Battlefield 4™ news & patch notes

A new chapter begins on May 12. Are you ready?

Warm up by the gunfire this holiday season with up to 30% off Battlefield 6 Standard Edition or up to 20% off Phantom Edition.

Battlefield 6 brings the best PC experience in the history of the franchise offering the widest array of features and customization options ever supported. 

Here’s what you can expect at Launch: 

PC SPECS MIN/MAX/ULTRA/ULTRA+

4K GRAPHICS + UNCAPPED FRAME RATE* 

• 4k visuals with uncapped framerates create one of the most fluid, high performance First Person Shooter experiences on the market. 

PROTECTED BY JAVELIN ANTI-CHEAT 

• Our Anticheat system has unique modifications designed to safeguard against cheats and hacks specific to the FPS space. Javelin has been built from the ground up by a team of veteran engineers and analysts focused on studying cheating problems for each specific game under EA’s umbrella and designing unique features to solve those issues. 

• It is designed solely to protect against cheats within and outside of kernel mode.

• For guidance about Secure Boot, head over to our EA Help article.

ULTRAWIDE MONITOR SUPPORT

• Catch every enemy flank with a full view of the battlefield, now with Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (32:9) monitor support.

600+ CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS 

• From HDR and HUD Scaling, to Camera Settings and Streamer mode, Battlefield 6 comes with the largest suite of customization options we’ve ever had in the Franchise. Visit our FAQ for more info.

HARDWARE FEATURE SUPPORT: 

• We support a suite of tech that offers upscaling, Frame Generation, Anti-Aliasing, and Latency reduction (Intel XeSS and AMD FSR)

• With the launch of the official PC system requirements, Nvidia confirms Battlefield 6 will launch with support for DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA, and NVIDIA Reflex. Using these technologies, all GeForce RTX gamers can accelerate and enhance their experience, making gameplay smoother and more responsive.

PLAY ON STEAM DAY 1

• Battlefield 6 Steam Native and will not require the EA app.

PORTAL 

REDRAW THE LINES OF BATTLE.

Battlefield Portal is a massive sandbox where creators and players can push Battlefield to the limit. Take unprecedented control of your environment by moving, scaling, and duplicating objects. Create a completely unique game mode using NPC scripting and a customizable UI. Legendary Battlefield experiences are waiting to be created—show ‘em what you’re made of.

THINK IT, CREATE IT, PLAY IT:

• The unique experiences created are called “Community Experiences” - Players can recreate classic game modes such as horde mode, or create innovative experiences, like a top-down 2D shooter. 

POWERFUL CREATOR TOOLS:

• Includes Spatial Editing (map/geo editing), as well as AI Scripting to customize the behavior of AI combatants. The Portal Builder Tool also supports Custom UI scripting for building fully bespoke user interfaces. 

BATTLEFIELD YOUR WAY:

• With generous mutator and rule-set options, you can use our web creator Portal tool to experience Battlefield the way you want: Hardcore Mode, Closed Weapon Loadouts–the sky’s the limit. 

FULL PROGRESSION:

• Players earn full XP Progression when playing Verified Community Experiences in Portal. These use existing Battlefield 6 mode templates such as Conquest, Rush, and Breakthrough, while allowing the creator to modify a wide-range of mutators to make the experience uniquely theirs.

EASY TO DISCOVER:

• Players will have a wide array of options to filter the experiences they wish to see within the in-game server browser and experience library. Some select experiences can be featured directly on the home screen, making these experiences easier to find and join than ever. 

• Included with game purchase, players will also have the ability to make their hosted servers persistent, so it's always listed in the browser for easy access.

POST LAUNCH SUPPORT: 

• Creation and innovation doesn’t stop at launch. Post-launch support will include modes, maps, weapons, and other features as they are added to the game, giving creators and players evergrowing ways to expand their Battlefield experience.

*Requires a compatible 4K display and supporting hardware. Visual quality may vary. 

