A 3.69GB download, the new Battlefield 1 update today on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, DICE adds the Giant’s Shadow map and Spectator Mode, balances weapons, fixes numerous issues, and much more.
You can see the detailed list of patch notes below, but if you want explanations from DICE on some of the balancing changes to soldiers, vehicles, and weapons, head over to the forums:
Introducing Giant’s Shadow
With a massive crashed airship casting its shadow onto the battlefield, Giant’s Shadow brings fierce combat on the open ground and river banks alongside the Cateau-Wassigny railway. Fight in the shadow of a crashed giant.
The Battle of the Selle, 1918. Cold autumn. British forces have broken through the Hindenburg line and are heading towards a strategic railway center. The outcome is uncertain. An armored train can still turn the tide.
Spectator Mode
With great pleasure, we would like to introduce everyone to the new Spectator mode. In Spectator, players will be able to join a live BF1 match as an observer. From there, observers can switch between first-person and third-person camera views of all the players on the battlefield through our Player View mode, get an overhead bird’s eye view of the battlefield in Table Top mode, or fly a camera through the world using Free Cam mode.
Our goal was to improve Spectator from previous versions of Battlefield. We gathered feedback from the community and focused much of our efforts on improving the usability and flow moving from player-to-player and switching between the different view modes (Table Top, Player View, and Free Cam). Another key design emphasis for us was to make Spectator a viable tool for the community to create content which includes a moveable third-person camera, depth of field, and camera filters.
New Custom Game Setting – Standard Issue Rifles
A new Custom Game option has been added: Standard Issue Rifles. In SIR all kits are granted access to their faction’s standard issue rifle. For example, the British are granted the SMLE MKIII. These rifles are not equipped with optics, and are intended to provide players with gameplay inspired by the WW1 trenches. As a Custom Game option, this can be enabled or disabled with other weapon types to create a variety of experiences. SIR is not available as part of the base game experience. We feel that the ability to equip SIR in vanilla would negatively impact the combat roles of the classes. As a clear WW1 fantasy, we hope that SIR scratches an itch for our broad and diverse player base.
Detailed Vehicle Changes
- TankGewehr now does increased damage, from 120-150 to 160-180. Change is on both the Landship and Tank Hunter. Damage against planes is virtually unchanged
- Landship mortars have had their range increased slightly
- The Mortar Pattern of the Landship now has 5 seats, adding two additional side LMG seats to the package
- The Squad Support Pattern of the Landship now features a front firing 20mm cannon like the Light Tank Flanker Pattern, instead of an LMG
- The Landship now takes the same damage as the Heavy Tank
- Decreased amount of health restored by emergency repairs on the Heavy Tank from 30% to 20%
- Increased the amount of health restored by track repairs on the Landship from 15% to 20%
- Decreased amount of health restored by emergency repairs on the Landship from 30% to 25%
- Decreased damage of Case shells against planes by 50%
- Reduced stationary AA range from 400 m to 334 m
- Fixed inconsistent damage of plane rockets against other planes
- Reduced plane rocket impact damage from 120 to 100
- Increased plane rocket initial speed and reduced time to live
- Reduced Ranken Dart damage against planes
- Made bombers take 20% more damage from bullets
- Increased Dogfighter and Trench Fighter MG damage by 4% and slowed down the overheat
- Increased Bomber Killer MG damage by 3%
- Decreased Airship Killer MG damage by 18%
- Decrease plane tail gunner damage by 23% (far) to 42% (close) and sped up damage drop-off slightly
- Reduced boat torpedo range to approximately 400 m, matching the behemoth AA range
Detailed Weapon Changes
- Reduced reload time for the Lewis MG from 3 to 2.85 s and 4.5 to 4.2 s for fast and slow reload to better match the animations
- Slowed down Lewis MG overheat from 35 to 50 bullets
- Increased Madsen MG fast reload from 2.45 to 2.65 s to better match the animations
- Reduced tactical fast time for the BAR from 2.9 to 2.8 s to better match the animations
- Increased MG15 reload time from 4.3 to 4.45 s to better match the animations
- Corrected an error where LMGs and rifles zoomed in too fast when used with iron sights and 2.00x magnification
