'Special Force' launching Closed Beta Test in SEA this November

Popular online first-person shooter “Special Force” will be entering its Closed Beta Testing (CBT) phase in Southeast Asia this November 24, 2016, Playpark Inc. announced.

The return of “Special Force” was teased for weeks before it was formally announced at the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit 2016 this October 28.

Fan demand

First released in South Korea in 2004 and introduced in the Philippines in 2008, “Special Force” quickly became one of the most-played online shooters in Southeast Asia.

Despite the game’s discontinuation in the Philippines, its fanbase never really died. According to Playpark, the demand for the game remains strong. The rerelease of “Special Force” is therefore the answer to that demand.

It seems the situation is the same in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Playpark will therefore be responsible for bringing the game back to all five countries.

“We are giving players what they want,” said product manager Lauren Jules Peniera at the “Special Force” press conference on November 8, 2016.

Let the competitions commence

In celebration of the game’s resurgence, a series of “Special Force” activities are being planned, such as cybercafé events, regional events, exhibitions, and online tournaments.

In December after the CBT, Playpark will host a launch party simultaneously in 4 areas. While the date has yet to be revealed, Playpark did announce that the winners from each area will receive prizes. They will also be invited to do battle to determine the Top 2 who will proceed to the Playpark XP tournament in December.

After the game’s official release, there will be even bigger tournaments.

One is the Super League, which is a regional tournament for the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Then there’s the Special Force Philippine Championships. This will serve as the road to the Special Force World Championships (SFWC), which is set to be part of the annual Playpark All Stars tournaments in July or August 2017. To determine who gets to go to the SFWC, the Philippine Championships will host North and South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Qualifiers. Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore will host their own Qualifiers.

Also announced were the Special Force Bang! Tournaments. These are tourneys organized by cybercafes. Playpark will offer their support to such cybercafes, providing Tournakits, prize money, and in-game items to participants.

We can expect Special Force Pro League tournaments. These are a series of tournaments which will take place in cybercafes in various locations nationwide.

What to expect

So what can we expect from the relaunched “Special Force”?

The initial rerelease of the game will be the exact same “Special Force” you remember from years ago. Fan-favorite maps will be back, as well as weapons and skins.

As longtime developer Dragonfly will be working on the game again, however, expect new content – such as new maps, weapons, and even robots and pirates – down the line. The release of new content will be seasonal.

But why relaunch “Special Force” when we already have “Special Force 2” with its more realistic graphics and gameplay?

Playpark believes one of “Special Force’s” greatest strengths is its nostalgic appeal; those demanding its return are eager for a throwback experience. Its simplistic yet explosive gameplay is also bound to attract those who are none too happy with the grittier, more realistic direction “Special Force 2” has taken.

Players can expect customer and GM support. They can also top up their accounts at GameX, Globe, and Game Central.

Events hosted by cybercafes that are partnered with Playpark will offer players the chance to avail of special guns and other items.

For more information, visit the official “Special Force” website or Facebook page.  — TJD, GMA News