Battlefield 4

Presentation

Battlefield 4 is a first-person shooter developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. Following Battlefield 3, it continues the series' exploration of modern warfare, featuring a scripted military campaign and multiplayer battles combining infantry, ground vehicles, aircraft and naval forces.

The story takes place in 2020, amid growing tensions between the United States, China and Russia. Players assume the role of Sergeant Daniel Recker, a member of the Tombstone Marine squad, caught in an international crisis driven in part by Admiral Chang's political ambitions. Alongside soldiers such as Irish and Pac, Recker participates in various operations, particularly in Shanghai, where political unrest threatens to escalate into open conflict.

The single-player campaign alternates between infantry combat, vehicle operations and scripted action sequences. Some missions feature relatively open environments, allowing players to make use of the available weapons and equipment. Players can also designate targets for their squadmates, adding a tactical dimension to certain engagements.

Multiplayer forms the main pillar of Battlefield 4. On PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, battles can support up to 64 players across expansive maps. Environments range from metropolitan areas and military installations to industrial zones and archipelagos, with combat involving tanks, helicopters, fighter jets and armed watercraft. Naval warfare plays a more prominent role, particularly through attack boats and maritime environments.

One of the game's major innovations is Levolution, a system that allows certain maps to change during a match. Player actions can trigger major transformations, such as the collapse of a skyscraper on Siege of Shanghai, or alter the local environment by destroying structures and interacting with various elements. These changes affect movement routes, lines of fire and defensive positions.

Soldiers are divided into four classes: Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon. Each has specialized equipment for tasks such as healing allies, repairing or destroying vehicles, supplying ammunition and identifying enemy positions. Squads can contain up to five members, while progression unlocks new weapons, attachments, gadgets and specializations.

Battlefield 4 also marks the return of Commander Mode. A player can oversee operations from a tactical perspective, provide intelligence and deliver various forms of support to teams on the battlefield. This feature adds a strategic dimension to objective-based game modes.

The main multiplayer modes include Conquest, focused on territorial control, and Rush, in which one team must attack successive enemy positions. Obliteration introduces a different objective: transporting a bomb to enemy targets, creating mobile engagements centered on controlling the explosive device.

Following its launch, Battlefield 4 received five major expansions, introducing additional battles in China, the return of iconic Battlefield 3 maps, expanded naval warfare, urban combat and experimental military equipment. These additions further diversify the environments and combat situations.

Key points

• A military FPS focused on modern warfare.
• A single-player campaign set in 2020, amid tensions between the United States, China and Russia.
• Daniel Recker and the Tombstone squad at the center of the story.
• Multiplayer battles supporting up to 64 players on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
• Combat combining infantry, tanks, helicopters, aircraft and naval vehicles.
• Levolution, a system allowing certain maps to transform during battles.
• Dynamic destruction of buildings and environmental elements.
• Four classes: Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon.
• Squads supporting up to five players.
• The return of Commander Mode for coordinating operations.
• Modes including Conquest, Rush and Obliteration.
• Progression based on weapons, attachments, equipment and specializations.
• Five major expansions introducing additional maps, vehicles and gameplay possibilities.

Conclusion

Battlefield 4 builds on Battlefield 3's modern warfare formula by expanding battles that combine infantry, ground vehicles, aircraft and naval forces.

Its campaign follows Tombstone squad through an international crisis, while multiplayer emphasizes cooperation between classes, squad coordination and mastery of different combat vehicles.

Levolution and the return of Commander Mode expand tactical possibilities, allowing players to influence their surroundings and organize operations across the battlefield. The expansions extend this approach by introducing additional theaters of war and equipment.

Good to know

Battlefield 4 was developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts.

The game was initially released on October 29, 2013, for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with release dates varying by region. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions followed in November 2013.

It uses the Frostbite 3 game engine, supporting dynamic environmental destruction, weather effects and the transformations associated with Levolution.

The single-player campaign follows Sergeant Daniel Recker, accompanied notably by Kimble "Irish" Graves and Clayton "Pac" Pakowski, as part of Tombstone squad.

Multiplayer supports up to 64 players on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, compared with 24 players on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Certain modes can also accommodate two additional commanders.

The Levolution system works differently depending on the map. On Siege of Shanghai, players can trigger the collapse of a skyscraper, while other environments feature flooding, storms or destruction that changes combat conditions.

Commander Mode allows players to oversee the battlefield, provide intelligence to squads and deploy support assets depending on available resources.

The four classes feature specialized gadgets and customization options. Field Upgrades also provide advantages linked to progression and team actions.

Multiplayer progression is based on ranks, weapon and attachment unlocks, class equipment and Battlepacks, which contain various customization and progression rewards.

The five main expansions are:

• China Rising: new battlefields located in China.
• Second Assault: the return of four popular Battlefield 3 maps, adapted to the Frostbite 3 engine.
• Naval Strike: expanded naval warfare, notably introducing the Carrier Assault mode.
• Dragon's Teeth: urban combat and new equipment.
• Final Stand: military installations and experimental technologies in cold environments.

These expansions were notably included in Battlefield 4 Premium and later in the Premium Edition.

Multiplayer services for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were discontinued on November 7, 2024. The single-player campaign remains accessible on these platforms for players who own the game.

This shutdown did not affect the PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, whose multiplayer services remained operational.

Battlefield 4 includes a single-player campaign separate from multiplayer, while online matches require a connection to Electronic Arts' online services.