- Increased the throwing velocity of the Light AT Grenade to the same value as used by the Frag Grenade
- Improved accuracy and recoil of M1903 Experimental
- Made revolvers and the Howdah Pistol recover faster from dispersion
- Flares no longer set the player on fire immediately after firing them while looking down
- Reduced the damage of mortar shells when hitting an object immediately after firing
- Fixed Martini-Henry dealing too much damage to most body parts. It is now affected by a 0.9 multiplier to the lower torso and upper arms and a 0.75 multiplier to the legs and forearms, like the other rifles with sweet-spot mechanics
- Martini-Henry now resupplies 5 bullets at a time
- Reduced No.3 revolver reload time from 2.666 s to 2.3 s
- Increased No.3 rate of fire from 150 rpm to 164 rpm
- Reduced Repetierpistole M1912 aimed stationary dispersion from 0.4 to 0.3
- Reduced Repetierpistole M1912 horizontal recoil from 0.8 to 0.5
- Increased Hellriegel first shot recoil multiplier from 1.8 to 2.0
- Increased Hellriegel horizontal recoil from 0.76 to 0.8
- Reduced MP18 first shot recoil multiplier from 2.1 to 1.8
- Improved shotgun crosshair size and scaling
- Sawed-Off shotgun now resupplies 4 rounds at a time
- Reduced 12g Automatic dispersion increase per shot from 0.3 to 0.15
- Fix for dispersion of Model 10-A Hunter decreasing too quickly
- Fix for dispersion of Model 10-A Factory decreasing too slowly
- Moved up damage drop-off from M97 Trench Gun Hunter, Model 10-A Factory and Hunter by 1
- Reduced 12g Automatic post reload delay from 0.5 to 0.3
- Improved hip fire of M1903 Experimental
- Changed SMGs and LMGs to use damage curves
- Huot, Lewis, M1909 and BAR minimum damage increased from 21 to 23
- LMG damage drop-off happens at farther distances
- Reduced effect of suppression on LMG vertical recoil
- Changed LMG base ADS dispersion increase per shot from -0.12 to -0.085 so they are slightly more accurate on the first shots
- Reduced Lewis horizontal recoil from 0.36 to 0.34
- Reduced Huot horizontal recoil from 0.32 to 0.16
- Reduced M1909 horizontal recoil from 0.3 to 0.24
- Changed post reload delays on Gewehr 98 from 0.4 to 0.8 to better match animations
- Changed post reload delays on SMLE from 0.8 to 0.6333 to better match animations
- Changed post reload delays on M1903 from 0.8 to 0.7 to better match animations
Stability & Performance
- Fixed an issue that caused a hang when pressing J/K/L on console keyboard
- Added a new Framerate Limiter option that limits the maximum framerate the game will run at to a specific amount. Limiting your framerate to a lower number can help improve performance if you are experiencing high CPU usage
- CPU optimization to improve high framerate operation on high end video cards where there is no VRAM pressure
- Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes crash when loading levels
- Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes crash when dying in a vehicle
- Fixed a server crash related to trip wires
- Fixed an issue where outdated game clients could still connect to EA servers without receiving an error
- PC: Forced v-sync to on during loading movies on PC to prevent screen tearing and stutters
- PC: Fixed some issues that could lead to GPU hang on DX11
- PC: Fixed ghosting issues
- PC: Borderless full screen now works as intended
- PC: Fixed an issue with full screen causing other windows to be resized and/or moved around
- Xbox One: Fixed a rare VOIP related crash
- Console: Tweaked dynamic resolution min cap scaling to improve GPU performance over loss of resolution
Gameplay
- Monte Grappa, Suez, Ballroom Blitz & Argonne Forest – Made tweaks to certain areas of the map where attackers had a very difficult time capturing specific sectors
- Fixed an issue where players could get team kills when killing an enemy who has joined on a friend in your team
- Netcode improvements to apply pose changes faster. Before it was only applied when standing and going from stand to crouch. Now it is applied for all pose transitions and while walking as well
- Wrecked Airship parts left behind by a destroyed airship should no longer occasionally kill soldiers
- Fixed rubber banding issues and non-smooth movement of airplanes in MP
- Slightly adjusted the matchmaking ruleset for Operations to reduce the chance of entering an Operation that is about to end
- Re-worked how the behemoth enters the map in Operations game mode. The Behemoth will no longer appear if a team is in a significant lead. This affects both attackers and defenders in Operations
- Defenders will no longer get a behemoth on a new level if attackers are on their last battalion
- Reduced attacker behemoths to prevent them from getting one on each retry on second and third maps
