For every big game these days, launch is just the beginning. Publishers want you to keep playing for months, preferably years after the initial release date. In Battlefield V, Tides of War is the post-launch hook to keep you crawling back to World War II.
Today, EA and DICE are pulling the curtain back on what the next four months look like for Battlefield V. The big takeaway here is the game’s Firestorm mode (battle royale) isn’t coming until March. Damn, I was hoping for a December release date. But who knows, maybe it isn’t ready for primetime yet. A polished mode is always the way to go.
Now I wish DICE didn’t even show off the small teases in previous trailers. It sets expectations that the mode is coming at launch or soon after. They should have stuffed the teases into a Tides of War trailer that shows off the post-launch support coming to Battlefield V.
Alright, back to Tides of War. Here’s an infographic covering all the stuff coming in the next few months.
I’m going to touch on the stuff I like at first glance from each Chapter.
Chapter 1: Overture
Hell yes to tank battles. DICE will also use the tank-focused Panzerstorm map to launch vehicle customization. I’m crossing my fingers these tank/airplane skins will take a subtle approach. Remember, less is more. I don’t want to be blasting through building only to be met by some obnoxiously bright tank.
Overture also brings another War Story (The Last Tiger). It’s the first time I can think of that a major game has approached a story from the German side. In this story, “a lone Tiger Tank crew begins to question the ideology that got them to this point.”
Chapter 2: Lightning Strikes
The return of Rush. Yep, Rush isn’t going to be at launch either. Plus it sounds like Rush is only available during this Chapter?
“During the chapter, two game modes will be added to Battlefield V. A revamped Rush is one of them. Say goodbye to MCOM stations and hello to bombs as you take on this classic, only available during Lightning Strikes.”
DICE, what the hell? Make Rush a permanent mode.
Chapter 3: Trial by Fire
Battlefield’s take on battle royale launches in March. We’ve seen a few snippets of gameplay in trailers over the past few months. I can’t wait to see how DICE approaches balance with tanks on this mode. I can already envision running into a building finding nothing, while another guy comes driving through it in a tank. It’ll be hilarious the first time, but there better be a healthy sprinkling of dynamite and rocket launchers across the map.
Battlefield is incredible because of its huge battles. And I can’t wait to see how the Battlefield toolset translates to the battle royale genre.
One more thing to note. DICE says this four-month roadmap is also just the beginning. They promise new locations, guns, and vehicles beyond March. Plus, the usual balancing updates.
Battlefield V can be played via EA Access and Origin Access Premiere on November 9. The Deluxe Edition goes live on November 16 followed by the Standard Edition on November 20.