Honest Gray Zone Warfare Impressions After 50 Hours

Gray Zone Warfare did a VIP Early Access Stress Test and I played it for over 50 hours. Here is what I like about GZW and things that I think need improvement.
0:00 Intro
1:49 Beautiful Game
2:07 Player Interactions
3:05 PvE Progression
3:49 Persistent Servers
4:16 Mission Progression
5:05 Addictive Quality
5:38 Gunplay
6:03 Development Team
7:23 Loot Table
9:05 PVP
10:42 Helicopters
13:29 Player ID
14:46 Empty Areas
15:14 Weapon Variety
15:54 Audio Issues
16:23 AI Balance
#grayzonewarfare #gzw
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Gray Zone Warfare , GZW , Gray Zone , Gray Zone Warfare Gameplay , Gaming , Phixate

[@Phixate]

I can't wait for the Early Access release of Gray Zone Warfare!

[@randommishaps]

Great to hear PvE servers with progression that doesn’t cost $250

[@rustyshackleford010]

The LZ camping will be a big problem if not addressed. I'd recommend they add a few more LZs around the ones that already exist. That way if you get killed by campers, you can simply go to a nearby LZ to either escape the campers or try to flank them. I'm not bothered by the lack of weapons. If customization is done well, even the same weapons will feel different. As long as each of the 8 weapons are usable, it'll be better than COD where people only use a few METAs and the rest don't even get touched. I like the mil-sim component as I'm too old and dumb to learn COD movement and appreciate a more tactical approach that makes me feel like I can be patient and outsmart my opponents. I was so hooked on DMZ for the longest time despite its shortcomings. I'm cautiously optimistic that GZW is the next game I can sink teeth into.

[@zachbaumann3676]

Someone mentioned putting gatling guns on the chopper lol not a bad idea and would discourage farming choppers that are landing.

[@yetlancer9999]

There was a suggestion from Drewski, to make the LZ like a zone to the map where everyone can choose within that zone where to land which is much better than multiple LZs, imagine it like hell divers

[@_seekingthetruth_1447]

Great breakdown of the good and areas that need improvement, Phix. This was a very fair review and I appreciate you taking the time to do it. This game looks like it has a LOT of potential and is fun, even in it's alpha build state.

[@cazinaus4917]

Really enjoyed the early access streaming of you and the gang, and great wrap up.

[@nflhalowarrior]

Great video, very well put together with good feedback. Hopefully the devs stay engaged and actively fix issues!

[@whiffboy]

To fix in/exfil campers just put AI gunners on the choppers. Much like the AI in the game they have pin point accuracy and will either kill/maim/suppress any enemy faction within a range of the LZ. This gives players enough time to get on/off safely. LZ camping is like shooting fish in a barrel. It's cheating. Sure, camp away in the POI, but at least it's relatively more 'fair'. Friendly faction members also need to be marked, whether arm bands or even just a dot on the compass to make a player aware that if the person in front of them is friendly or not. It's available in map so it's not too far of a stretch, and with twitch reaction shooting just seeing a blue dot appear on the compass can calm your nerves and minimise accidental team mate killing.. however there would need to be severe penalties for intended team killing. Instant kicks from servers or potentially that faction. Perhaps they become a red dot on the map and marked as a defector? Seems excessive, but so are people who try to game the game and ruin the core gameplay experience the Devs are trying to achieve. I understand players should be able to play as they want, but if the game can't be played as intended then what's the point.

[@RitesunJ]

I think this only works if they add separate LZ sites for each faction since he said he was waiting for a chopper to pick him up and he unintentionally camped 2 enemy helos whilte waiting for is.

[@whiffboy]

@@RitesunJ it won't take long for players to find out where the other faction LZ sites are.. I've heard some people suggesting multiple LZ's and randomising it.. but say you want to infil on the east side of a POI because it's closer to your objective and the game puts you on the west.. that's annoying.. and I feel probably more work for the Devs to create multiple flight paths.

[@mikerak6283]

@@whiffboy They should just make extraction choppers like COD MW2 2009 care packages; a red smoke grenade and wherever it is thrown down, so long as there are no obstructions, the helo comes to that location to land/hover and pick the player up.

[@lolly_bread]

Give players Parachutes.

[@rinsonator1668]

Add secure LZ mechanic so there will be a dynamic task. Other faction will come to hold and secure then the AI scout chopper will update it. Your faction lose the LZ means longer walk and disadvantage for reinforcement so the PvP lovers will have their own field to fight and still contribute for their faction. Add dynamic Task that each faction need some Item for their faction like intel brief case or Lab sample and everyone could register themself to participate in mission and compete with other faction result in PvP for objective. Nothing personal but it’s business.