- Increased score difference between teams needed for behemoth to appear
- Fixed camera jitter during deploy transition to airborne vehicles
- Binoculars in Single Player are now working if click-to-zoom option is selected. In multiplayer if click-to-zoom is selected, the zoom clicks are not lost anymore if happening during weapon switch or reload transitions
- Added kick of player if spawning with restricted weapons to prevent usage of weapons not allowed in Custom Games
- Split the click/hold-to-zoom weapon option into separate ones for vehicles and soldiers
- Fixed an issue where the player was not being awarded score for capturing a conquest point after exiting and reentering the capture area
- Reduced mortar dispersion increase per shot from 3 to 2.75
- Prevented the possibility to spawn with the wrong class when switching class at the time of deploy
- Fixed an issue where grenades didn’t rotate correctly or at all when thrown from the player
- Fixed an issue with camera transitions when dying
- Fixed an issue with horse twitching from explosives
- Fixed an issue where trying to place a limpet charge on a door resulted in a crooked, floating charge instead
- Fixed an issue where prone aiming constraints were not properly applied after respawn
- Fixed an issue where players sometimes became invisible when exiting certain vehicles
- Fixed an issue where soldiers would get stuck on top of vehicles
- Fixed an issue where captured flags could be stretched by shooting them with shell projectiles
- Fixed 3p stuttering of Behemoth when viewed from the ground
- Fixed an issue with the placed collision on the tunnel ceiling on Monte Grappa
- Fixed an issue where the rifle on cavalry would appear with the sabre animation
- Fixed an issue where destroying turrets on behemoths with explosives would sometimes disable the wrong turrets
- Fixed an issue which caused part destruction on airships to not work as intended
- Fixed an issue where Elite Classes in vehicles or stationary turrets took the same amount of damage as normal soldiers
- For players using the click-to-zoom option, sprint is now properly interrupted on zoom and re-engaged on un-zoom
- Fortress turret wrecks now stay forever, or until a new turret respawns to prevent issues with vehicle and soldier collision
- Minor adjustments to Ballroom Blitz battlement gate damage behavior
- Destruction tuning to avoid floating lamps
- Adjusted Sinai desert rock bridge debris damage and health for consistency
- Fixed object on Ballroom Blitz that improperly caused collision damage to tanks
- Fixed strange looking enter animation on QF1 AA Stationary Weapon
- Added more spawn variations to the C flag in Conquest on Empire’s Edge
- Soldiers can no longer enter the tower on Ballroom Blitz after it has been destroyed
- Grenade throws will no longer be canceled by pressing Zoom while holding the grenade button. Instead they can be canceled with Reload
- Fixed flare projectiles penetrating aircraft
- Flare projectile now breaks glass
- Soldiers can no longer switch to rifle grenades when they are out of ammo. The C96 Carbine now automatically switches to secondary when out of ammo
- Fixed the beam reticle for the Cei-Rigotti showing the cross reticle instead
- Corrected occlusion and collision issues on Ballroom Blitz
- Resized the Ring Reticle for improved shooting experience
- The mortar can no longer be deployed on bushes
- Fixed an issue where sometimes matchmaking from recommendation did not show the loading screen
- Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be taken to an earlier check point when rebooting the console while playing the campaign
UI
- Improved overall UI performance and stability
- Fixed an issue of Medics not seeing 3D revive/minimap death icons of team mates who died behind them until they look at the body
- Hardcore now shows team kills in the score log
- Made it simpler to report offensive emblems by adding reporting functionality in the EoR scoreboard
- Improved latency in End of Round when scrolling through the scoreboard
- Fixed an issue where vehicle crosshairs would disappear in Hardcore when using the Armored Train or Dreadnaught
- Gadgets now take priority if pressing dpad up and dpad left or right at the same time
- Fixed an issue with the Operation Outcome screen that caused it to display the wrong information about the result of the Operation
- Crosshair visibility can now be adjusted in the gameplay options
- Fixed an exploit where a player could steal Squad Leader status from an active squad leader
- Fixed an issue with the number of service stars always showing as zero in the customize screen
