Battlefield 1

Presentation

Battlefield 1 is a first-person shooter developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. It takes the series into the heart of World War I, between 1914 and 1918, a period marked by the emergence of new military technologies and the transformation of combat tactics.

Unlike traditional military campaigns built around a single protagonist, Battlefield 1 features an anthology of War Stories. These independent narratives present different perspectives on the conflict, from British tank crews to fighters involved in the Arab Revolt.

The campaign begins with the prologue Storm of Steel, followed by five main stories. Through Mud and Blood follows a British tank crew during the Battle of Cambrai, while Friends in High Places focuses on a pilot engaged in aerial combat on the Western Front. Avanti Savoia! takes place in the Italian Alps, The Runner during the Gallipoli campaign, and Nothing Is Written alongside a Bedouin fighter connected to Lawrence of Arabia.

Each story emphasizes different situations, alternating between infantry combat, stealth, tank operations and aerial engagements. Some missions feature relatively open environments, allowing players to choose a more discreet approach or directly use the available weapons and vehicles.

Multiplayer returns to Battlefield's signature all-out warfare formula, with battles supporting up to 64 players. Battlefields extend from French towns to Italian mountains and the deserts of the Middle East. Infantry shares the battlefield with early tanks, aircraft, armored vehicles and cavalry, while environmental destruction and dynamic weather change combat conditions.

Soldiers are divided into four main classes: Assault, Medic, Support and Scout. Each has weapons and equipment suited to its role, including anti-tank combat, healing, ammunition supply and reconnaissance. Elite Classes, available through special kits found on certain maps, temporarily allow players to become heavily equipped soldiers, such as the Flame Trooper or Sentry.

One of the game's major innovations is the Operations mode, which connects several battles within a single offensive. Attackers must break through successive defensive lines, while defenders attempt to stop their advance. The outcome of each engagement influences how the operation continues across subsequent sectors and maps.

Battlefield 1 also introduces Behemoths, enormous war machines that can intervene to support a struggling team. Armored trains, airships and dreadnoughts possess considerable firepower but remain vulnerable to coordinated attacks.

The game was subsequently expanded with four major expansions: They Shall Not Pass, notably featuring the French Army; In the Name of the Tsar, centered on the Eastern Front and the Russian Revolution; Turning Tides, dedicated to amphibious operations; and Apocalypse, portraying some of the most devastating battles of the war.

Key points

• A military FPS set during World War I.
• A single-player campaign featuring a prologue and five independent War Stories.
• Several theaters of war, including France, Italy, Gallipoli and the Middle East.
• Multiplayer battles supporting up to 64 players.
• Combat combining infantry, tanks, aircraft, cavalry and armored vehicles.
• Four classes: Assault, Medic, Support and Scout.
• Elite Class kits providing temporary access to specialized equipment.
• The Operations mode, connecting several battles within a single offensive.
• Behemoths, including armored trains, airships and dreadnoughts.
• Environmental destruction and dynamic weather affecting combat.
• Classic modes such as Conquest and Rush.
• Multiplayer progression based on classes, weapons and equipment.
• Four major expansions introducing additional fronts, armies and gameplay possibilities.

Conclusion

Battlefield 1 brings the large-scale combat characteristic of the series into the setting of World War I, combining period weaponry with the first major modern military machines.

Its War Stories present different experiences of the conflict, while multiplayer emphasizes cooperation between classes, vehicle combat and objective control. Operations reinforces this approach by organizing engagements around successive offensives.

Behemoths, cavalry and the four expansions complete this video game portrayal of the Great War, covering multiple fronts and different forms of land, air and naval combat.

Good to know

Battlefield 1 was developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts.

The game was released on October 21, 2016, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

It uses the Frostbite game engine.

The single-player campaign includes the prologue Storm of Steel and five War Stories: Through Mud and Blood, Friends in High Places, Avanti Savoia!, The Runner and Nothing Is Written.

The Operations mode made its debut in the series with Battlefield 1. It features offensives spanning multiple sectors and maps, with one team attacking while the other defends its positions.

Behemoths are powerful vehicles that can intervene to support a disadvantaged team. Their type depends on the map, with armored trains, airships and dreadnoughts among the available machines.

Elite Class kits are special equipment sets that can be collected on the battlefield. The base game notably includes the Flame Trooper, Sentry and Tank Hunter, while the expansions introduce additional variants.

Dynamic weather can alter visibility and movement conditions. Fog, rain and sandstorms particularly affect long-range engagements and aerial combat.

The four main expansions were released between 2017 and 2018:

• They Shall Not Pass: introduces the French Army, with maps inspired notably by Verdun and Fort de Vaux.
• In the Name of the Tsar: expands the conflict to the Eastern Front, featuring Russian forces and battles connected to the revolution.
• Turning Tides: focuses on naval and amphibious operations, particularly around Gallipoli and the North Sea.
• Apocalypse: portrays large-scale battles on devastated fronts, including the Somme and Passchendaele.

These expansions were available separately and through the Premium Pass. The Battlefield 1 Revolution edition includes the base game and all four major expansions.

Multiplayer allows players to form squads of up to five members, with progression linked to ranks, classes, weapons and specializations.

Battlefield 1 includes a single-player campaign independent of multiplayer, while online matches require a connection to Electronic Arts' online services.