[@phred5]

Thanks for doing this video, it’s very informative, you really go above and beyond on these ,, kudos

[@Phixate]

Thanks so much for the Super Chat! Appreciate the support :)

[@ImCreepingDeath]

Great video loved watching hours of gameplay! I’ll liked the pvp battles. Huge potential!!!!

[@Pplouch]

PvP is central in these games. If there are few players and the map is huge, players will only seek PvP, which could distort the game. On the other hand, if there is a good number of players on the map, confrontations would occur more naturally and in areas further away from the central bases. Moreover, it is necessary to add very difficult achievements to obtain that give you a good advantage but are short-lived, such as very costly parachute deployments with a frequency limit, biker attacks, or vehicles that break down quickly and require expensive repairs. This would add more dynamism and incentive without unbalancing the players.

[@Arxxshi]

I had an absolute blast playing this alpha test. Game has some bugs but nothing that can't be fixed. Can't wait for the release now 🖖

[@sawedoffsaul5447]

I like it hope it comes to console I also like that you like it and your having fun and excited about the game.

[@dolophonic]

same

[@Jizzle76]

I like that you like that he likes it

[@WILMANGO681]

@@Jizzle76 that I like it

[@daranobrien]

Take a 5k+ gaming pc add cost of monitor as well. Imagine what a dumbed down console version would look like

[@Ebbybuddy]

@@daranobrienI know… and the menu system with a controller would be a nightmare - just like EFT

[@jeramysteinbrook9126]

Appreciate you brother. Suport from Indiana USA 🇺🇸

[@tacolvr1183]

Also to incorporate a sense of realism, do what they do in real combat. Each faction wears their own specific uniforms but more than that do color markings that are highly visible to where you can see you who is friendly, who is not.

[@Aimee-star]

The game is amazing. Fun to watch as well. Look forward to more GZW

[@jimmyspangler5634]

I am a true Dmz fan but I absolutely love this game wish it was coming out soon

[@RockinRack]

I would also love a game like this that has the cover mechanics of the division. I always liked being able to take cover and move from cover to cover. Not the crouch behind a wall but still have your head visible like battlefield

[@jamesgarner4127]

I’d like to see an infill option to have the helicopter take you to any point on the map and you fast rope in. Takes away the enemies ability to camp your infill spot.

[@Cwahlers]

Well done! After watching a large portion of the game play live you nailed the summary. Its nice to see a future for the DMZ community in this game!

[@mclarke047]

not my usual kind of game . but after watching all your streams i def want this :)

[@STLMTB]

Wonder if they could add some ground transport to supplement the helis?

[@strippins]

Agree with all these pros and cons, spot on appraisal

[@mikerak6283]

For infiltration, players should be able to select anywhere on the map that isn't hindered by obstructions for their helicopter to hover/land. For exfil, players should be able to use a designated smoke grenade that wherever thrown down, so long as the there are no obstructions, the helicopter will come to that location and hover/land; ALSO for exfil, they could add AI door gunners on each side of the helicopter that have precise aim and target recognition to protect players extracting and to disincentivize opportunistic extract campers. In games like this, fixed spawns and extracts ruin the experience because players just learn these patterns and abuse these mechanics. If players were allowed to come and go as they please, it would greatly decrease the frequency and severity of the issue.

[@AzaIndustries]

Hey, I'm not interested in technical difficulties. But when it was working well did you feel it was optimised so far? what are your specs?

[@lolly_bread]

They could incorporate more vertical play such as buildings, lookouts and even underground tunnel networks - the tunnels would be so sinister :D

[@TheRecon1a]

Phix been following you since the 4 th week of Your DMZ videos. I watched your GWZ videos. It seemed that that optics needed to be a bit cleaner and more toward the eye. Your opinion?

[@Phixate]

I brought that up a while back as well and apparently its more realistic the way they have it

[@Snaques]

Been watching hours and hours of streams during this play test and can not wait to dip my toes into GZW. It seems like it's been mostly a very positive experience, but I'm curious if you are more releaved that you get to play something else after a week in GZW or are you already missing the game? Basically, does it have long term appeal?

[@Phixate]

Im very excited to do a deep dive into this game when it releases

[@iban_warrior8949]

The helicopter problem add portable base “tent” style can set up on site for closer spawn. Destroy “tent” to stop portable base. Player have to check into portable base to be able to spawn at it.

[@xdiv1nity]

In terms of gun sounds, I think they should look at Ground Branch. The sound design, at least from how punchy gun shots sound, is amazing.

[@ThrobRoss]

You should be able to pay for a helo rocket barrage on an LZ before you touch down, or an AI or player controlled gunner. Player controlled gunner can just completely unload in the LZ and surrounding area as you come in.