**Some features require a PC with the appropriate hardware installed. Please refer to our PC Specs Graphic for additional details.  

This Community Update outlines the current status of the Class System in Battlefield Labs, featuring insights from early player experiences.

Some systems aren't yet available in Battlefield Labs, but everything discussed here is crucial for defining class identities and achieving our goal of creating the best Class System in Battlefield's history. 

We have seen the suggestions to revert to previous systems and/or closed weapons. We are keeping these in mind in our discussions as we aim to connect new and veteran players to the Battlefield experience, fostering teamwork and creating a universal understanding of our systems for the future.

We've collected extensive player feedback and data to improve the next Battlefield, particularly around classes. Some improvements happen quickly through Battlefield Labs testing, with balancing done via server-side commands. Other changes require new tools or client-side updates that take longer.

Battlefield Labs allows us to respond to feedback and balance gradually with our community. We invite you to share your thoughts in the Community Updates section on our official Battlefield Discord. This is the new frontier of community collaboration for Battlefield, and we welcome you to explore it with us.

Let’s begin!

A RECAP ON THE CLASS SYSTEM

As indicated in Part One, our current focus for classes is to have players recognize and intuitively feel the unique identity that each class brings to their squad on the Battlefield. To have the interconnected systems and fundamentals of each class shape their role, while granting the freedom to customize how to execute that role.

The Class System is defined by two main components: Customizable and Class-defining. 

The customizable components empower players to explore and push the boundaries of their roles within their chosen class, while still adhering to the class's expectations. The class-defining components are designed to enhance "pick-up-and-go" playability and reinforce the expectations of your class identity. 

Throughout this Community Update, we will use Recon as the baseline example and detail its signature elements.

Pick your Training Path

Customizable: Training

Training is designed to amplify the unique strengths of each Class, ensuring your role on the field is both impactful and strategic. Each Class offers two distinct Training Paths that you can choose from when customizing your loadouts. They provide flat-stat bonuses and benefits that enhance your performance in teamwork scenarios and objectives across various modes.

Training Paths are structured into three levels:

• Level 0: Passive benefit available upon immediate selection of the Training Path.

• Levels 1 and 2: Enhanced benefit aimed at improving your selected role. Only earnable through teamplay progression and score XP.

• Level 3: Is a one-time use ability that you manually activate and either benefits yourself, your team, or your situation in the match.

  • In Recon’s case, it is the ability to call in a damageable UAV to a marked position for passive spotting. Upon activation, you will need to continue working with your team to make sufficient progress to use it again.

As you engage in teamwork or tackle mode-specific objectives, you will passively gain bonuses at each level along your chosen path. Triggering your level 3 ability resets you back to level 2 to re-earn your level 3 ability. Additionally, Training Path progression is reset at the beginning of each round.

Through Battlefield Labs, we are validating the progression rate, impact and balance of each path, allowing us to adjust their relative usefulness and power to perform the desired role.

Recon specializes in long-range shooting and covert gameplay; your Training Path is designed to enhance and encourage certain aspects of that role. If you find yourself being more up close and personal as a Recon player, you would benefit from selecting Pathfinder, which has improvements such as being undetectable by equipment except when sprinting.

Although the Training System has been live in Battlefield Labs for only two play sessions, we have already identified a range of areas that we plan to improve before launch. Role efficiency and teamwork incentives are the priorities of this system, and Battlefield Labs continues to provide us with the space and time to ensure we meet these priorities.

All roads lead to Class Identity

Class-Defining: Signature Weapon

Each Class has a Signature Weapon that is intrinsically connected to their Class Identity, with the role of each Class taken into close consideration, as covered in Part One of this series. 

While each weapon can pack a punch when used in the right combat situations and be a valuable addition to your loadout, choosing to use the proficient weapon category for each Class will provide you with tailored passive benefits for your role.