- a gas mask in stationary weapons and other vehicle seats where it was previously hardcoded
- Fixed an issue where customization submenus would automatically close while selecting equipment
- Fixed an issue with the current soldier not displaying in the squad screen in Team Deathmatch
- Squads with players in a party now stay unlocked if there are only two players in the party
- Prevent squads having too many players when running map rotations with mixed game modes
- Joystick now works without setting the controller layout to Custom
- Fixed an issue causing delays in game chat
- Fixed an issue where hints would get stuck on the screen
- Skins unlocked from Battlepacks now properly indicate they are for all patterns of a specific weapon
- Fixed an issue where friendly mortars would sometimes appear as deploy points
- Player can now select squad spawn points with the dpad
- Fixed an issue where a tech hang was caused by joining an Operation’s session while in progressive installation
- Fixed an issue where no error messages were displayed when accepting a Multiplayer invite during progressive installation while playing
Singleplayer.- Fixed an issue where joining a multiplayer game invite resulted in a black background
- Fixed an issue where no queue information was provided after accepting an invite to a full server, while on another server with the option menu open
- Fixed an issue where the round bonus score bar in EoR personal tab was counting up and then disappearing
- Fixed an issue where spamming the options button in EoR lead to a technical hang in the next round
- Fixed an issue with Model 10-A Slug that was tracked as Artillery kills in the EOR screen
- Fixed an issue where the EoR countdown stopped when quickly navigating through tabs
- Fixed an issue where a tech-hang was caused after selecting the shovel and bayonet in Weapons and gadgets
- PC: Added server info in the “…” menu
- PC: Pressing “ESC” while in customize now properly takes you back to the deploy screen
- PC: Exposed Gas Mask key bind in vehicle section. This allows you to rebind the button to put on
- PS4: Fixed an issue where User Created Media Restricted users were able to see server names created by other users
- Xbox One: Fixed an issue where the LB/RB buttons had no functionality in the news menu
Audio
- Fixed so that master and music volume fades nicely to the saved settings when starting the game
- Fixed an issue with in-world sound heard briefly when going into the Deploy Screen
If you pre-ordered Battlefield 1 or own the Premium Pass, Giant’s Shadow is available to play today. Everyone else will have to wait until December 20.
[Source: Battlefield Forums, Battlefield, Reddit]
Battlefield 1 Info Dump
-
Battlefield 1 - Everything You Need to Know
Let's get to it.
-
What is Battlefield 1?
Battlefield 1 is the first mainline entry into DICE’s tentpole franchise since the launch of Battlefield 4 three years ago. It’s not strictly speaking Battlefield 5; instead, it breaks course from modern warfare to explore The Great War.
-
The Great War
It’s not your traditional setting for a video game — World War II is considered more cinematic and, frankly, easier to communicate in a compelling, palatable manner — what with its trench warfare, chemical warfare and rudimentary vehicles. Battlefield 1 doesn’t shy away from the rough and tumble, though, as those blistering trailers for the single-player campaign attest.
-
War Stories
Aiming to funnel the complex narrative of WW1 through different perspectives, War Stories are story-driven vignettes that place players in the shoes of multiple characters.
If that sounds like an anthology format, is should; DICE “decided on an anthology format; a set of characters with their own more focused stories. That way we can have immersion and variety – a double win.”
We know the identity of five thus far: Friends in High Places, Nothing Is Written, Through Mud and Blood, Avanti Savoia, and The Runner.
-
Land, Sea and Air
A change in location and time period hasn't quelled DICE's enthusiasm to engineer warfare on a massive scale. While the core campaign will have players storming the trenches, hitting up North Africa and even exploring parts of the Alps, those more inclined to hop into multiplayer can look forward to saddling up to ride a horse. They're a powerful asset, too, with DICE writing that, "their speed and agility means they can trample enemies under their powerful hooves, and they’ll get you close enough to slash them down with a saber."
-
Dynamic Weather
Fuelling that all-out warfare is the addition of dynamic weather, a feature that DICE believes will ensure that no two multiplayer matches will ever be the same.
