Bolt Action: Reimagining the Front Line

Slitherine and Frag Games have released the first Developer Diary for the Bolt Action video game, titled “Reimagining the Front Line.” This digital adaptation of Warlord Games’ iconic WWII tabletop miniatures system is well under development, and is set to release in 2026. According to the update, the game will feature a faithful recreation of the “Six Orders” activation system, suppression-based pinning, and tactical armor facing. The team is aiming for a “digital-first” experience, claiming they don’t want to “build a digital version of Bolt Action” because it “already exists! Playing a table-top experience will always remain special”. The developers confirmed it will include a comprehensive Army Painter and a dynamic single-player campaign set in the Normandy theater.

Tabletop Traditions Meet Digital Inovations

After reading the whole dev diary, one thing is obvious: Frag Games isn’t just making a “virtual tabletop” of Bolt Action, but is building a dedicated video game around a ruleset they want to keep intact.

What is staying the same:

• The Six Orders: Fire, Advance, Run, Ambush, Rally, and Down remain the tactical pillars of unit activation.
• The “Pinning” System: Unlike other RTS games where health is the only metric, Bolt Action focuses on suppression. Pinning units reduces their accuracy and forces “Order Tests,” making morale as important as firepower.
• Vehicle Facing: Positioning matters to vehicles as well. Hits to the side or rear armor will be significantly more devastating, rewarding flank maneuvers.
• Direct and Indirect Fire: Frag Games preserved the distinction between direct and indirect fires, featuring a “ranging” system where each successive shot gets closer to the target.
• Experience Levels: Squads can be Inexperienced, Regular, or Veteran, which directly affects their combat stats and morale.
• Squad Loadouts: Your forces will be as customizable as a physical army, from squad composition to vehicle upgrades and even visual customization. Speaking of which…

The “Army Painter” and Customization

One of the most exciting reveals whenever a board game gets ported into the digital realm is the existence of an integrated Army Painter (Dawn of War 1, anyone?). We all have “piles of shame” of unpainted minis and models. Fortunately, the PC version allows players to customize the look of their forces. This is one pile of shame you (and I) won’t have to deal with!

About Bolt Action

Bolt Action is the first official digital adaptation of the world-renowned WWII miniatures game from Warlord Games. Published by Slitherine and developed by Frag Games, the game is currently in development and is set to release in 2026, with more updates coming in the months ahead.

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