Between 2021 and 2025, I had fun working on World War 3 (or WW3 the game), a project co-published by The 4 Winds Entertainment and Wishlist Games, and developed at the time by The Farm 51. Our team’s mission? To enhance the authenticity and inclusivity of World War 3 for our players in the Arab world and Turkey, by showing a true representation of their forces, local voice acting, and collaboration with numerous government and military entities. It was all to finally break the industry stereotype of the typical covered shemagh Arabs that shouts loudly with an soviet era AK47.

So much work, yet my weird fascination for military (even if I'm a big pacifist) helped me lead a creative, dev and multiple other sector of the company to make sure it's true to its essence. I've lost count to the numbers of assets, trailers, marketing materials produced, but there we go.

Bringing Local Flavors to Military Warfare FPS

From the outset, our goal was to ensure that World War 3 resonated with players worldwide, not just through gameplay but also via cultural representation. Partnering with The 4 Winds Entertainment, we embarked on a mission to tailor the game's experience for our Arabic and Turkish-speaking communities.

One of our significant steps was the introduction of full Turkish in-game localization and Arabic voiceovers. This wasn't just about translating text; it was about capturing the essence of military communication in these languages. We aimed to move beyond the typical Hollywood portrayal, striving for dialogue that genuinely reflects what you'd expect from soldiers in these regions during combat situations. This included everything from tactical commands to the more colorful expressions that might arise in the heat of battle.

Authentic Representation of Regional Forces

But we didn't stop at language. We wanted players to see themselves in the game. This led us to incorporate national army special forces from Arabic countries and Turkey. Our recent Operation Skyfront update introduced operators inspired by:

• ÖKK BORDO BERELİLER: The elite Turkish special forces.

• El-Sa’ka Forces Unit 888: Representing Egypt's formidable military units.

• Sultan’s Special Force and Ka II SFG Special Unit I: Bringing in flavors from other key regions.

• ISOF Golden Division: Showcasing Iraq's elite forces.

These additions weren't just cosmetic. We delved deep into the gear, attire, and even vehicles of these units to offer players customization options that mirror real-life military equipment used by these nations. Our commitment was to ensure that when you step into the boots of these operators, it feels genuine.

A New Battleground: Istanbul Enters the Warzone

As part of Operation Skyfront, our third and most ambitious season yet, we knew we had to make a statement. And what better place to do that than Istanbul—a city that quite literally bridges worlds?

Istanbul isn’t just Turkey’s biggest city—it’s one of the most historically rich and symbolically powerful places on the planet. Formerly known as Constantinople, it’s stood at the crossroads of empires, philosophies, and faiths for centuries. Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans—they’ve all left their mark. So, for a game that thrives on global conflict and layered storytelling, Istanbul felt like a natural next step.

The map itself is set on the unfinished construction site of a future skyscraper, abandoned mid-build after military operations erupted. That unfinished state gives the map a distinct verticality and vulnerability—it’s raw, exposed, and full of tight corners and wide open risks. One of the standout features? From the upper floors, players can catch glimpses of Istanbul’s modern skyline on one side and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge—linking Europe and Asia—emerging through the morning fog on the other. The audio-scape is true to the city, as we've personally went to the physical spot where that map would be in real life, and record hours of busting city sounds, as well as original radio emergency broadcast loops and helicopter shouting at the armed man in Turkish. It's beautiful. It’s eerie. It’s very, very WW3.

The layout centers around a massive vertical staircase—the highest point on the map—and winds outward through exposed decks, incomplete observation towers, construction debris, and half-installed infrastructure like lights, scaffolding, and containers. The whole place tells a story of progress halted, of ambition interrupted by conflict. It’s an urban warzone layered with symbolism.

We also gave players a new twist in terms of atmosphere and tactics—the Istanbul map supports two radically different times of day: one set during a nearly pitch-black night, and another in a dense, misty morning. That shift doesn’t just change the lighting—it transforms your whole approach to how you move, hide, and survive.

Designing Istanbul wasn't just about adding a new map—it was about doing justice to one of the world’s most iconic cities. It’s more than a battleground—it’s a living museum of past and future clashes, and now, a new chapter in WW3’s evolving global theatre.

Beyond the Battlefield

Our dedication to authenticity extended to the very fabric of the game's design. We collaborated with specialists to craft a dedicated Arabic font that aligns with the game's aggressive theme, ensuring that the visual experience remains consistent across languages.

Moreover, recognizing the importance of seamless gameplay, we established local server support for the MENA region. This ensures that players experience minimal latency, making their combat experience as smooth as possible.