[@sgtbassmaster3129]

Is there going to be more then one map?

[@ajmack_11]

Armbands won't work. They want to introduce a Night Cycle to the game, when under night vision, armbands will be saturated by whatever the color of the NVG is, rendering colored bands useless. This is why they need to change uniform patterns. Keep the current color selection, but the pattern, cut, or pockets of the other factions enemies need to be different. Totally agree with the Loot table. Need to ass smoke or fun to the incoming helos that are user operated, as the LZ landings are all timed to take back off (cannot hold a helo on an LZ). I would also like to see the ability to change firing hands while in game. The ability to clear corners or rooms is a lot easier when you can swap firing shoulders by not exposing too much of your operators body.

[@Michael-dl2cf]

with helo's, it would be good to blast a new landing zone. maybe they can have 20 areas on the map where it's possible to do so.

[@stereomike1624]

Maybe they can add Humvees with a 50cal on top with only 400ammo that can you reload only on fob. So, now you can choose heli or humvee

[@mfhex1398]

man i'm waiting for a decent dev to do a tarkovesque shooter, this looks very promising. Fingers crossed!

[@cistinbeilebaile3119]

How is the abuse? Lots in DMZ, even by your own squad in squad fill, if you don’t run across the map, or run to a place with no cover to revive them, love getting told I’m trash by team mates who think I should sacrifice myself to try to save them instead of taking time and waiting until it’s safe

[@kainoctis7724]

GZW looks great, but I think the persistent world and scale will work against the longevity as people will get bored of the running simulator and lack of PvP. Hope they bring out a mod kit so we can turn it into a proper extraction shooter to kill off Tarkov.

[@mclarke047]

i dont think people will get bored with scale or longevity . damn go play the biggest walking sim ever in death stranding , absolute opposite of this game but kept me hooked for over 80 hours , the only game i ever play to get so lost in time to . pvp aint everything ....

[@zeeksy6276]

@@mclarke047 you just listed death stranding and that game didn't sell well and had ZERO staying power. for the majority of games pvp is factually what keeps games alive.

[@Porphyrios1]

Do it like The Cycle... Which I know did a lot wrong but it did map entry well. & I know it's not realistic but just let the player choose where the helicopter hovers a few thousand feet up and let them parachute in. Still have the landing extracts. But getting killed before you can even get your bearings will immediately kill the game.

[@TheBurbs83]

Need a HOT LZ Option where you can Abort a landing if its too hot.

[@mattthompson5908]

Seems like it would be a good idea to have LZ's change to avoid the spawn campers.

[@alnagy1700]

Exfil camping an LZ is a simple fix just have the heli drop a smoke grenade as it lands. It gives the players jumping out a chance but still keeps the ability to camp the exfil

[@FyXeeu]

Would be sick if they upgraded the AI enemy numbers, consistency, having patrols in the jungle and difficulty based on background or just give some of them Snipers, RPGs, LMG suppressive fire or whatever. Add air/ground support for both PMCs and local military (might be a fix for camping or the running simulator complaint.)Also the map feels empty and too large for no reason Hate the progress wipe system. A mix of Ghost Recon/Insurgency Sandstorm/ Tarkov gameplay is what I expected from this game.

[@RockinRack]

They need infill exfill trucks. And select anywhere on a drivable road or trail for pick up or drop off. It would take longer but be safer and allow for more tactical planning

[@madderz_gaming]

Why can’t LZ’s be assigned like a personal In DMZ, so you can request a pick from close to where you are on the map?

[@renedegoeij]

looks great i hope in the future no ridiculous skins it really kills mw3 for me

[@lolly_bread]

LZ Camping could be fixed a lot by giving players Parachutes so you can drop out wherever you like - even behind enemy campers ;)

[@jasonfoutch4257]

Bro dropped Hutch at 14:00 lol

[@richardfowler6969]

I thought we were friends Phix. I watch you everyday dude.

[@LRADtheInhaler]

Psst… Bro, you got any more of them codes?? 👀

[@Thatskyzo]

this game looks beautiful

[@ludachi]

Holy muzzle smoke batman

[@ruanmarais4845]

I think they should add a armored vehicle to help with the helicopter problem

[@zeeksy6276]

wait...how the hell does this game not have a loot table? That's like the main reason to keep playing to begin with lol.

[@mookallen-thehub3999]

All they gotta do is add vehicles you can leave the base on so you don't have to use a Heli for the closer spots

[@VectorGhost]

So far so good. But I hope thru change the running animation, the toilet paper arm heal. Gun sounds need more emphasis, and im really hoping they go do something unquie with the "grey zone" like a crashed alien ship via a crisis direction and the realism douch bags don't ruin KY.

