The open beta version of America's Army: Proving Grounds is now launched on steam. If you have already downloaded your copy, you can join in the game by registering your soldier name at the America's Army: Proving Grounds website. This release is said to be a return to basics with an emphasis on teamwork and proper strategy.

America's Army is a long running series of video games released from free by the U.S. Army and serves as one of their primary recruiting tool.

In a press release, they reveal what made them go back to basics. “We took a back to basics approach that highlights a move, shoot, communicate system within a fun gaming experience that echoes teamwork-based Army training,” said Marsha Berry, Project Manager for America’s Army. “Just like in the Army, America’s Army: Proving Grounds focuses on creating elite, well trained Soldiers that will complete the missions as a fine-tuned team beginning with smaller, focused exercises and advancing up to larger, more complex exercises.”

Proving Grounds has a newbie-friendly Normal Mode and then for those who prefer more difficult missions, there's the Hard Core mode just like in other first person shooter video games. Health and ammo are strictly monitored, and it they say it's close to old school FPS.

To stress on teamwork, game developers have designed the game that makes it harder for lonewolves to work alone, making it more realistic, and team play is enforced while minimizing on commanding them to play in teams.

The story for this version is an operation in The Republic of Ostregals where you as a player, plays as an 11B grunt and practicing maneuvers that will needed for Long Range Combined Arms which is a special operations mission behind enemy lines, which will be conducted in the neighboring Czervenia. Overall, here are the features of Proving Grounds:

• Fast-paced Battledrill Exercises (BDX) for small engagements of 6 players vs. 6 players.  These maps focus on the basic movements and maneuvers, allowing players to learn how the enemy might react and adjust their strategies for future engagements 
• Forward Line Operation (FLO) training for 12 vs. 12 players. These larger mission-based exercises require players to use several skills learned in their Battledrills to achieve success
• New weapons such as M9 and Remington 870 MCS shotgun and M14EBR-RI sniper rifle, which join AA favorites such as the M4/M4A1 and the M249 light machine gun
• Situational awareness for spotting the enemies
• Weapon suppression which adds a new level of strategy to play
• A Supported Fire system for steadying or resting weapons to help with aim
• Self aid where players can stabilize themselves and get back into the battle quicker
• A more advanced hardcore mode
• New versions of AA fan favorite maps including Hospital and Bridge

Accompanying the video game is the America's Army Comic which will give the players the overall view of the conflict that they will be getting into in playing Proving Grounds. The fictional countries of The Republic of Ostregals and Czervenia are at war and the latter's leader bent on annihilating the Republic which the U.S. Army has vowed to protect or else world power will be changed forever.