Assault & Assault Rifles - Assault is the ultimate infantry fighter, responsible for leading the charge and responding to situations as and when they arise. Using an Assault Rifle with this Class will result in faster transitions from sprint to shoot and switching between Assault Rifles and other weapons.

Engineer & Sub Machine Guns - Engineers are positioned for destruction and repair at all costs, which means getting up close and dirty while on the battlefield. You’ll benefit from improved hip-fire control when using SMG’s.

Support & Light Machine Guns - Being used to heavy fire situations and being in the midst of chaos, Support are experienced with heavy gear, and as they lay down fire with Light Machine Guns they will not suffer from sprint speed penalties like other Classes would if they were to use the same weapon.

Recon & Sniper Rifles - Scope sway will be decreased, and the ability to stabilize your aim by holding your breath improves with the use of Sniper Rifles. Being highly proficient with Sniper Rifles will allow for Recon to be faster at rechambering between shots too!

Class-Defining: Signature Trait

With Signature Traits, we aim to create a set of unique bonuses that increase the efficiency of your overall role as that Class.

Assault - Enhanced Mobility. We’re currently looking at providing this class with reduced fall damage and no movement speed penalty that results from a fall. Combined with other Class-defining elements, such as Training, it aims to place emphasis on Assault being the tip of the spear class and utilizes mobility as its key strength.

Engineer - Explosive Damage Resistance. While Assault is all about leading the charge in infantry combat, the Engineer is the only Class capable of repairing and dealing significant damage to vehicles. You’re in highly explosive situations here, and we’re theming this trait around that.

We’re currently providing a reduction to damage from explosions as the Signature Trait, and we’ll be assessing within Battlefield Labs if that difference is felt between the different Classes and what the right level of balance should be for a passive resistance increase (or decrease!)

Support - Faster Revive. Support is designed to be every squad's essential choice for defense and sustained combat. Our focus for this Class was to enhance the importance of reviving, protecting, and supplying teammates, enabling them to rejoin the fight quickly.

Currently, the Signature Trait for Support allows faster reviving when stationary. We’re using the time with our community in Battlefield Labs to monitor your feedback on the Support class and the evolving expectations of Support's role, and identify the best aspects of this role to elevate further.

Recon - Aim Spotting. We currently have Recon’s Signature Trait as the ability to spot enemies while aiming down sight automatically. This is a Signature Trait that we are actively seeking feedback on within Battlefield Labs and are continually improving.

Class-Defining: Signature Gadget

Class definition is central to our future gadget lineup, ensuring each class features unique gadgets with zero overlap in usage. This approach highlights and reinforces the distinct role of each Class, offering gadgets that either enhance your own effectiveness or support your squad.

Assault - Adrenaline Injector. We’re equipping the Assault class with an Adrenaline Injector that grants resistance to flash and stun effects, enhances sprint speed, reduces explosive damage, and amplifies enemy footsteps for a brief period.

Battlefield Labs has already gathered substantial feedback on the Adrenaline Injector, which we’re already taking on board for the future to ensure it’s balanced across classes. For more details, check out the Learnings from the Labs section!

Engineer - Repair Tool. Whereas in the past, the Repair Tool has sometimes been a choice between using it or sacrificing it for something more aggressive. Going forward, the Repair Tool will always be available to you, so there really is no excuse for you not to repair your squad's vehicle, right?

Support - Supply Bag. Whenever you see a Supply Bag on the ground, you will now know that this item is capable of either healing you or providing you with a certain amount of ammo, and Support will be the class responsible for this.

We are currently working through the balance of this gadget through Battlefield Labs, and defining how much health or ammo you should receive, what the optimal range should be, and spam prevention.

Recon - Motion Sensor. Whether you're a Sniper or a Pathfinder in either a defensive or aggressive position, the motion sensor is useful for tracking enemy movement within its limited range. As a Recon, it's essential to have this tool readily available to perform at your best, making it an excellent choice for your Signature Gadget.

