Matt Wagner is dropping new hints at what the new DCS World map will be giving us a list of criteria that the team is working with to develop this new map and the scenarios that it fits. Yes, you read that right, scenarios. So let’s do a little speculation on what this might be!
Eagle Dynamics criteria for the new map
To go over what we already know about this map, Eagle Dynamics is offering up a new free map for DCS World that will supposedly release later this year. Matt Wagner says that nobody has previously guessed at what the new map would be so he’s dropped us a few new hints at what is driving the decision behind this new map.
It’s always a team decision with our company owner and our CEO having final say. While still too early to announce, key elements of the map must include:
Matt Wagner on the DCS World forums
1- Can be converted to both modern day and WWII use.
2- Low overhead, high performance.
3- Geographically laid out to best suit multiplayer matches.
4- Suited for both land-based and carrier ops.
5- Expand into a new part of the world.
So what could this map be that fits all of the criteria above and where could it take us?
Speculating on the new map
The first scenario that springs to my mind is the South China Sea. Bounded by Vietnam, Hainan island, the Philippines and several other dozen island nations in the area, the area has been contested for years by multiple nations and the situation has threatened to turn hot on more than one occasion. China is busy building airbases on isolated islands while the US sails carriers near the area and destroyers through contested waters as part of freedom of navigation exercises.
The area supports limited land operations and definitely offers up ample aircraft carrier operations as well as land based operations from the small militarized islands. Bring these together with the China Asset Pack that Deka Ironworks developed last year and continues to develop and you have potential for interesting multiplayer and single player scenarios.
The area was part of the wider World War II battle but offers far less to that scenario and at the moment the only Pacific based combat aircraft coming that we know about is the F4U Corsair.
If not the South China Sea, then where to?
What about North Africa and specifically Libya?
The country has several times been involved with conflicts with the west and currently remains in a precarious state. In 1986, the US Navy and Air Force initiated Operation El Dorado Canyon which saw multiple targets in Libya hit in retaliation for attacks on US citizens. The F/A-18 saw its first combat during the strikes. More recently, NATO organized airstrikes during the Libyan Civil War saw advanced combat jets overfly the country once again.
The scenario offers less air combat but it is a real world scenario that Eagle Dynamics likes to hew closely to without addressing directly. The map once again offers ample sea and land opportunities and it works well as a WWII scenario as the Libyan desert saw significant fighting between the British and German forces and could offer up a new scenario for future aircraft and asset development. The North Africa campaign is rich in aviation combat history.
What are your ideas?
There are plenty of ideas out there from Alaska (and the Aleutians) to Vietnam and just about everything in between. Off of the list is Syria which we already know is well under development. Do you have any ideas on what Eagle Dynamics is secretly brewing that fits Matt Wagner’s criteria list above? Let me know in the comments!
Stormbirds 
Leave a reply to harryvoyager Cancel reply