Those who partook in the beta test will have no doubt encountered a sandstorm or two on the plains of the Sinai Desert. But the fun (read: chaos) doesn't end there.
-
Vehicles
World War I heralded a defining leap forward in war technology, and though the tanks may seem primitive and rudimentary by today's standards, those hulking behemoths were fairly revolutionary.
Have a gander at all vehicles included in Battlefield 1 right here.
-
What are Battlepacks, exactly?
Battlepacks are, in essence, in-game boxes that can be earned simply by playing Battlefield 1. Each will come packing pretty weapon skins for your armaments, and you can find further details below.
"When you open the Battlepack you will always get one amazing looking weapon skin. These skins come in three different rarities – Special, Distinguished, and Legendary. You may also receive a rare bonus item – either an XP boost or a puzzle piece to a unique melee weapon. Collecting all puzzle pieces to a melee weapon will enable you to assemble it and bring it into the game.
"On a regular basis we will rotate the pools of Battlepack content, or revisions as they’re called in-game. With new revisions coming up, it’s a good idea to stay connected to the game to see what awesome items you can get a hold off. Before you open up a Battlepack, you will see a list of what skins the current revision contains, making you aware of whether a skin for your favorite weapon is contained in the pool of possible items.
"So what about that Scraps system? Here’s how it works: when you receive a Weapon Skin or a Bonus Item that you don’t want or need you can salvage it for Scraps, an in-game currency that can then be spent on new Battlepacks. As mentioned, spending Scraps is the only way of getting hold of Enhanced and Superior Battlepacks. You might want to save up Scraps for an upcoming revision of Battlepacks containing a skin that you know you want."
-
Game Modes
Mixing the old with the new (war pigeons!), a round-up of the modes included in Battlefield 1 on day one can be found below.
WAR PIGEONS
During the Great War, man-made communication systems were still crude and unreliable, so dogs and pigeons were used extensively to carry messages. In the War Pigeons game mode the opposing sides compete to use messenger pigeons to call in artillery barrages on the enemy. When the game starts, a pigeon coop with a messenger pigeon is placed somewhere on the map. Locate the pigeon before the enemy and carry it to a safe location out in the open.
CONQUEST
An all-time fan favourite of Battlefield players, Conquest is a large-scale game mode with up to 64 players fighting for the control of key objectives. With large armies on foot or behind the wheel and the addition of fearsome Behemoths, Conquest brings together all the elements of the signature Battlefield All-Out War.
DOMINATION
Domination offers a fast-paced infantry focused combat in close quarter locations. It’s a smaller, but more focused version of Conquest, and the fighting revolves around strategic objectives. Ready your shotgun and sharpen your hatchet – in the Domination game mode things tend to get close and personal.
OPERATIONS
Operations offer epic journeys across several maps based upon real battles of World War I. We wanted to offer a large and epic experience with a focus on teamplay and frontline combat. Adding this meta-layer to the game mode, and stretching it across multiple interesting locations that both look and play very differently, adds a whole new layer of scale and variety to the battles in Battlefield 1. Your team can win on one map, proceed to the next map, and actually see the map you previously fought over on the horizon.
RUSH
Communications and artillery were crucial during World War I, and Rush mode will have you interacting with both of them. In Rush, the Attacking forces must find and destroy the Defending force’s Telegraph Posts, which the defenders can use to call in artillery strikes. The Defenders can deny the Attackers by disarming the explosives they plant, but should the Telegraph Posts be destroyed, the Defenders must fall back to another sector.
TEAM DEATHMATCH
In many ways World War 1 changed the notion of how war was fought, but the end goal was still to inflict as much damage as possible to force the enemy to surrender. Team Deathmatch hones in on the brutal simplicity of infantry warfare: kill or be killed.
-
New Game Mode: Operations
Operations is a new and novel mode in Battlefield 1 and here, thanks to YouTuber Major Meteor, we present to you a detailed overview of what to expect along with what class loadout is optimal for Battlefield 1 Operations.
-
Multiplayer Footage
Continuing to spotlight the shooter's multiplayer component, the PSLS YouTube channel has two videos for your viewing pleasure. The first is designed to showcase the new maps and modes to be featured in Battlefield 1; the second, meanwhile, introduces you to all the rare weapons.
