New Horizons Version 7 news

Announcing the arrival of New Horizons Version 7!

Version 7 comes with a variety of tweaks and new additions, not least debuting the introduction of the 1st new playable Country, as well as several other changes. Originally, I intended to include in this release the 1st New Horizons-exclusive Campaign Mission, however it is not ready yet; instead I have spent time adding many other assets, which will contribute to the launch of the new campaign (the next release will be focused on the release of the 1st mission). The New Horizons campaign missions will focus on possible modern real-world flashpoints, including likely scenarios in the outbreak of WW3.

Naturally, several key countries that are omitted in the original game, will be added to reflect this new campaign. Generally in this new campaign, countries that were traditionally under the 'Allied' faction, will be under the 'NATO' umbrella, whereas countries that were traditionally under the 'Soviet' faction will be considered aligned with 'CSTO' (a cursory internet search will show you what both acronyms stand for, should you not already know). In this release, the new playable country is that of Belarus; being the Westernmost member of CSTO. The new campaign missions from the Soviet (now CSTO) faction will be of a largely defensive nature; NATO, led by the U.S.A., has surrounded it's adversaries with a military buildup of bases and hardware unlike anything since prior to the commencement of WW2 by the Nazis, and launch a full-scale invasion of CSTO, and CSTO-allied states. Other planned countries that will be introduced in the future include (not limited to):

For NATO/Allied faction; Saudi Arabia, Turkey and possibly Japan. Whereas for the CSTO/Soviet faction; China, Syria, Iran, and possibly North Korea.

But back to Version 7's current release. Each country has been given certain new perks, some of which are described in their updated descriptions displayed on their individual loading screens. The new country, Belarus for example, is given a slight bonus to unit vehicle mobility, due to the country's large area of forests and swamplands. Additionaly, suspecting an inevitable invasion by NATO aircraft, the country specialises in flack weaponry. The Russian dual-rotor attack helicopter, the Kamov Ka-52 'Alligator' is now available for the CSTO/Soviet side; a formidable piece of modern equipment. The Allies/NATO can produce M113 APC's; a staple workhorse of NATO armies for decades, it is a simple, mass-produced APC, offering basic armoured protection to it's 11 passengers, while armed with a machinegun. The M113 is on the lower end of available units, and is sort of on the same level as the Soviet BMD-2 (which has more firepower, but less carrying capacity).

Much effort has been put into new items belonging to the American side; specifically clandestine capabilities. Drawing from their experience in real life, this country has the ability to deploy C.I.A. 'Black Sites', which can be used as bases to train 'Moderate' jihadist terrorists to destabalise and even topple other states. At present, 2 types can be set up; a workshop, which produces the now-infamous pickup trucks (terrorists were supplied brand new Toyotas in Syria), which can either have a back mounted machinegun, or in a slightly up-armoured (though slower) S.V.B.I.E.D. version. The other 'Black Site' available is the Prison; which directly trains armed terrorists, wearing suicide belts. When playing in Skirmish mode, an AI-controlled Soviet/CSTO country will eventually discover these terrorist bases, and send out a Counter Terrorism Unit to destroy it.