UNIT: Savage Game Design
TO: Arma 3 Creator DLC Users
OPSUM: Overview of S.O.G. Prairie Fire 1.31 Update
EVALUATION
Hello Arma 3 players!
With the release of Update 1.31, S.O.G. Prairie Fire sees a significant focus on quality-of-life improvements across various game elements. This update introduces refined mechanics, enhanced sound effects, and bug fixes, all aimed at elevating the player experience.
Notably, 20 vehicles, 15 weapons, and multiple terrain assets have undergone improvements, including adjustments to vehicle handling, weapon dexterity, and performance optimizations. These changes are driven by community feedback and our commitment to historical authenticity and gameplay fluidity.
The 1.31 update was just released. Don’t forget to verify Arma 3 local file integrity in your Steam library.
You can read the changelog here.
DEVELOPMENT INSIGHTS
Our team has been closely monitoring community feedback and bug reports. This update reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the player experience. While we’ve moved new assets to our free mod S.O.G. Nickel Steel, these extensive quality-of-life changes touch nearly every aspect of gameplay.
From refining vehicle handling and fixing weapon animations to enhancing sound design, we’ve worked hard to ensure that S.O.G. Prairie Fire continues to feel immersive and authentic. Every tweak and adjustment has been made with the goal of providing a more seamless and enjoyable battlefield experience.
The Prairie Fire Wiki has also been updated to reflect changes made in this patch.
REFLECTIONS
As we move forward in our mission, it’s always worth looking back on what we have accomplished.
Forming in 2017, initially from members of the Arma 3 Jets DLC team and the Unsung Vietnam War mod team, Team Savage grew to over 150 people, in 37 countries, working mostly part-time to develop S.O.G. Prairie Fire.
The DLC was released in May 2021, and has received three major updates in the last three years. The content available now covers 13 factions with 266 items of equipment, 46 vehicles, 44 static weapons, 85 weapons and 63 items, grenades, mines and traps. There are three terrains to explore, covering 550km2, and 35 songs on the Original Soundtrack.
For gameplay, the community rallied to the cause, and has created 111 missions for DLC players to enjoy, on top of the eight-mission co-op campaign. For solo campaign players, you can even use JohnnyBoy’s SOG AI mod to enhance the experience.
COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS
Beyond the DLC itself lies the SOG Prairie Fire community. Over the past three years, the team and the community have supported SOG (and all) veterans, with a range of outstanding projects:
- Raised $26,000 to support veteran welfare through the ARSENAL tool, developed by SOG veteran Dick Thompson. This tool saves lives and is available free to veterans - please ask in our Discord welfare channel. Special thanks to Dolly, ZFDigby, Spoffy, Pi123263, Nemesis, Liru, LongLiveQuebec, Whiplash, and FNF.
- Assisted Paris Davis to be awarded the Medal of Honor after a 57 year injustice. Special thanks to Whiplash, Dugong and PapaBear.
- Helped build a statue of SOG veteran and former Delta Force commander Eldon Bargewell. Special thanks to Preacher and Squike at Modern Forces.
- Donated $10,000, from sales of the Original Soundtrack, to the Special Operations Association, with some of the proceeds going towards the Gabriel Field Legacy Project.
- Helped create a new permanent MACV SOG display at 5th Special Forces Group HQ at Fort Campbell. Special thanks to Preacher, Squike, Beachhead, Don and Ice.
- Helped preserve history by publishing 30 in-depth interviews with MACV SOG and other US Special Forces veterans on our YouTube channel. Special thanks to Beachhead, Des, Whiplash and Ice.
- As part of the forthcoming MACV SOG documentary, recorded over 40 in-depth interviews with MACV SOG operators and the aviators who supported their missions. Special thanks to Beachhead and Ice for this.
- Escorted Larry Trimble back to the SOG CCN camp location at Marble Mountain in Vietnam and supported public talks with him.
- Supported the release of three SOG veteran memoirs - SOG Codename Dynamite books 1 and 2 by Dick Thompson and Operation Tailwind by Barry Pencek, with more on the way.
There are more community projects underway, which we’ll tell you about when we can.
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
The S.O.G. Prairie Fire community continues to thrive, producing incredible content that expands upon the core experience. Over the past year, creators have developed numerous standout mods and scenarios, enhancing both single-player and co-op gameplay. Among these, the SOG AI mod stands out, allowing players to experience the campaign with AI companions, offering a new way to enjoy the game solo.
One of the most exciting upcoming campaigns is Dunklik’s "Purple Haze," which features a story-driven experience with heavy narrative elements. The campaign, set in the Vietnam War era, offers a deep, scripted experience where players must navigate the challenges of identifying friend from foe and using combined arms tactics. With fully voiced missions and a focus on immersive storytelling, it promises to be a standout addition to the community’s growing library of content.
With so much creative energy within the community, we're excited to see what new content will emerge in the coming months.
S.O.G. NICKEL STEEL - OUR LEGACY
As we said in our last OPREP, we are continuing to develop assets for Arma 3. These are being released in the S.O.G. Nickel Steel mod on Steam.
The Savage Nickel Steel team is currently working on:
- A new MP / SP game mode called Across The Fence
- New terrains and props
- 10 new vehicles
- Seven new weapons and four interesting historical weapon variants
- New clothing and equipment
That’s almost enough for a small DLC in itself! If you’d like to help our artists as they continue to create assets like the AC-119, the GJet pistol, the LVTP-5 APC, and more, please consider supporting us on Patreon.
LOOKING AHEAD
So what’s next for the team behind S.O.G. Prairie Fire?
The team has been recognised by the Special Operations Association and made a permanent member with an open invitation to future MACV SOG reunions.
The studio has developed a game design document for a future SOG-based game, and added that into the business plan which includes a MACV SOG TV Show, documentary, graphic novel series, and online Special Operations museum. It’s an ambitious plan, grown out of the project that brought us all together to create S.O.G. Prairie Fire.
We wish to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement and support over the past six years, and look forward to engaging in more historic, immersive entertainment with you in future.
De Oppresso Liber!
