Glory to the Heroes does not launch with a traditional narrative story campaign, despite carrying the single-player tag on Steam. Solo players currently have access to an offline PvE Training mode populated by AI bots, along with the ability to deploy alone into online co-op and persistent servers. The full narrative campaign remains in development and is scheduled for later in the game's Early Access cycle or version 1.0.
Developer Deaf Tone Games has designed the mil-sim primarily around large-scale combined-arms engagements, but understanding what is currently available offline helps solo players decide if the title fits their preferences.
Current Single-Player and Solo Options
| Game Mode | Offline Playable? | Online Connection Required? | Saves Stash & Progression? | Primary Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline PvE Training | Yes | No | No (Isolated) | Custom skirmishes with AI bots and unlocked gear |
| Dedicated PvE Operations | No | Yes | Yes | Co-op battles as Ukrainian forces against AI |
| Contact (Matchmaking) | No | Yes | Yes | Fast objective battles (24–48 players, PvPvE) |
| Operations (PvPvE) | No | Yes | Yes | Persistent frontlines with solo extraction routes |
The Story Campaign: Current Status and Roadmap
The story-driven campaign is not included in the initial Early Access release that launched on October 9, 2026. According to the developer's official FAQ and development briefs, the story campaign is planned for a later phase of Early Access or version 1.0.
Early development notes indicated that the studio took inspiration from episodic, ground-level narrative campaigns like Battlefield 1, aiming to depict the realities of the Russian-Ukrainian war through the eyes of an enlisted soldier. The narrative is intended to address modern battlefield elements, including intense artillery strikes, trench warfare, and FPV drone operations, serving cultural, educational, and journalistic purposes.
The developer has stated that portions of the campaign may arrive incrementally across major Early Access milestones, but no fixed release calendar has been confirmed for specific campaign chapters.
Offline PvE Training Mode Explained
Solo players who prefer completely disconnected play can launch the game's local PvE Training mode. This mode serves as an unranked testing ground rather than a structured narrative journey.
Complete Sandbox Access
Because offline training operates entirely separate from the online persistent backend, it ignores player level and currency restrictions. You receive instant access to all gear, weapons, weapon attachments, medical supplies, and specialized roles—including the FPV drone kit—without needing to spend in-game money or purchase kits from vendors.
No Online Progression Transfer
Nothing earned, collected, or expended in offline training carries over to your online soldier profile. If you test high-end body armor, modify a rifle, or practice bandaging severe injuries offline, your online personal stash remains untouched. Conversely, failure or death in training incurs no inventory loss.
AI Bot Functionality and Performance
In offline training, you can configure bot counts across the available launch battlefields, such as the Izium Machine-building Plant, Chasiv Yar - Canal, and Krynky:
- Bot Behavior: AI bots can investigate noise, take cover, communicate, and utilize the game's full weapon sandbox. Player testing indicates that while bot pathfinding can occasionally cluster or loop around specific map landmarks like shell craters, they provide competent target practice for weapon handling and ballistic testing.
- Hardware Demand: Testing shows that increasing local bot counts remains relatively stable on high-end hardware, though the game's overall Early Access build demands substantial system resources (recommended 32 GB RAM and modern graphics hardware like the RTX 4070 Ti or RX 7600 XT).
Playing Online as a Solo Soldier
If you want persistent progression, you must play on official online servers. You do not need a premade squad to participate.
- Dedicated Online PvE: Players can join dedicated PvE servers running the persistent Operations framework (supporting up to 24 players) where human participants fight exclusively as Ukrainian forces against AI combatants. Playing solo in this environment lets you pursue vendor tasks, level up your character, and extract loot into your permanent stash.
- Lone-Wolf in PvPvE: In both matchmade "Contact" lobbies (24–48 players) and persistent "Operations" servers (up to 48 players), solo players can deploy without a squad. You can pursue side objectives, ambush enemy movements, or retrieve gear from fallen soldiers. However, friendly fire is strictly active, and team recognition relies on visual armbands and radio communication rather than floating HUD markers. Moving alone near allied lines without communicating over proximity voice or field radio carries a high risk of friendly fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Glory to the Heroes offline without an internet connection?
Yes. The local PvE Training mode runs locally and does not require an active server connection. It allows you to load maps with AI bots to test weapons, ballistics, and equipment.
Does offline bot training save my loot or rank?
No. Offline training is completely isolated from the online progression system. You do not gain character levels, earn vendor currency, or retain looted equipment. However, all weapons and equipment presets are unlocked by default for testing.
When will the single-player story campaign be released?
The developers have scheduled the story campaign for later in the Early Access period or with the full version 1.0 release. Some parts may arrive during Early Access, but the timing is not yet certain.
Can you complete vendor quests in offline mode?
No. Vendor assignments, character progression, and the personal stash economy only function in online multiplayer modes (both dedicated PvE co-op and PvPvE).
