises to be “the game’s biggest update ever.” This update is set to include a plethora of content that should excite both new and veteran players alike.

One of the standout features of this update is what Meta describes as “a massive graphical overhaul” that will enhance the look of weapons and utilities. Additionally, players can look forward to a brand new Operator system featuring 20 fresh characters, along with new map content that will undoubtedly expand the game’s tactical possibilities. More details on this substantial update are expected to be revealed shortly.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of challenges within the gaming sector, particularly at Downpour Interactive, which experienced significant layoffs in 2023. Adding to the upheaval, founder and CEO Dante Buckley, who established the company in 2015, left just a month before these layoffs occurred.

Originally launched on Steam in Early Access back in 2016 and later available on the original Oculus Quest in 2020, Onward has always been about delivering a realistic, squad-based gameplay experience, with an authentic representation of real-world weaponry being a core aspect of its charm.

For those interested in exploring Onward, it’s available on the Horizon Store for Quest 2 and newer models, as well as on Steam for PC VR headsets, typically priced at $25.