BATTLEFIELD 4

Battlefield 4 is an upcoming first-person shooter video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game is a sequel to 2011's Battlefield 3 and the 13th installment in the Battlefield series. The game will be released on October 29, 2013 in North America and Brazil, October 31, 2013 in Australia and Japan, and November 1, 2013 in Europe for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Gameplay

Battlefield 4 features several changes compared to its predecessor. The game's heads-up display is much the same, composed of two compact rectangles. The lower left-hand corner features a mini-map and compass for navigation, and a simplified objective notice above it; the lower right includes a compact ammo counter and health meter. The mini-map, as well as the main game screen, shows symbols marking three kinds of entities: blue for allies, green for squadmates, and red/orange for enemies.^[7][8][9]
Players can now use dual-scoped weapons, including weapons with different firing modes (e.g. single shots, automatic fire). They can also "spot" targets—marking them on the map—for teammates to either suppress or eliminate. In addition, players will have more survival capabilities, such as countering melee attacks from the front while standing or crouching, shooting their sidearm while swimming, and diving underwater to avoid enemy detection. The single-player campaign will see the player using vehicles to quickly move across the battlefield.

Multiplayer

Battlefields' multiplayer has been confirmed to contain 3 playable factions; U.S., China and Russia. Also confirmed is the return of the "Commander Mode" last seen in Battlefield 2142, which gives select players an RTS-like view of the entire map and the ability to give orders to teammates.
On June 10, 2013, at E3, DICE featured the map "Siege of Shanghai", pitting the People's Liberation Army against the U.S. Marine Corps. The gameplay showcased Commander Mode; new weapons and vehicles; and the "Levolution" gameplay mechanic. The video displays the last of these at various points, including a player destroying a support pillar to trap an enemy tank above it, and a large skyscraper (an in-game objective) collapsing in the center of the map and affecting the surrounding area. So far, the four previous classes from Battlefield 3's multiplayer appear to be the same—Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon.

Campaign

Setting and characters

Battlefield 4's single-player campaign takes place in 2020, six years after its predecessor. The player controls Sgt. Daniel Recker, a member of a US special operations squad callsigned "Tombstone". His teammates include squad leader SSgt. Dunn, second-in-command SSgt. Kimble "Irish" Graves, and Marine Combat Lifesaver Clayton "Pac" Pakowski. Later in the Campaign, a CIA field operative named Laszlo W. Kovic joins Tombstone. The player will also meet Huang "Hanna" Shuyi, a female US forces soldier.

Plot

The Battlefield 4 gameplay reveal trailer features footage from the prologue mission "Fishing in Baku", where Tombstone Squad, carrying intelligence from a defecting Russian general, escapes from Baku, Azerbaijan with Russian spec op forces in hot pursuit. Afterwards, Tombstone squad is sent on a covert mission to Shanghai, to rescue a group of VIP´s, Kovic among them. In the most recently revealed mission, "Angry Sea" (怒海狂涛 Nù hǎi kuángtāo), Tombstone Squad tries to escape from a sinking aircraft carrier en route to Singapore with more intel, while fighting off Chinese forces. The campaign's main plot involves the US's implication in the assassination of China´s future leader and voice of peace, Jin Jié.

Development

Electronic Arts president Frank Gibeau confirmed the company's intention to release a sequel during a keynote at the University of California where he said "There is going to be a Battlefield 4". Afterwards, an EA spokesperson told IGN: "Frank was speaking broadly about the Battlefield brand – a brand that EA is deeply passionate about and a fan community that EA is committed to." On the eve of Battlefield 3's launch, EA Digital Illusions CE told Eurogamer it was the Swedish studio's hope that it would one day get the opportunity to make Battlefield 4. "This feels like day one now," executive producer Patrick Bach said. "It's exciting. The whole Frostbite 2 thing has opened up a big landscape ahead of us so we can do whatever we want."
Due to mixed reception of the two-player Co-op Mode in Battlefield 3, DICE decided to omit the mode from Battlefield 4 to focus on perfecting both the campaign and multiplayer components instead.

Marketing

In March 2013, Electronic Arts opened the Battlefield 4 website with three official teasers, entitled "Prepare 4 Battle". Each hints at three kinds of battlespace: air, land and sea. EA then continued to release teaser trailers leading up to the unveiling of Battlefield 4 at the Game Developers Conference on March 26, 2013. The following day, Battlefield 4's first gameplay trailer, which doubled as a showcase for the Frostbite 3 engine was released. Shortly thereafter, EA listed the game for pre-order on Origin for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360; however, EA excluded any mention of the next generation consoles.
In July 2012, Battlefield 4 was announced when EA advertised on their Origin client that those who pre-ordered Medal of Honor: Warfighter would receive early access to the Battlefield 4 beta, this has since been expanded to include any Battlefield 3 Premium owners and Origin users who pre purchase Battlefield 4 Digital Deluxe Edition.
DICE revealed more Battlefield 4 content in the E3 2013 event at June 10, 2013, such as multiplayer modes, and allowed participants to play the game at the same event. On June 2, 2013, it was revealed from some leaked photos online that Battlefield 4 beta will be released for all users on September 24, 2013.
On May 30, 2013, EA discontinued the online pass.
Pre-orders of the game will include the first expansion pack, China Rising. The second planned expansion, Second Assault, will feature fan-favorite maps from Battlefield 3. It will be timed-exclusive to Xbox One as confirmed by EA during E3 2013.