Of all the Battlegrounds in the world, none are quite as dangerous as Vikendi. A 6km island blanketed in snow and bathed in the Aurora Borealis, is it as harsh as it is beautiful. Yet before it was a Battleground, Vikendi thrived as a space exploration hub, a tourist attraction, and to some, a quiet place to call home.
To get players up to date with the sights of this new map, we're covering some of the points of interest around the island. Read on!
With only a third of the island untouched by snow, Vikendi is a tracker's paradise. Fresh footprints across a sea of snow leave no question as to who has been there before. But while open fields and forests are abundant, there are also dozens of small villages dotting the entirety of the island.
There are also locations where the rivers have frozen over, allowing you to cross on foot or with a vehicle and see cover around one of the many frozen objects in the ice.
Cities within Vikendi feature a very prominent European building style and their stone walls and densely placed buildings make for great opportunities for cover, or leaping across the rooftops to catch your opponents off guard.
Now, let's look into a few key cities and points of interest.
Cantra
Cantra is the often talked about village by the sea on the edge of Vikendi. The natural hot spring in this area made the village a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy Vikendi's stunning beauty while soothing away the cold.
Castle
The Castle, complete with a moat formed by Vikendi's largest river, is a standing reminder of Vikendi's past. Well protected and with a vantage point across much of the surrounding land, the Castle is a statement of power from a time long past. Even today, Survivors hold up in the Castle are a force to be dealt with as its high towers provide a heavy advantage against a would-be siege.
Cement Factory
Volk Cement saw a huge opportunity with Vikendi's abundance of limestone and set up their factory to meet the demands of Vikendi's rising Commercial and Tourism needs. High rising silos, walkways, and warehouses make up the factory, providing plenty of areas for Survivors to gear up.
Cosmodrome
Cosmodrome and it's unlaunched rocket are a stark reminder that not all dreams come true. An abandoned space center with huge maintenance hangars, control centers, and the remains of one of Vikendi's tallest structures, Cosmodrome still leaves visitors with a strong impression-- everything on Vikendi eventually dies, even dreams.
Dino Park
Dino Park is the perfect example of how prosperous Vikendi used to be. A prehistoric amusement park, filled with various attractions including a roller coaster, bumper cars, and a "thrilling" dino maze, Dino Park was touted as fun for the whole family, as long as they were willing to drop some serious money on overpriced dino plushies in the gift shop.
Dobro Mesto
Dobro Mesto is one of Vikendi's first major cities and as such remains one of the largest. Its glorious central plaza housed a famous clock tower and once attracted hundreds of people buying and selling crafts in a sort of communal market.
Goroka
Goroka is a unique lakeside town near central Vikendi. At the base of Mount Kreznic, the frigid temperatures of the island keep the lake frozen nearly all year round that once supported a small industry of ice fishermen. Nowadays, the ice is much more dangerous to be on with the high ground around it a prime spot for an ambush.
Podvosto
A traditional river city, Podvosto had larger town comforts such as bakeries and cafes, yet the "right at home" feeling of a small town. The old Podvosto Walkway was the original bridge connecting the two parts of this city, but in later years became a popular destination for young couples to walk together before marriage in a symbolic display of their upcoming life together.
Trevno
Located on the Northeastern coast of Vikendi, Trevno was a place where the poorer families of Vikendi went to live. Many of those who were lucky enough to have steady work were employed by the Zupan company, who hand stitched every dinosaur plushie sold by Dino Park. Being relatively far away from the island's other destinations and with only their old lighthouse as a tourist spot, Trevno was never high on must-see lists. The low tourism income led to infrastructure in need of repairs and a large pipeline explosion didn't make tourists feel much safer.
Volnova
Volnova was as big and bustling of a city as they come in Vikendi, with its first buildings dating back to the middle ages. Heritage and history were important to Volnova's residents, but they were always eager to welcome a new restaurant or cafe. Centrally located between some of Vikendi's main attractions, Volnova's several hotels were always full, and the popularity of the city led to many buildings being built on top of each other. Even as part of a battleground, Volnova is still a popular destination where danger can strike from any direction.
Winery
The Dolinšek family took advantage of one of Vikendi's warmest spots to set up their business and grow grapes for their traditional wine. They remained a popular tourist destination for wealthy people doing the "world tour of wine" and had daily showings and tastings in their heated underground lounge. The family business never quite recovered from a mysterious collapse of their lounge during one of these tours, which caused the deaths of several wealthy patrons.
Zabava
Zabava was a small artists' town near the the old harbor. Sailors who passed through often fell for the town's charm and culture and many wound up eventually laying down roots there. Zabava was also the first location of the famous Horvat's Chicken restaurant, which spread to several locations around Vikendi and beyond.
Vikendi is a unique and diverse island and there are many more places, businesses, and attractions awaiting survivors dropping onto the island. While you should be watching your back first and foremost, we hope you find the time to also enjoy the beauty, style, and culture that let it stand out among the battlegrounds.
