Battlefield 1 Takes on the Great War

DICE and EA have final revealed Battlefield 1. In spectacular fashion, I might add. Leaks surrounding the nature of the latest entry in the Battlefield franchise reached a crescendo this morning, with packaging and release dates coming from a variety of sources. Regardless, we were treated to a visual feast this afternoon, via a livestreamed event hosted by DICE. For now, let’s break down what we know.

Battlefield 1 will not take place in an alternate-history or steampunk version of World War I, rather, it’s set squarely within real events. The campaign will follow a number of soldiers experiencing a number of different events, but DICE was tight-lipped on details of the actual story. Trains, battleships, biplanes, zeppelins, tanks and horses are all vehicles in the game, with likely many more to be revealed later. Chemical warfare will (unsurprisingly) be part of the game, with one of the soldiers in the teaser putting on some sort of a gas mask. Various locations include French urban centers, the Italian Alps, the deserts of Arabia, and others to be revealed.

Specific details about weapons, maps, and even in-game footage was absent from the event, as to be expected. With E3 being roughly a month away, we can expect more information and footage to show up as the summer continues. Personally, I would have loved a Cold War-era Battlefield, and I certainly didn’t expect the rumors months ago about a World War 1 Battlefield to be true. Regardless, I’m excited to see where DICE is taking the series, and how they plan on transferring the relentless action found in Battlefield 4 to the next main installment. Battlefield 1 releases on October 21st, 2016 for most, though EA Access members get to play a few days earlier, on October 18th.

Official Press Release

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – May 6, 2016 – Today DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, announced Battlefield™ 1. Only in Battlefield 1 will you bring a horse to a tank fight and squad-up with your allies in epic multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Through ever-changing environments at the dawn of all-out war, no battle is ever the same. Battlefield 1 will launch on October 21^st, 2016 Worldwide on Xbox One, Origin™ for PC and PlayStation^®4.

Battlefield 1 takes you across multiple and varied locations in a bid to fight your way through immersive battles. From tight urban fights in a besieged French city, to big open spaces in the Italian Alps and frantic combats in the deserts of Arabia, discover a world at war through an adventure-filled campaign.

In a true multiplayer sandbox experience, take to the skies and engage in high-octane dogfights through treacherous landscapes, or have a battleship obliterating the coast from the sea, and engage in some of the biggest battles ever seen as empires clash for supremacy.

“The game will deliver a fresh experience full of what makes Battlefield great, with a multiplayer sandbox, immersion, epic scale, authenticity, team play and an ever-changing world full of unexpected Battlefield moments,“ said Aleksander Grøndal, Senior Producer, DICE. “We’re inviting players on an epic journey across a war-torn world, taking them to the Great War and providing something both varied and unique in Battlefield 1.”

Set against the backdrop of World War 1, witness the birth of modern warfare, as the Great War saw a furious arms race with new machines and weapons created to get the upper hand during the most technologically divergent war of all time. Feel the intensity and immersion as Battlefield 1 takes advantage of this modern arsenal to deliver the experience fans love, but with a fresh and modern twist.

Fans can also sign up to become a Battlefield Insider http://www.battlefield.com/en-gb/community/insider . Get early access to the Battlefield 1 public beta, in-game rewards, exclusive content and sneak peeks at news about Battlefield (plus news about other EA games, services, and events).

Battlefield 1 will launch on October 21^st, 2016 Worldwide on Xbox One, Origin™ for PC and PlayStation^®4.

EA Access and Origin Access members can play Battlefield 1 for a limited time before launch with Play First Trials. EA Access members receive a 10% discount when they purchase a digital version of the game on Xbox Live, and Origin Access members get a 10% discount when they purchase the game through Origin*.