US Army To Release Range Of Gaming Accessories (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: US Army To Release Range Of Gaming Weaponry

The US Army already uses XBox controllers to pilot its unmanned UAV drones and ground-based robots - so perhaps it's not surprising that they're coming full circle?

According to reports, the US Army is about to release a range of gaming accessories, weapons and headsets designed for use with first-person shooters, calling on gamers to "equip yourself with pride".

The US Army will sell three branded rifles for use with PS Move games, including a sniper rifle, a green Commando Assault rifle and an 'Elite' assault gun decked out in handy camouflage.

The Army has also unveiled a Bluetooth headset for PS3 and PC, a backpack, a wired headset for XBox and a pair of 3D headphones.

"On the battlefield, often the key to winning isn’t firepower but communication," the product page for the headphones reads. "Any seasoned first person shooter player knows all too well that a sure path to defeat is being unable to hear clear signals from your squad or the approaching enemy and having to shout for teammates to hear you."

Perhaps heading off some of the inevitable criticism, the US Army has said that all revenues will go to US Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation program.

This is not the US Army's first foray into gaming. Since 2002 the army has sponsored a popular first-person shooting game called America's Army which has proved a hit with gamers but has been criticised by some as crass propaganda.

The British armed forces have previously flirted with similar campaigns, but even the recent news that its training simulators were improved after criticism from soldiers that they aren't as advanced as commercial video games doesn't lead us to think a range of SAS-branded Nintendo Wii controllers are coming any time soon. Alas.

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