Battlezone (2016 video game)
A 2016 VR reboot of the classic tank combat arcade game.
Rebellion’s 2016 release, *Battlezone*, is a reimagining of the 1980 arcade classic. It launched as one of the PlayStation VR’s debut titles in October 2016. Like the original, it pits players in first-person tank battles against an AI opponent, but adds cooperative multiplayer, a campaign mode, and a design built for virtual reality.
The action stays inside a tank cockpit, viewed in first person. While a few HUD elements like targeting crosshairs exist, most information appears on cockpit display panels and a holographic top-down radar. A single player begins a campaign by picking a difficulty and length; up to three others can join, for a total of four. Players can drop in or out at any time, even mid-battle. Each player selects a tank for the whole campaign, starting with a fixed weapon loadout that can be swapped at supply points along the way.
The goal is to cross a procedurally generated hex map and destroy the enemy’s AI core inside a volcano at the far end. Each hex may contain a battlezone (with various map types), a supply point, a shield generator, or a random event. Battlezones have specific objectives—completing them and defeating enemies earns “data,” which is spent on upgrades or new weapons. Every shield generator destroyed weakens the final AI core confrontation. The team shares a pool of three lives, which can be increased by purchasing more with data (though costs rise quickly). If all players are dead and no lives remain, the campaign ends in defeat. A downed player can be revived by a teammate instead of using a life. A post-launch patch added “classic mode,” recreating the original 1980 wireframe vector game in VR.
*Battlezone* first launched as a PlayStation VR exclusive on PlayStation 4 on October 13, 2016. A Windows version supporting HTC Vive and Oculus Rift followed in May 2017. In May 2018, the game was updated and re-released as *Battlezone: Gold Edition*, which included a new Xbox One port. This edition added non-VR support and bundled all previously released downloadable content. It was a free update for existing Windows and PlayStation 4 owners. A Nintendo Switch port arrived on November 8, 2018.
According to review aggregator Metacritic, the game received mixed reviews upon release.
- Developer
- Rebellion
- Release year
- 2016
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 (PlayStation VR), Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- First-person tank combat
- Known for
- Launch title for PlayStation VR; reboot of 1980 arcade game
Lore & Background
Battlezone is played entirely in first person, from within a tank cockpit. The game was originally designed for virtual reality with gamepad control. HUD elements include targeting crosshairs, but most readouts are presented on display panels mounted around the cockpit, together with a holographic top-down radar display. One player starts a campaign by selecting a difficulty level and campaign length. Up to 3 other players can join, for a total of 4 players. Players can drop in or out at any time, including during gameplay. Each player chooses a tank that they use for the entire campaign, and each tank comes with an initial weapon loadout. The tank's loadout can be changed at supply points during the campaign. The objective is to travel across a procedurally-generated hex map, ultimately to destroy the enemy's AI core in the volcano at the far end of the map. Each hex contains either a battlezone, a supply point, a shield generator, or a random event. Battlezones have different objectives — completing the objective and defeating enemies earns players 'data', which can be spent on upgrades or new weapons. Each shield generator destroyed reduces the defences in the final AI core confrontation. Players have a shared pool of lives, starting with 3. More can be purchased with data, but the cost increases rapidly. When all players are dead with no lives remaining, the campaign ends in defeat. A downed player can be revived by another player. A post-launch patch added 'classic mode', which recreates the original 1980 wireframe vector game in the virtual reality environment.
Reader's Guide
Battlezone (2016) represents a significant attempt to revive a classic arcade franchise for the virtual reality era. As a launch title for PlayStation VR in October 2016, it helped define the early VR gaming library. The game's design emphasizes cooperative multiplayer, allowing up to four players to work together through a procedurally generated campaign. Its cockpit-based first-person view and holographic displays were tailored for VR immersion. The later Gold Edition, released in May 2018, added non-VR support and an Xbox One port, broadening its audience. The inclusion of a 'classic mode' that recreates the original 1980 wireframe vector game in VR pays homage to the source material. Despite receiving mixed reviews according to Metacritic, the game stands as a notable early VR title that attempted to blend modern cooperative gameplay with nostalgic arcade mechanics. Its legacy includes demonstrating how a classic arcade game could be adapted for contemporary VR hardware while retaining core elements of tank combat against AI enemies.
Did You Know?
- Battlezone (2016) was one of the launch titles for PlayStation VR in October 2016.
- The game includes a 'classic mode' added via post-launch patch that recreates the original 1980 wireframe vector game in VR.
- Up to 4 players can play cooperatively, and players can drop in or out at any time, even during gameplay.
- The Gold Edition, released in May 2018, added non-VR support and was a free update for existing Windows and PlayStation 4 owners.
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