Learnings from the Labs

Thousands of players began experiencing Battlefield Labs in March, and it has already resulted in thousands of feedback submissions and bug reports, allowing us to work on rapid iteration of specific gameplay elements like movement and responsiveness, whilst discussing how to improve upon areas that take longer to implement, like destruction, movement, animation and more.

Battlefield Labs is an ongoing process that has laid the foundation for us to collaborate on player-driven changes that will impact the next generation of Battlefield games. While we continue to read through feedback and assess areas to work on, it has already been instrumental in guiding us to meaningful improvements.

CLASS IDENTITY & GAMEPLAY

• Assault - Players have emphasized Assault has a “Lone Wolf” mentality and there is desire to make the class less self reliant and instead enhance team play capabilities. Key areas for improvement include the Weapon Sling, particularly its early pre-alpha functionality, which allowed for carrying two signature weapons. The Adrenaline Injector has also received significant feedback and will undergo improvements, including the removal of the health regeneration component, with further changes to be shared at a later date.

• Engineer - The Engineer remains in a good place, but we're exploring ways to further enhance its interaction with vehicle play. Players were able to equip dual rocket/missile launchers within earlier play sessions, and while that may have enhanced interaction between this role and destruction capabilities, it provided too much power in a single loadout and we will be limiting this so you can only choose one at a time.

• Support - Support is frequently played due to its abilities to revive teammates, supply ammo and health, and intercept systems. We're focusing on subtle enhancements rather than significant changes with this class. Feedback indicates that there is an abundance of supply crates taking place, and this can often cause a detrimental effect on combat and create stalemate situations due to excessive healing and ammo. We are investigating adjustments, such as the crate’s duration, how much it can resupply, and more, to ensure we strike a good balance for impact to Support and other classes.

• Recon - Play sessions and feedback have highlighted room for improvement with Recon, and we agree, more work needs to be done to enhance its role on the Battlefield. One aspect that we continue to assess feedback around is how we want to encourage specific Training Path playstyles for this Class, strengthening disinformation and sabotage aspects of their role, and need to balance spotting capabilities.

GENERAL CHANGES

While the list above is not exhaustive, we continue to enhance various aspects throughout the development process with gradual changes within Battlefield Labs and beyond, guided by player feedback. For example, earlier pre-alpha play sessions received a large response against Ballistic Armor, and this feature is no longer included in our multiplayer modes. Additionally, improvements are ongoing with movement and animation, as well as vehicle handling for ground vehicles and aircraft control.

Our content is currently in alpha development, and some features may take longer to implement than others, depending on their complexity. However, we remain committed to keeping you informed through our community channels and Battlefield Labs as we work together to build Battlefield.

—--

Get Involved

Sign up for Battlefield Labs now if you’re interested in helping us validate the future of Battlefield. Read our FAQ if you’d like to learn more, and join the discussion on Battlefield Discord.

As a reminder, Battlefield Labs is a closed environment with limited attendance, but we’ll make sure to share updates to keep everyone informed.

Thank you for joining the discussion. We look forward to connecting again soon - see you on the battlefield!

These game details are subject to change based on community discussions, player data, and feedback from Battlefield Labs as we continue developing the next Battlefield title and beyond. We will always strive to keep our community as informed as possible.

• Weapon Loadouts: Fully customizable weapon loadouts allow you the freedom to play the way you want. Play to the strengths of your class by using your signature weapons, or easily switch to any other weapon to meet the needs of your squad.
• Class Gadgets: You'll have the option to carry two gadgets onto the battlefield, tailored to each class and its specific role. Recon aficionados specialize in intelligence and counterintelligence, with class gadgets including Deploy Beacons, Anti-Personnel Mines, and Laser Designators.
• Training: Our philosophy with Training is to offer a series of traits that can be unlocked during play to enhance your ability to perform your role. As you engage more in a match, you'll gradually earn flat-stat bonuses and more to support the effectiveness of your role further.
• Throwables: Our approach to throwables prioritizes enabling each class to effectively fulfill its role by providing tailored throwables.

