Controversial <br />Interactive Recruiting Tool , 'America's Army' , Shutting Down After 20 Years.<br />On February 7, the United States Army announced that <br />its free-to-play first-person shooter, 'America's Army: <br />Proving Grounds,' will be taken offline after 20 years. .<br />On February 7, the United States Army announced that <br />its free-to-play first-person shooter, 'America's Army: <br />Proving Grounds,' will be taken offline after 20 years. .<br />Polygon reports that the United States Army will shut down the game's online features on May 5. .<br />Polygon reports that the United States Army will shut down the game's online features on May 5. .<br />Polygon reports that the game, which was developed <br />and published by the U.S. Army, was frequently criticized <br />for its tone and purpose since its release in 2002. .<br />Polygon reports that the game, which was developed <br />and published by the U.S. Army, was frequently criticized <br />for its tone and purpose since its release in 2002. .<br />The game is currently still available for <br />PlayStation 4 on the PlayStation Network <br />and on Steam for Windows PC. .<br />According to Polygon, the shutdown means <br />that users will lose access to the game's <br />Play Online mode and player stat-tracking. .<br />According to Polygon, the shutdown means <br />that users will lose access to the game's <br />Play Online mode and player stat-tracking. .<br />The Army reportedly said that offline features, including a mission editor and private server support, are expected to continue functioning. .<br />Polygon reports that critics called 'America's Army: <br />Proving Grounds' a propaganda tactic that <br />pushed the militarization of American society. .<br />Polygon reports that critics called 'America's Army: <br />Proving Grounds' a propaganda tactic that <br />pushed the militarization of American society. .<br />The game was released on July 4, 2002, just <br />one year into the Afghanistan campaign, and <br />right before the United States invaded Iraq. .<br />The game was released on July 4, 2002, just <br />one year into the Afghanistan campaign, and <br />right before the United States invaded Iraq. .<br />The game was criticized for trivializing combat <br />and portraying war as a game while America <br />endured the longest conflict in the nation's history. .<br />The game was criticized for trivializing combat <br />and portraying war as a game while America <br />endured the longest conflict in the nation's history. .<br />As of August 2013, over 13 million <br />people had already signed up through <br />the interactive recruiting tool. .<br />At the time, the game's developers told Polygon that <br />the focus of the game was on teamwork and completing <br />objectives, rather than killing enemy combatants.
