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- How "Azovstal" was tempered: in Russia they create a game about the events in Mariupol
How "Azovstal" was tempered: in Russia they create a game about the events in Mariupol
Russian video game development studio announced its debut project - computer shooter "At Dawn"."Izvestia" were among the first to familiarize themselves with the novelty. The aim of the game is to tell about the events of the NWO in 2022, for this purpose the authors conducted shooting in Mariupol and recreated all the key objects of the city in a virtual format. The wide audience will be able to familiarize with the game in November 2025.
The first game about Mariupol
Folk Development team is creating the debut game "At Dawn". It is a patriotic action movie with a focus on realism and the task to tell about the actions of the Russian Armed Forces in Mariupol in 2022. 15 specialists are involved in the development.
The game begins with a group of fictional soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces arriving in an APC and landing in a city half-destroyed due to prolonged fighting. Mariupol is realized in 1:1 scale, the huge city with its surroundings is open for exploration and study. Players and AI-controlled assistants - bots - take part in the fighting. You can play both with friends on the local network, and with random partners on the Internet.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
When landing in the city, players need to fulfill various missions: to blow up the enemy's military equipment, save hostages, find various items. The main goal is to fulfill combat missions. The way to achieve them, tactics, strategy, combat equipment, composition and roles within the team players determine independently.
The main goal of "At Dawn" developers call the protection of civilians and control of a strategic city, on the basis of which you can ensure border security.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
The development of the game has been underway for less than a year, it started in May 2024. In the summer of 2025 the authors plan to show the demo version, and the full-fledged release is scheduled for November of the same year. The authors note that the short development time is explained by the active use of AI-tools.
- We use it in terms of conversations, shaping the tactics of opponents and speeding up the whole development process in general. In the past, character and story concepts were created in two or three weeks, and AI helps to reduce the production cycle to a couple of days, - said the head of the studio Bogdan Horeika.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
The authors also worked on the reflection of authentic architectural objects of Mariupol. First of all, the model of Victory Park was recreated, the Mariupol Drama Theater, St. Vladimir's Church, "Azovstal" and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol are next in line. It is noted that all objects and quests are created in such a way that players can follow the same path as the Russian Armed Forces during the fighting for Mariupol.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
After the end of the battle, characters will return to the "base" - a special and safe place on the map. There, computer-controlled characters will be able to sing war songs, and groups of players will be able to gather around virtual campfires and listen.
Realistic shooter for Russians
Judging by the concept art and descriptions from the developers, the audience can expect dynamic gameplay in an open-world environment with a distinctive combat system based on the author's movement and shooting mechanics, said Alexander Gorbachenko, director of the Intercontinental Cyber Sports League and a leading Russian expert in the field of computer sports.
- The fact that the game is made on the Unreal Engine 5 engine allows us to hope that we can expect high-quality modern graphics. According to the creators, the emphasis in the game will be on the cooperative component and interaction within the team. If the game can provide a balanced gameplay with equal starting conditions for players, it will have a chance to even claim the status of a program in one of the disciplines of computer sports, - he said.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
Itis difficult to say what the authors will get in the end, as the development of the game began relatively recently, said Nikolai Skarzhinsky, founder of the ANO "Department of Cybersport" and general director of the company - developer of computer software "ION". According to him, the planning horizon of such shooters is at least three years, and here it is only a year and a half from the beginning of development to the release date.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
According to the expert, missions in "At Dawn" can combine elements of cybersport, but the game itself is not very well suited to the role of cybersport discipline in Russia because of the open world. The speaker also notes that there is not enough data for a full-fledged analysis yet.
- The concept of the game is interesting, screenshots and videos look nice. I welcome the idea of creating a new Russian game built on the principles of high realism," said Yaroslav Meshalkin, managing partner of Heads'made digital communications agency.
Screenshot from the game "Azovstal"
According to Igor Kochubeyev, deputy for youth policy ataman of the All-Russian Cossack Society, such projects have cyber sports and military-applied aspects that help young people get an idea of the realities of modern high-tech warfare and develop reaction speed, cognitive abilities and communication skills with the help of the digital environment.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
