Following the games Verdun, Tannenberg, and Isonzo, BlackMill Games is preparing for yet another First World War front. Gallipoli launches on August 20, 2026, with its focus switching from Western and Southern Europe to the Gallipoli Peninsula and Mesopotamia.
With just one week until its official release date, the developer celebrated its final preparations for the launch with a special event that took place at the Seddülbahir Fortress in Türkiye, in collaboration with the Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site. It couldn't have been a better venue - the site was involved in the historic V Beach landings that take place in the game itself.
During the event, BlackMill Games announced a cooperation deal with the Directorate, while the media and content creators got a preview of the launch trailer and an opportunity to try the game. There was also time for sightseeing at Anzac Cove and other historical venues linked to the campaign.
Something Completely Different from Other WW1 Battlefields
Just like other instalments of the series, Gallipoli maintains the realistic style and emphasis on squads, but its setting should give the title its unique atmosphere.
There is 25v25 combat with objectives, as players join forces either with the British or the Ottoman Empire soldiers. Ten historically accurate classes are present: Officers, Heavy Machine Gunners, Snipers, and Stretcher Bearers, each having a specific role in a squad.
Once again, the studio goes deep into deadly combat, offering the well-known one-shot-one-kill gameplay combined with over 50 historically accurate weapons and items. Weapon handling and the speed of reload are influenced by the level of enemy suppression and a soldier's knowledge of the weapon.
Not only is the setting of the game outside Europe, but it also expands beyond Gallipoli landings, you can participate in battlefields inspired by Anzac Cove, Cape Helles and Kut Al Amara, where you can play in beach, fortress, desert and urban environments. There are also no classical European trench maps here!
Crossplay between PC and console is available, as well as bots joining any public match when a place is empty, which could be useful in custom gameplays too.
BlackMill Tells Us How Cosmetics Will Work After the Release
Recently, the studio shared information about cosmetics coming to Gallipoli after the release. Unlike in Isonzo, where larger packs containing the uniforms were used, Gallipoli has much smaller cosmetic packs focused on individual armies and various combinations of uniforms.
There will be four such packs in the First Expedition season of the cosmetic content, including the Sunburnt, Conscript, Light Horse, and Ordered to Die packs, all of them becoming available upon the game's release on August 20. The second season opens immediately with the Besieged Pack. Other cosmetic packs and free gameplay content will become available later.
As for gameplay-affecting items, they will remain in the main game without being locked behind cosmetic packs.
Just One Week Until the Opening Battle Begins
The launch of Gallipoli has already been delayed, but now, everything seems to be in its right place - the final preparations to the August 20 release have just started.
The Ottoman Front offers the WW1 Game Series the unique opportunity to explore some seldom-represented WW1 battles, armies and environments. We'll see whether it means anything for the development of the series' formula and gameplay itself.
And our coverage of Gallipoli won't end at the release news – our comprehensive game review will come soon enough!