There's more to come, too! Keep your peepers peeled on our YouTube channel on October 16th at 9am ET for another video dump.
-
Roster of Launch Maps
Now that you have a better understanding of the game modes, here's an overview of the multiplayer maps that will ship with Battlefield 1:
BALLROOM BLITZ
Join the final offensives along the Meuse River in 1918. Here, fierce fighting in trench lines is quickly replaced by the untouched beauty beyond hell. A massive French chateau, previously home to officers beyond the rear lines, is now the scene for a battle with both tanks and flamethrowers. The chandeliers are shaking from the barrage as the American forces push for the final railway hub at the edge of this map.
ARGONNE FOREST
The shadowy depths of the Argonne forest is the scene for some of the most brutal close quarter combat in Battlefield 1. The world inside this forest features devious defensive setups combined with a labyrinth of bunkers and machine gun nests. Camouflaged field guns firing at point blank range, Stormtroopers clearing out bunkers with gas, and the best use of sharpened spades will determine who owns the depths of this forest. Heroes are forged surviving the intensity of this infantry focused map.
FAO FORTRESS
Join one of the earliest amphibious landings of the Great War as the British Empire struggles to secure the oil on the Al-Faw Peninsula. The majestic Ottoman fortress of Fao guards the entrance and is not falling uncontested. Here you will fight through marshlands and dunes, over bridges and shallow coves. The assault finally enters the ancient fortress itself. The quest for oil begins here. The Dreadnought needs to feed.
SUEZ
A struggle for the most vital supply line of World War I. Even though it was considered impossible, the Ottomans crossed the desert of Sinai and threatened the canal. Join the fight by the banks of the grand canal and make tactical use of the dunes. Fight through shallow defences, with field guns or mortars, through the outskirts of Kantara and into the deep desert beyond.
THE ST. QUENTIN SCAR
A massive attack on the scarred battlefields of northern France. As part of the Kaiser’s battle, the German army throws everything they have to try to break through the British lines. Prepare for truly cataclysmic assaults as you push through the trenches of the St. Quentin Scar. Be the first soldier to break through the fortified lines and assault the pristine village of Travecy, untouched by the war… until now.
SINAI DESERT
Engage in all-out war in Sinai Desert, a scorching hot battlefield located just East of El-Jifar. From infantry skirmishes in the narrow streets of the village of Bir el Mazar to dogfights above the majestic cliffs, you’ll need to make tactical use of the dunes as you engage in explosive battles. When all hope is lost, reinforcements will arrive in the shape of a powerful Behemoth: a deadly Armoured Train charging through the desert sands.
AMIENS
A destructive clash in a majestic city. Fight on the streets and squares in French city of Amiens during the German spring offensive. A struggle in crumbling alleys, a courthouse, around bridges and railways where the British and the Germans desperately seek to control the depths of the city.
MONTE GRAPPA
Take part in one of the final battles among the peaks of kings in the Venetian Alps. High up above the clouds a desperate fight for control of mountain forts are challenging even the toughest soldiers. Utilise the massive fort cannons to stop the advancing enemies as they scale the mountainside. Up here, in this furious struggle, the Austro Hungarian Empire holds the upper hand, but the Italian Army won’t stop until they’ve taken back what’s theirs.
EMPIRE’S EDGE
Along the Adriatic coast a fierce struggle for land and life is taking place. A rugged but fortified shore becomes the battlefield for an empire under siege. What was once a beautiful Mediterranean village by the coast is now transformed by mechanised war, where waves and dreadnought battleships pound the remains of Italy’s Great War.
-
Spectator Mode
It's official: A spectator mode is coming to Battlefield 1 soon after launch, lending players the ability to capture, cut and edit cinematic moments on the fly.
"I’m very excited to see the Spectator Mode being implemented in Battlefield 1 for all users. For the first time in franchise history, console players can join in on the PC fun and create cool cinematic videos and screenshots.
"To start capturing your own cinematic shots, just join a match as Spectator. Once in-game, you can follow individual soldiers and vehicles using the Director Camera. In this mode, the camera will be locked on to the player’s movement, but you still have total control over its positioning. Explore the camera options to change its behaviour."
