Deploy to Livonia as a NATO drone operator in Arma 3 Contact, a military sandbox expansion where a routine exercise turns into humanity's first alien encounter across 163 km² of Eastern European terrain.
Arma 3: Contact is a spin-off expansion for the acclaimed military sandbox Arma 3, developed and published by Bohemia Interactive. Released in July 2019, it takes the series into unexpected territory by blending authentic military simulation with a first-contact science fiction narrative.
You play as Specialist Aiden Rudwell, a NATO drone operator stationed in the fictional Eastern European country of Livonia. What begins as a routine military training exercise escalates rapidly when a massive alien vessel enters the atmosphere above the Nadbór region.
Your mission shifts from standard reconnaissance to investigating the extraterrestrial presence, determining their intentions, and navigating the political and military tension that follows.
Contact introduces a sprawling 163 square kilometre terrain set in Livonia, a temperate Eastern European landscape. The map features dense pine and birch forests, open agricultural fields, abandoned Soviet-era military installations, small rural villages, and river systems.
Livonia is designed for combined arms warfare and supports infantry patrols, armoured vehicle operations, and helicopter transport across its varied elevation and terrain types. The environment feels grounded and lived-in, with details that reward exploration off the beaten path.
Beyond the singleplayer campaign, Livonia is fully available for multiplayer scenarios, Zeus game master sessions, and community-made missions in the Arma 3 sandbox.
The singleplayer campaign, titled First Contact, spans multiple missions that shift between field science, electronic warfare, and combat reconnaissance. You operate alongside a small NATO team under pressure from both military command and the unknown alien presence overhead.
The Spectrum Device is a central gameplay tool. This handheld transceiver analyses and manipulates the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing you to scan frequencies, jam communications, and interact with alien anomalies. Depending on the antenna fitted, it serves different tactical purposes across missions.
You also deploy a mini UGV equipped with a sampling laser and work with CBRN defence equipment to study strange phenomena near the alien vessel. The campaign emphasises investigation and decision-making over firefights, though combat encounters remain tense and lethal in true Arma fashion.
Contact adds two new military factions to Arma 3. The Livonian Defense Force represents the local national army, while Russian Spetsnaz units operate in the region with their own agenda. Both factions come with faction-specific uniforms, equipment, and voice lines.
Five new weapons are included, among them the Promet modular assault rifle system and hunting firearms suited to the Livonian setting. Two new vehicles join the roster: an unmanned ground robot used for hazardous reconnaissance and a civilian tractor that fits the rural terrain.
All Arma 3 owners also receive free complementary content alongside the expansion, including woodland camouflage variants, civilian clothing, and over 100 decorative objects for scenario editors.
Most military simulation games stay firmly within realistic modern warfare. Contact takes a calculated risk by introducing an alien element without abandoning the tactical foundation that defines Arma 3.
The alien encounter is handled with restraint. There are no laser guns or space marines. Instead, you approach the unknown with military protocols, scientific instruments, and the ever-present tension of not knowing whether the situation will escalate into conflict or contact.
This makes Contact feel more like a grounded science fiction thriller than a traditional shooter expansion, offering a narrative experience that stands apart from both the base Arma 3 campaigns and other military games on the market.
Yes. Arma 3: Contact is a paid expansion that requires ownership of the base Arma 3 game on Steam. It is not a standalone product.
Yes. The Livonia terrain is fully available for multiplayer modes, community scenarios, and the Zeus real-time game master system. It is not restricted to the singleplayer campaign.
Arma 3 has one of the largest modding communities in gaming. All Contact content, including the Livonia terrain and new assets, is accessible to modders and scenario creators through the Arma 3 editor and Steam Workshop.
The campaign takes approximately 4 to 6 hours to complete depending on your playstyle. Players who explore thoroughly and engage with optional objectives will find more content than those who follow the critical path alone.