TOPACCOLADE NEWS

War Games isn't just the title of a 1983 Cold War thriller staring Matthew Broderick, it's an actual term used by armed forces across the world aimed at testing attack and defense strategies.

After the Russians invaded Ukraine 2 months ago, many countries deployed troops to eastern Europe to counteract any further Russian and Belarusian incursion into the west.

But what was and still is vital to these troops is the war games utilized in both live fire tests and whilst strapped into simulators, the US Army is no acceptation.

The United States Army has announced that it's slated to update it's war games with the help of Microsoft, Paradox (Known for their popular military strategy game series Hearts of Iron), and others in a multi-billion dollar contract.

The American video game industry has had close ties to the country's military, since the 1990's they've collaborated to produce war game simulators, train officers and soldiers, help veterans, and simply supplying games and consoles to servicemen serving in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Before the Vietnam War when the first war game simulators were installed in the Pentagon's famous War Room, commanders and generals moved wooden pieces on what was deemed a “War Chessboard” often seen during the Age of Imperialism and the two World Wars.

Now it's comedown to using military strategy games the general public plays on a daily basis to train soldiers and officers like Battlefield, War Thunder, and Hearts of Iron IV.

Leading many to wonder why such an expansive revamp is necessary when all they'd need is a bunch of gaming computers, several Steam accounts, and roughly $500 (£395) worth of video games.