-
Rent-a-Server & Daily Livestreams
From October 12 right up to launch day, DICE plans to stream new footage from Battlefield 1 daily, starting at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET) to 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET).
There's also mention of the novel Rent-a-Server feature, all of which will be handled through EA directly as opposed to third parties.
"Starting close after launch, you will be able to rent a server through the in-game store of Battlefield 1. In the past, servers were handled by third-party companies – now, EA is providing them directly. We think this will benefit you in several ways. First off, we will be able to secure the quality of the actual hardware. Since the servers come from the same provider, it will give everyone the same uniform experience."
-
Expansion Plans
Priced at $50, the Battlefield 1 Premium Pass will open up four expansion packs — the first of which, They Shall Not Pass, will land in March of 2017 — along with scores of in-game bonuses.
- 16 new multiplayer maps
- New Operations and game modes
- New Elite classes
- 20 new weapons
- New vehicles
- 14 Battlefield 1 Battlepacks containing stand-out weapon skins, delivered monthly from November 2016
- 14 unique dog tags distributed over the course of the Battlefield 1 Premium Pass period
-
Trophy List
Curious as to what you'll need to earn the coveted Battlefield 1 platinum? Look no further than the official list of trophies.
-
Strong Competition
EA may have allayed fears of “cannibalization and mistiming,” but the fact remains: Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 are launching within seven days of each other. Which will triumph? Time will tell, but we did pit the two tentpole shooters against one another in an early episode of Versus. Albeit their beta builds.
-
Early Enlister & File Size
By purchasing the Early Enlister Deluxe Edition ($79.99 USD), early adopters will gain three days of early access to Battlefield 1 and scores of other bonuses. Expect the file size to weigh in around 40GB on PlayStation 4.
-
Collector's Edition
As for the $219.99 Amazon exclusive Collector’s Edition, here’s what’s included:
- Battlefield 1 Deluxe Edition Base Game
- Collector’s Edition Statue (14″ Tall)
- Exclusive Steel book
- Exclusive cloth poster
- Deck of playing cards
- Messenger pigeon tube with exclusive** DLC content (DLC is exclusive for at least one year)
- Exclusive patch
- Premium packaging
-
Beta Impressions
Our resident FPS nut Alex wrangled with the Battlefield 1 beta, and left largely impressed.
"After playing an unhealthy amount of hours of the BF1 beta and reaching rank 41 (at the time of this writing), it’s safe to say that Battlefield fans will find a lot to love in BF1 (and maybe a few things to not like as much)."
-
Improvements to Be Made
Coming out of that open beta, our recent edition of Top 5 listed a handful of improvements we want to see in the final build.
-
Giant's Shadow Coming in December
For those of you that aren't planning on picking up Battlefield Premium at launch, there's still a free content pack to look forward to.
It's called "Giant's Shadow," and introduces one new multiplayer map in December.
"Prepare to take part in the Battle of the Selle in the cold autumn of 1918. Here, the fighting moves out of the trenches and into open country where a massive crashed airship casts its shadow onto the battlefield. The British forces have broken through the Hindenburg line and are now in pursuit towards an important railway center. Fierce infantry and tank engagements ensue on the open ground and river banks alongside the Cateu-Wassigny railway where an armored train can still turn the tide. Giant’s Shadow will be coming to Battlefield 1 as part of a free update in December."
-
Rated M for Mature
The official ESRB decision deems Battlefield 1 to be M for Mature, writing that:
"This is a first-person shooter set in various locations during World War I. As players progress through the storyline, they assume the roles of fighter pilot, armor crewman, rebel fighter, and message runner in order to complete missions. Characters use rifles, pistols, machine guns, and grenades to kill enemy soldiers in frenetic, realistic combat. Battles are highlighted by frequent gunfire, cries of pain, and explosions. Some sequences depict enemies wielding flamethrowers; soldiers can be heard screaming while engulfed in flames. Players can also use knives or bayonets to stab enemies in stealth attacks. Splashes of blood can be seen when enemies are hit; one sequence depicts blood and corpses on a beach after a battle. The word “f**k” appears in the dialogue."
-
Our Review
Our Managing Editor Mack has taken point for the PSLS review of Battlefield 1. October 17 is reportedly the date for your diaries, just before the shooter goes live for those Early Enlisters.