Solo developer Tim Wheatley is preparing his first game, which is a helicopter action game called Blue Fury, set to be released this month on Steam. The game is designed as a tribute to classic action titles from the 16-bit era, but with modern elements such as procedurally generated maps, different biomes, and customizable missions.
In Blue Fury, players take control of a combat helicopter and embark on missions over enemy islands. The objectives seem straightforward: destroy tanks, eliminate enemy forces, and find allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. However, each mission requires good situational assessment as players must keep an eye on fuel, ammunition, altitude, and the countdown to the launch of an enemy missile. When the missile is launched, the mission ends.
The helicopter is equipped with a minigun, unguided rockets that require target locking, and air-to-air missiles. Each weapon has its role, with the minigun being useful against infantry, rockets against armored targets, and missiles against enemy helicopters. Players will also have to deal with anti-air systems, enemy patrols, tanks, gunboats, and other threats.
One of the main attractions of the game is the procedurally generated islands. This means that in Quick Mission mode, no map will be the same, and players can further customize the number of enemies, biome, forest density, anti-air detection range, and other parameters. In addition to quick missions, Blue Fury also features a campaign with author-written briefings, fixed maps, and progressively tougher opponents.
Visual diversity comes through four biomes: summer, autumn, winter, and desert. They change the appearance of the terrain, camouflage of the enemy, and the overall feel of each mission. The game also includes a system for rescuing soldiers using ropes, climbing animations, a minimap with various display modes, including an option tailored for colorblind players, as well as a benchmark/demo mode where NPC units can be observed battling without direct player involvement.
Release is scheduled for May 2026, and the Steam page for the game can already be visited and the title added to the wishlist.
Game Features:
helicopter action inspired by 16-bit classics
procedurally generated islands across four biomes
Quick Mission mode with customizable settings
campaign with missions, briefings, and increasingly stronger resistance
rescue of soldiers using ropes
enemy helicopters, tanks, AA launchers, gunboats, and jet interceptors
minigun, rockets, and air-to-air missiles
minimap with an option tailored for colorblind players
benchmark/demo mode
scoring system and tracking of high scores
