Hero image: Gallipoli’s Ali Al Muntar map. Image: BlackMill Games
Gallipoli’s first expansion takes the fight to the Second Battle of Gaza. The map and four rifles are free, and two cosmetic packs launched beside them.
Gallipoli’s first expansion is out now. BlackMill Games released Ali Al Muntar on 1 October, and its Steam announcement lists a new map, four rifles and two new British subfactions. The map and weapons are free, and two premium cosmetic packs launched with them.
The map is set on 19 April 1917, during the Second Battle of Gaza. BlackMill’s map blog sets out the history: General Archibald Murray’s second attempt on Gaza drew on tanks, mounted units, infantry and gas shells. Most of the tanks were destroyed by artillery or disabled by the terrain. The studio also said the map is included “purely for the historical significance of the battle on this front in World War 1.”
The map plays out the same way. If you’re attacking, you start out escorted by Mark I tanks firing towards the Ottoman lines. The Ottomans disable them before the first objective, so you take the rest on foot. After that, cactus hedges turn the fight into a maze at close to medium range, and it ends with a final stand on Tell Ali Muntar.
The patch notes also say bullet penetration through cacti has been adjusted, so test what a hedge will stop before you hide behind one.
The weapons blog splits the four rifles between the two sides. The British get the Pattern 1914 Enfield, with the longest range and highest handling stability of any British rifle. It’s in the Rifleman Combat kit, the Spotter Observer kit and the Ammo Bearer Quartermaster kit. They also get a charger-loading version of the Magazine Lee-Enfield, which loads from stripper clips.
The Ottomans get the Winchester M1866. It holds 14 rounds and has the highest fire rate of any single-action rifle, but hits like a revolver. The Snider-Enfield is the opposite, with huge stopping power and a reload after every shot.
The new subfactions are the Royal West Kent and the Scottish Black Watch, and both are free to everyone. Their signature gear sits in the paid packs, though. On the Australian Steam store, the Khaki Pack is A$6.95 and the Black Watch Pack is A$9.75. If you own the Second Expedition, both are already waiting for you.
One warning before you load in: the patch notes say this update resets all custom key bindings, so redo your controls first.
BlackMill’s trailer lists the expansion on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and the Epic Games Store. Gallipoli itself is A$41.95 on Steam. The studio says something more is on the way, but hasn’t said what.
Source: BlackMill Games – The Ali Al Muntar Expansion Is Out Now, BlackMill Games – Introducing Ali Al Muntar, BlackMill Games – New Weapons & DLC, WW1 Game Series on YouTube – Ali Al Muntar trailer, Steam – Gallipoli