America's Army: Proving Grounds Launches On PS4 This Summer

America's Army launched back in 2002 as not only the first game developed and published by the U.S. Army, but also as one of a small number of tactical shooters that were available to Mac users. The early free-to-play FPS immediately gained traction for both being free and teaching its players a bit about what it was like to train in the actual U.S. Army.

The Unreal Engine 2-powered game went through several iterations, ending with America's Army 3, and the Army eventually decided that it was time to create a successor, which came to be known as America's Army: Proving Grounds. Proving Grounds, which hit Steam Early Access in August 2013, upgraded to Unreal Engine 3, added new maps and features, and brought back the mission editor that was last seen in America's Army 2. After two years in Early Access, it launched on Steam on October 1, 2015. It's been a year and a half since launch, but, according to SteamCharts, the U.S. Army-developed FPS is still maintaining an average of 500 concurrent users at any given time.

Now, the Army has decided that it is time to move the game to a new platform: PlayStation 4. It announced today that the PlayStation 4 version of the game is set to go live this summer.

Some of America's Army: Proving Grounds' key features are as follows.

• Several training exercises designed to sharpen small unit maneuver skills. Exercises are small engagements of 8 players vs. 8 players. These fast-paced maps focus on teaching players how to work as a team and learn basic skills and maneuvers.
• Realistic equipment and military hardware such as such as the M9A1 & M1911 Pistol, 870 MCS shotgun, M14EBR-RI sniper rifle, M24 sniper rifle, M4A1 and the M249 Saw. Players can also use the M67 fragmentation grenade, M106 Fast Obscurant Grenade and the M84 Stun Grenade as well as optics that include the M68 Close Combat Optic, M553 Holographic Weapon Sight, M150 ACOG 4x Optic, Elcan M145 and Ghost Ring Sight.
• Players have the ability to apply medical aid to stop their own bleeding which allows them to maintain their health and stay in the game for completion of the mission. Players can also assist downed squad mates to bring them back into the fight.
• Integrated Voice Over IP for efficient team communication.
• Customization including the camo pattern of their team, the gear load-out of their Soldier and the ability to unlock weapon skins on their weapons and to obtain new optics.

America's Army Executive Producer Daniel Kolenich had the following to say about the announcement.

July 4th, 2017 is the 15th anniversary of the America’s Army game. This may not be the first version of AA on consoles, but it is the best!

For those wondering, America's Army has been on consoles before. The Xbox-exclusive America's Army: Rise of a Soldier launched on November 17, 2005. It brought the core gameplay to Xbox while also introducing a single-player mode based on the real story of Major Jason Amerine's time in Afghanistan in 2001.

Those who are interested in trying out America's Army: Proving Grounds before the PlayStation 4 release can download the game via the Steam store page.

America's Army: Proving Grounds Game Trailer