In 2020, gamers are used to developers and publishers requiring hefty updatesto games that are little more than a few days old, so it may come as a surprise to many that a 21-year old game is getting a major update, one that was seven years in the making. The game in question isWorms Armageddon, the turn-based tactical artillery game first released in January 1999, which has remained a fan favorite ever since.
The update includes 61 new features, including smoother graphical animation, better compatibility with Windows 10 and newer hardware, as well as fixes that allowWorms Armageddonto once again work on hardware from when the game was released. Other features include six player matches, new weapons and physics options for veteran players, the ability to add CPU opponents to online games, as well as support for seven new languages.
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The updates were coded by two developers known as Deadcode and CyberShadow, who were recruited by developer Team17 to work on updates alongside fans, leaving it free to focus on new games including those in theWormsfranchise,the chef-em-up sequelOvercooked2, andThe Escapists 2. The update also coincides with 2020 being the 25th anniversary of the first game in theWormsseries, released initially on the Amiga home computer.
Worms Armageddonhas remained popular with fans, despite numerous newer installments of the game updating the premise and graphics. Team 17 even used the game’s code as the basis for the most recent release in the series,2016’sWorms W.M.D, which was praised by fansas something of a return to form.
The timing of the update makes sense, with the next game in the series currently undergoing a closed-beta test, a free update to a fan favorite will help get people talking about the franchise again. However, the upcomingWorms Rumbleis moving away from the classic turn-based combat, in favor of real-time battles, including 32 player cross-platform play for the seemingly obligatory Battle Royale and Deathmatch modes. It’s certainly a risk for Team17 to takeWormsinto this territory, one with many fans who are younger thanWorms Armageddon, and may not be that familiar with the franchise.
That being said, if Team17 can bringthe humor and fun ofWorms Armageddoninto real-time multiplayer combat, then the game could attract a far wider audience. While the inclusion of classic weapons such as the Holy Hand Grenade and Baseball Bat will help encourage long-time fans to give it a go.
Worms Armageddonis available now on Linux and PC through GOG.com and Steam.
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