Glory to the Heroes is an upcoming military simulation game taking a very different approach to the modern shooter, recreating real locations and battles from the Russian-Ukrainian War rather than building fictional battlefields.
Developed by Deaf Tone Games, Glory to the Heroes is a hardcore PvPvE mil-sim designed to put players in the role of an ordinary enlisted soldier. The developers want to represent the realities of modern warfare, combining infantry and trench combat with artillery, vehicles, UAVs and FPV drones. The game is set to enter Steam Early Access on October 9, 2026.
One of its most interesting features is its approach to maps. Instead of simply taking inspiration from Ukraine, the developers are recreating actual battlefields using real-world landscape data alongside photogrammetry-scanned buildings and objects. Locations range from tightly packed villages to much larger combat zones, with Early Access featuring maps based on Krynky, Chasiv Yar Canal and the Izium Machine Building Plant.
Combat mixes PvP and PvE, with human players sharing the battlefield with AI-controlled soldiers. Contact is focused on shorter, high-stakes engagements, while Operations is designed around longer-running conflicts. Players can enter an ongoing battle, fight over strategic objectives and leave while the wider conflict continues to develop.
There are also elements normally associated with extraction shooters. Players have persistent characters, personal stashes and progression, while equipment taken into battle can potentially be lost. Vendors provide equipment and assignments, while weapons offer extensive customisation. The developers previously revealed that their AK-74 implementation alone features more than 80 compatible components.
Early Access will initially place a heavy emphasis on infantry combat, with the developers planning to expand the combined-arms side of the game during development. Infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks and artillery systems are among the additions planned, alongside a much larger Battle of Izium map.
Glory to the Heroes is tackling unusually sensitive subject matter for a multiplayer shooter, particularly as it depicts a real and ongoing conflict. Deaf Tone Games says its intention is to portray events in an accurate and historically grounded manner, describing the project as serving educational, journalistic and cultural purposes.
Glory to the Heroes enters Steam Early Access on October 9, with additional maps, weapons, vehicles, modes and mechanics planned as development continues toward the full release.