Tripwire Interactive announce the release of a major update for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, the award-winning WWII online action game. The update, which includes 10 new maps, increased player limits and much more, is available to owners of the game for free through Steam, Valve’s digital distribution network.In addition to the new maps, Tripwire released an update to the game engine that enables high end servers to increase the player counts far beyond the current 32 player limit – up to 64 players for the most capable servers. The release also includes new artwork and music, several features requested by the clan/ladder/league community to enhance competitive play, and a heap of smaller enhancements and fixes. Read the full changelog for the update at www.redorchestragame.com.
To give gamers a chance to try the updated version of one of the best sellers on Steam, Tripwire is using the extensibility of Steam to offer both retail and Steam customers two free Steam Guest Passes. All owners of Red Orchestra can invite two friends to try the game with no obligation to purchase. Upon receiving and activating the Steam Guest Pass, the invited friend has three days of Red Orchestra play available for free.
Highlights in the new map-pack include:
* “Smolensk Stalemate”: the contest winning map features perfectly balanced to-and-fro infantry combat through ruined villages and trenches in August 1943.
* “Leningrad”: features close-quarters infantry fighting in the ruined streets of the city, above them in the bombed-out buildings and deep beneath them in the sewers, all with close-in armor support.
* “Berezina”: the After-Hourz team surpass themselves on this rural/village map, introducing not just a new vehicle (the Russian BT-7 light tank), but also the first functional anti-tank gun in the game. To cap it off, the BT-7 even carries tank-riders.
* "Black Day July”: one of the very best for tank combat fans, set in the rolling countryside around Prokhorovka as German and Russian armor clash en masse during the Battle of Kursk.
Red Orchestra is available via Steam and at retail outlets worldwide.