Indie dev Armative Studios has announced that Steel Aces, the free-to-play tank MMO focused on skill-based, historically authentic armored warfare, is inviting players to take part in an Open Play Weekend via the Steel Aces website from September 25 at 15:00 BST / 16:00 CEST through September 27 at 23:00 BST / September 28 at 00:00 CEST.
Watch the Steel Aces Open Play trailer here
During the Open Play Weekend, you will be able to experience Steel Aces as if the game had fully launched, with all the main features of the game available to explore and no monetisation enabled. Everything you unlock during the event will be kept, giving new and returning players the chance to get a headstart while experiencing how far the game has come since the last playtest.
The free-to-play tank MMO puts skill over spending, with fair tank-on-tank combat where tactics and player ability decide the outcome of each battle. There are no player-controlled artillery or aircraft, keeping the focus firmly on direct ground combat. With no premium ammunition, pay-to-win mechanics or unfair RNG, you can rely on your own decisions rather than paid advantages or random outcomes. Steel Aces features a genuine ballistics simulation and component-based damage system, where shots can damage individual parts rather than simply depleting a health bar and shot placement matters a lot more than in similar games.
Built around more than 100 years of armored warfare, Steel Aces currently features a selection of over 150 historically authentic vehicles, spanning from the Interwar Period and World War II through to the early Cold War. Developed with military museums and partners with hands-on tank experience, the game focuses on realistic line-of-sight combat, where positioning, vehicle knowledge and decisive action are key. During Open Play, you’ll be able to experience these systems while progressing through the game’s ranks and unlocking new vehicles, with everything you earn kept beyond the weekend.
“At Armative Studios, we wanted to create a tank game that genuinely respects the machines and history behind them,” said Michael Schmotz, CEO at Armative Studio. “Every vehicle should feel true to the machine it represents, from how it moves and handles to how its armour and ammunition interact in combat. Steel Aces is built on an authentic simulator foundation, with compromises made only where needed to ensure the game remains playable and, more importantly, fun!”
Account creation is now open, allowing you to create your Steel Aces account and secure your username before joining the Open Play Weekend. Visit the Steel Aces website and follow the instructions to ensure you are ready to join the battlefield.
For more information about Steel Aces
About Armative Studios
Steel Aces is proudly developed in Germany by a team of just three developers with a background in engineering, automotive and games. This gives a new perspective on a long-established franchise with a commitment to authenticity, technical excellence, and innovative gameplay. We are committed to “the tank game that never was”, with fair gameplay and monetisation aimed at long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits and gambling mechanics.