• Signature Weapon: Each class has a Signature Weapon category tied to their class identity, which, when used, enhances their role on the battlefield. For example, using our same ongoing test subject, the Recon class, if you select a weapon from the Sniper Rifle category, you will benefit from increased breath-holding duration. In contrast, an Assault player choosing from the same category will not receive this bonus. DMRs, Carbines, and Shotguns remain viable options, no matter your class, but don’t benefit from any Signature Weapon bonus.
• Signature Trait: Each class features a unique Signature Trait, providing passive bonuses tailored to optimize your role on the battlefield. For instance, a Recon player automatically spots enemies while aiming down sights, encouraging the use of weapons that complement this specialization.
• Signature Gadget: These gadgets are unique and singular to each class with an aim for you to always have access to a tool that fulfills the role of that class.Separate from what you may choose as gadgets within your loadout.
• Default Weapon Packages: The default weapon package is a pre-set combination of attachments and visual customization for each class to be combat ready, with the option for further progression and personalization.

• Establishing a solid foundation for smooth, low-latency and high-performance gunplay.
• Finding the right balance in movement speed for functionality such as crouch sprint, combat rolling, and vaulting as part of our combat pacing initiatives.
• Using destruction to create fun and lasting tactical gameplay across rounds and experiences.

OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY FOR DESTRUCTION

DESTRUCTION AND GAMEPLAY

FEEDBACK AND VALIDATION

• Understanding which environments can or cannot be destroyed and which type of firepower is required for different material types
• The impact of collateral damage from debris and destructible elements
• Tactical use of destruction to create new pathing or persistent environments
• Balancing the ecosystem of damage through firepower and destruction

OUR LEARNINGS SO FAR

WHAT’S NEXT?

OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY FOR GUNPLAY AND MOVEMENT

WHAT’S NEW AND IMPROVED FOR GUNPLAY AND MOVEMENT

FEEDBACK AND VALIDATION

• Feel of the different weapon archetypes
• Improvements to aim and control
• Weapon balance and fun factor
• Look and feel of movement
• Moving and interacting within the map
• Combat pacing.

STAY TUNED

What Is Battlefield Labs?

How do I get involved?

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With the Vehicle Shortcut Bundle, you get instant access to all base-game upgrades for land, sea, and air vehicles. The bundle includes the Ground & Sea Vehicle Shortcut Kit and Air Vehicle Shortcut Kit. Whether you’re new to Battlefield 4 or just want to make up for lost time, Shortcut Kits help you go toe-to-toe with Battlefield veterans by instantly unlocking powerful gear or bonuses that would otherwise be obtained through play. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38021267/2c05000b48c9b8ab75b68483c6005bcbc57da449.jpg Ground & Sea Vehicle Shortcut Kit. Whether you prefer to punch holes in the enemy's defenses with an armored tank or rip through the seas on an agile boat, you'll benefit from an increase to the offensive and defensive capabilities of your vehicle of choice. This Shortcut Kit instantly unlocks all base-game upgrades for Main Battle Tanks, Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Mobile Anti-Aircraft vehicles, and Attack Boats. Air Vehicle Shortcut Kit.Helicopters and jets are invaluable for transporting troops and initiating all-out assault from the skies. This Shortcut Kit instantly unlocks all base-game upgrades for jets both vehicle types.

Play Battlefield 2042 starting October 22, 2021

Adapt and overcome in a near-future world transformed by disorder. Squad up and bring a cutting-edge arsenal into dynamically-changing battlegrounds supporting 128 players*, unprecedented scale, and epic destruction.

Tune in starting June 9, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. PT to watch the live countdown to the reveal of the newest addition to the Battlefield franchise.