August 13, 2026 - Publisher MicroProse and developer Arcane Alpacas are proud to announce that Dagger Directive has officially launched into Version 1.0 and is available now on Steam for PC, marking the culmination of its Early Access development and a major new chapter for the retro-inspired tactical FPS.
Built for players who remember the golden age of tactical military shooters, Dagger Directive combines the deliberate, open-ended gameplay of the genre's classics with modern mechanics and quality-of-life features. Players become members of Task Force Dagger, an elite international special forces unit deployed across frozen coastlines, dense jungles, and war-torn cities.
To celebrate today's release, MicroProse and Arcane Alpacas have released a brand-new Version 1.0 Launch Trailer, showcasing the expanded content, arsenal, environments, and tactical action awaiting players in the full release.
From suppressed night operations and long-range engagements to explosive assaults and coordinated squad action, the new trailer offers a look at Dagger Directive at its biggest and most complete.
There is no single correct way to complete an operation. Select your equipment, choose the time of day, study the environment, and execute your plan. Move silently through the shadows, engage enemies from extreme range, coordinate with friends in co-op, or hit the objective with overwhelming force.
Every mission is yours to shape.
Dagger Directive has grown considerably throughout Early Access, with player feedback helping shape new content, features, and improvements on the road to Version 1.0.
The game now offers an extensive selection of tactical missions across multiple global theaters, full cooperative multiplayer, an expanded arsenal of weapons and equipment, deeper customization, improved enemy AI, and extensive support for community-created content.
Weapon modding and custom mission support have also transformed the game into an increasingly open tactical sandbox. Players can create and share weapons, magazines, maps, and missions through Steam Workshop, while custom content can be brought into multiplayer operations.
Version 1.0 builds on that foundation with further missions, enemies, equipment, gameplay improvements, and polish, making this the definitive version of Dagger Directive to date.
Dagger Directive 1.0 - Key Features
- Open-Ended Tactical Operations - Large mission areas, multiple entry points, varied objectives, and freedom to determine how every operation unfolds.
- Multiple Campaigns and Global Theaters - Deploy across dramatically different environments, from frozen coastlines and dense South Pacific jungles to conflict-ravaged Eastern European cities.
- New Missions and Combat Challenges - Version 1.0 expands the battlefield with additional missions, objectives, enemy encounters, and tactical situations.
- A Huge, Expanded Arsenal - Choose from more than 25 weapons alongside an extensive selection of attachments and tactical equipment. The growing arsenal includes additions such as the MK18, P90, M17, and scoped M32 grenade launcher.
- Deep Weapon Customization - Configure weapons for the operation ahead with optics, suppressors, underbarrel equipment, and multiple front attachments, then save and share your preferred loadouts.
- Tactical Equipment - Recon and control the battlefield using drones, mines, tripwires, grenades, night-vision equipment, and other specialized tools.
- Grounded Ballistics and Simulation - Bullets and shrapnel feature simulated weight, velocity, and trajectory. Range your optics, lead moving targets, account for ricochets, and stay clear of realistically simulated grenade fragmentation.
- Stealth That Matters - Suppressors, darkness, foliage, destructible lights, and careful movement allow players to manipulate the battlefield and avoid engagements entirely when the mission calls for it.
- Improved Enemy AI - Enemies respond more intelligently to combat and stealth, with improved reactions to suppressed fire and bullet impacts, changing accuracy under pressure, reduced nighttime visibility, flashlight detection, and multiple difficulty options.
- Full Co-op Multiplayer - Bring a squad and coordinate approaches, equipment, flanking maneuvers, and assaults across the game's tactical missions.
- Custom Weapons and Gear - Create entirely new weapons and magazines and bring community-made equipment into both solo and multiplayer operations.
- Custom Maps and Missions - Build new operations and share them with the community through Steam Workshop, dramatically extending the game's replayability.
- Expanded Operator Customization - Customize your operator with additional equipment and cosmetic options, including new uniform and headgear choices.
- Multiple Perspectives - Switch between first-person and two third-person camera perspectives depending on how you prefer to operate.
- Controller and Handheld Support - Version 1.0 includes improved controller support and handheld compatibility alongside extensive quality-of-life and technical refinements.
The Tactical Shooters You Remember - Reimagined for Today
Dagger Directive deliberately embraces an old-school visual identity inspired by the military shooters of the late '90s and early 2000s, but underneath its retro presentation lies a modern tactical sandbox built around player agency.
Plan the operation. Choose your tools. Pick your approach.
Then deal with the consequences.
Whether playing alone, coordinating a squad in co-op, experimenting with new loadouts, or downloading community-created operations from the Workshop, Version 1.0 represents the most complete Dagger Directive experience yet - and the mission doesn't end here.
Dagger Directive Version 1.0 is available NOW on Steam for PC.
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Contact Information
For press inquiries, please contact:
Davide Pessach
Marketing Manager
davide.pessach@microprose.com
MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking, classics and cult titles like, the Falcon, F15 Strike Eagle, Silent Service, Gunship, Grand Prix, Civilization, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, and X-COM series and many more simulation products that sold millions of copies each at retail.
Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of the demanding new generations of gamers.
Arcane Alpacas is a small game development studio founded in 2018 by Daniel Fowler. The Portland, Oregon based studio is focused on making asset packs and fun games that mix simulations with modern mechanics and conveniences. Arcane Alpacas first PC game, Dagger Directive, has been in development for 4 years.
Daniel’s past experience includes work on Batman: Arkham Shadows, Lead Engineer on Onward 2, Engineer on Onward 1, Senior Engineer at NCSOFT, and various other roles over his 15 year game development career. Daniel is also a United States Marine Corps veteran.