[@PWD65]

Noti gang

[@730risktaker2]

Fuxk noti

[@rataide99]

Hopefully this will release on console at some point down the line.

[@loupremo]

reminds me of green hell with guns

[@addicted2monster88]

Hope it jumps to console!

[@Zellar100]

Hope this is coming to Console. Huge DMZ player and me and team still actively play.

[@jordangordon2350]

Excited to see people jump ship from tarkov to this now that theyve decided to sign a deal with the devil

[@MansterBear]

They have to be working on lowering the helicopter volume. U can’t even talk to your squad hardly when ur on the heli

[@magnuscarlsenbutdumb]

-needs better gunplay, its good but it is not near tarkov. -needs better sounds, not good enough. -better player movement. all these will increase emersion. i think emersion very important

[@TheGtrot4]

With the LZ camping why don’t they make it risky for the campers and put LMGs mounted on them?

[@Phixate]

That would be funny LMAO

[@treomoe]

Ok I’m in with the pve. It’s a buy day 1.

[@mauriceblaak7536]

❤

[@andrewfehrsen]

"One of my favourite parts of the game - player interaction" Continues on to kill his team mate, twice, due to lack of comms :p

[@riot_team_ready5245]

50hours? Wow

[@nicholasayers8065]

You better not be cheatin on us again phix !! Lol

[@Sn4p_Fps]

Just spawn 100 players in that huge map and have fun lol , remove bots , add more objective and things in the map aswell so people can choice to do missions or play around and escape whit loot.

[@JohnNorse]

Exfil must change,camping and stuff like that need to change.

[@Snayperskaya]

I wish they implemented a simplified inventory. MW2's DMZ is spot on - no time wasted by sorting mags and whatnots.

[@andreasplattner]

Exactly my thoughts. Seems awkward

[@X360DevNerd]

i wish it had more speed to the system, i feel like cod ruined these games for me because it was so fast and fluid where here you have to think about what you are doing more or less and take your time.

[@dnldsv]

It would be easier if there was an auto loot function that adds and stacks items you already have in your pack when you search an enemy, that way it doesn't feel like your spending your whole infil looting. That seems like a critical missing feature. The lack of an on-screen compass (toggleable or not) is concerning. It does not look like there are enough wayfinding markers in world. I think there should be visual feedback (hit markers) when you shoot enemies. Adding an overall health percentage indicator or ammo counter (toggleable or not) would also be a big help.

[@4doordriven]

There is a compass in the game but Phix's logo at the top center of the screen blocks it. You can catch glimpses of it from time to time.

[@addicted2monster88]

Lol, Iheard ECW a few times. Helps sell the game

[@hux604]

Looks good but it's another pc master race mnk game though

[@JohnNorse]

Do like they do in Ukraine they have yellow and blue arm "bands" and the flag on the helmet front and back. Russians have the "V" on their stuff.

[@markjeralddevera4475]

Well it looks same ArenaBreakout.

[@terrybart4081]

The loot table and pvp section you spoke about just sound like other games. Maybe its a good thing GZW aint like EFT. If they added a ground vehicle for each sqaud in a faction i think that would help with the LZ camping and downtime waiting at base to go to your next location/task.

[@Ryan-tq6sx]

Gray fallout 76 zone

[@GooseOnDaLoose.1]

I mean you could have let them live lol. They didn’t even notice you lol

[@ianleedham3897]

BSG just put out DLC for 250$ CAD lol and grayzone well have it for free... BSG YOUR GREED RUNS DEEP

[@AmbientSounds916]

So basically The Division

[@mb3315]

Sure, in the same way that Arma is basically BF4.

[@jesusalvarez5663]

Seems like pubg 2.0

[@ArmagedonCS]

I wish this game destroys Escape from Tarkov

[@Pharaoh_The_Great]

Not into the pve only stuff… pvpve is how it should be… what’s the point of open world going against bots only… that’s what single player games are for… co-op is cool but pvp is a must, no skill issues here.

[@navysealuk8755]

Watched a little of your streams, I think the game was slow and not good to watch, games with great graphics and very little thought into playabillity have been tried before, what would be good ? insert as a full squad to clear a village off hostiles then move through the map as a squad doing missons like finding and destroying fox holes, sniper nest, ammo dumps. fuel dumps, pushing hills, think single player with a squad

[@normyfoster5766]

Looks shite

[@andreasplattner]

It feels so sluggish, only by spectating

[@madderz_gaming]

Ha ha. Totally agree. I don’t get what all the hype is about. So bored watching streams of this game.

[@CommentingTheTruth]

How much did Madfinger pay people to say this will be a Tarkov killer? HUGE JOKE

[@EdwinTheIntern]

[@dickylegita6211]

Whats your rig?

[@cdlalli]

[@xTheLordDragonx]