Heroes & Generals Stage 1 Development Plan (Validation Before Crowdfunding)
Hey everyone
I want to share a clear update on where the Heroes & Generals revival is at and how we’re approaching development going forward.
After the initial announcement in December, it became obvious (and understandable) that a lot of long time players had the same concern:
That Heroes & Generals could come back as a generic WWII shooter with their beloved game's name slapped onto it.
That’s not something we’re interested in doing or taking lightly, and it’s not something we expect anyone to take on faith.
What Stage 1 actually is
We’ve officially entered Stage 1 of development, which is focused on validation, not speed.
This phase is about proving that Heroes & Generals can feel like Heroes & Generals again in Unreal before production scale, monetization, or a major crowdfunding push.
Specifically, Stage 1 focuses on:
Infantry movement feel (acceleration, inertia, transitions)
Weapon handling and pacing
Animation timing and responsiveness
Sound and combat feedback
Overall gameplay “feel” that defined the original experience
All of this work is prototype level by design. No polish, no content scale, just fundamentals.
As Stage 1 progresses, we’ll be sharing:
Short prototype clips
Focused tests (movement, ADS transitions, etc.)
Breakdowns explaining what is being tested and why
Everything will be clearly labeled as prototype work. The goal isn’t to impress; it’s to let people see the process and judge whether the direction actually lines up with the original game.
Why we’re slowing this down
We’re deliberately not rushing toward monetization, Early Access, or a large crowdfunding campaign.
Stage 1 includes a small, focused crowdfunding step, but only after core gameplay systems have been validated. That campaign would have one purpose:
Funding a long-term development partner
Building a playable, production-quality vertical slice
A second, larger crowdfunding campaign would only be considered after that vertical slice exists. There are no dates attached to this and no promises being made beyond Stage 1.
What Stage 1 is not
Just to be clear, Stage 1 is:
Not a public alpha
Not Early Access
Not a release window
Not monetization focused
Stage 1 ends when a vertical slice exists and the core identity of Heroes & Generals has been demonstrably proven.
Final note
Community feedback so far has been thoughtful, constructive, and respectful, and it’s directly shaped this approach. That feedback is being taken seriously, and expectations are understood.
If you want to follow progress more closely, we’ve set up an official Discord that will serve as a hub for announcements and shared prototype material (currently read-only, more opening later):
👉 Discord:
More details on Stage 1 are also available on our website.
Happy to answer questions where I can.
-Zack