A war that never stops
PlanetSide 2 is a free-to-play first-person shooter where three empires fight over territory on four large continents. Battles run continuously rather than ending with a single match, so the front line keeps moving while you play. You fight on foot, in ground vehicles, and in aircraft, and the goal is holding bases and strategic positions that give your empire resources. The maps are seamless and hand-crafted, with open fields, desert, fortified bases and airspace all contestable, so knowing the ground you fight on matters as much as aim.
Fighting alongside your group
Everyone picks one of three empires: the Terran Republic, the New Conglomerate, or the Vanu Sovereignty. Each has its own weapons, attachments, vehicles and abilities, so a group that wants to play together should agree on an empire before starting. From there you can join an Outfit, which is a persistent group of soldiers who play and train together, from a small rapid response team up to a large clan. Outfits are described as vital to each empire's strategic organization, which is where coordinated play sits: squads take positions, hold them, and push the wider war rather than just chasing kills in one fight.
Classes and roles to split between friends
Six classes let a group cover different jobs in the same squad. Heavy Assault is the frontline foot soldier, Light Assault uses a short-burst jetpack to reach spots others cannot, Combat Medic keeps the squad alive, Infiltrator works from stealth and long range, Engineer deploys equipment, resupplies allies and repairs machines, and MAX puts you in a heavily armed exosuit. Your soldier grows over time, unlocking weapons, attachments, gear, skills and vehicles laterally, so roles deepen the longer you play.
Before you drop in
Expect large-scale PvP with hundreds of players in a battle, and fights that reward holding ground over one-off captures. Success comes from coordinating as a squad and an empire, not from individual heroics. The game is free to play, and vehicles and weapons can be customized with attachments, upgrades and add-ons earned through the war, so there is preparation to do between engagements as well as shooting during them.