Overview Battlefield 3 is the successor to DICE 's award-winning Battlefield 2 . Like its predecessor, Battlefield 3 is a modern military first person shooter published by Electronic Arts , that features large scale vehicular military combat with land, sea, and air vehicles. The game has a single player campaign, a separate co-op campaign, and an extensive multiplayer component. Battlefield 3 was released on PC for Origin exclusively, not on Steam due to the service "restricting" their ability to "directly support" players.
Adding up all the DLC for the game, the multiplayer component features 29 maps with 12 different game modes to play.
Development Battlefield 3 was confirmed to be in development by EA's chief operating officer, John Pleasants , at a Stock meeting in June, 2009.
"I have had the luxury of looking at Battlefield 3 over at DICE in Sweden and was highly impressed by the way the team is working on the product. Of course, that's not [coming out] in the fiscal year, but that is a product that is looking very good."
Battlefield 3 was officially teased on February 4th, 2011. A 30-second teaser trailer was included, as well as some basic details regarding the highly anticipated sequel. In addition, Game Informer ran an exclusive Battlefield 3 preview in its March issue. It has been stated that the PC is the "lead platform" for development; with multiplayer matches featuring up to 64-players on PC , and 24 players on the PS3 & Xbox 360 .
The game was in development using the new in-house engine Frostbite 2.0 for three years. According to senior multiplayer designer Alan Kertz, the design direction, gameplay balance, and choices for Battlefield 3 were very similar to those of Battlefield 2142 ; a result of the senior designers' experience working primarily on that title. This is the first non- EA Sports game to utilize the ANT animation system for the character models.
47 E3 Awards Won According to DICE, it took them several years to create Battlefield 3 simply because they didn't have the technology and assets to create the game they wanted to create; therefore they have worked on the Frostbite 2 engine from scratch for years, experimenting with their technology in the spin-off series Bad Company (using Frostbite versions 1.0 and 1.5), until they reached the level of technology needed to create Battlefield 3.
During E3 2011 , Battlefield 3 received 80 nominations for different awards, with 47 wins, including the Game Critics Awards for "Best Action Game" and "Best Multiplayer."
Single Player Marine SSgt Henry "Black" Blackburn Set in 2014, U.S. coalition troops are engaged by the opposition force known as the People's Liberation and Resistance (PLR) as they patrol the Iran / Iraq border to maintain security to the area. The storyline is revealed through a series of flashbacks as Marine Staff Sergeant Henry "Black" Blackburn races to prevent an attack on New York City by the PLR.
As Blackburn recalls key events leading up to the attack, the player will take control of several characters in a variety of missions across land, sea and air in many locations around the world, including Paris, New York, Rome and Tehran, which will empower the game's theme of an all-out war and a worldwide conflict. The playable soldier characters will be from various world factions, mainly Marine SSgt Henry Blackburn (1st Recon), as well as Corporal Jonathan "Jono" Miller (1st Marine Tank Battalion) and RU Special Forces operator Dmitri "Dima" Mayakovsky among others.
Singleplayer levels: Level Description Semper Fidelis Operation Swordbreaker Operation Swordbreaker takes place during the Global War of 2014, US Marines undergo "pacification" operations in the Iran-Iraq region and try to restore stability to the region. Arriving at Sulaymaniyah to locate a missing unit you must face the PLR and take on the countries most devastating asset. Uprising Operation Uprising has you replay the area previously covered in Operation Swordbreaker. Sulaymaniyah has been devastated by an earthquake and the PLR have decided to use this event to push deep in to the area and take up temporary holds. Going Hunting Operation Gone Hunting places you in the role of Lieutenant Coleby Hawkins a gunner pilot in an F/A-18F Shark. After the events in Sulaymaniyah, the US has sent 50,000 marines to Iran and is launching air raids on high value PLR targets. You're after PLR top dog Faruh Al-Bashir, launching an airstrike on Mehrabad International Airport. Operation Guillotine Operation Guillotine takes place at night, with the player assaulting from the surrounding hills and making their way into the inner city of Tehran. Comrades Playing as Dmitri Makayovsky, or 'Dima' as he is known, a specialist Russian team attacks the stock exchange to prevent a nuclear attack being carried out by Solomon's forces. Thunder Run Fear No Evil Night Shift Rock And A Hard Place Kaffarov Kaffarov is the final mission of Blackburn's military career, and takes place during an assault upon the mysterious arms dealer's house. Kaffarov has funded and supplied the PLR. This is also the mission in which Dima and Blackburn meet each other face-to-face. The Great Destroyer Playing as Blackburn, the game prologue is finally explained. Solomon is aboard a train, intending to deliver an explosive payload in the city of New York. The continuation of this mission is also seen, and it provides the finale for the overall story.
Co-op Mode 2-player co-op Battlefield 3 features a co-operative mode campaign.
The co-op campaign consists of 6 long missions, featuring a full range of Battlefield gameplay, including land and air vehicle missions as well as tight urban warfare. The missions are separate from the single player campaign but will tie in to its story. This mode supports 2 players only, unlike Bad Company 2's co-op "Onslaught" which featured up to 4.
The missions:
Mission Description Operation Exodus A number of high valued POWs are being detained at a US camp. A recent earthquake has weakened the camp's defensive perimeter and made it vulnerable to PLR attacks. An evacuate order of camp has been given. You and a handful of marines are assigned to defend the camp until all personnel have pulled out. Fire From The Sky An American convoy escorting a general privy to classified intel has been ambushed on their way back to base. The general is being held captive in a remote mountain village. You will be providing close air support for a strike team sent in to rescue him. Exfiltration Thanks to extensive intelligence work, we’ve been able to locate El Zakir. He was not expected to give himself up, but when local agents located and captured his immediate family, he agreed to negotiate his surrender. El Zakir is awaiting extraction in an apartment complex in the outskirts of Baghdad. You need to secure him and bring him back to the Green Zone. Hit and Run The company El Zakir referenced is Levin Cooperative. It’s located in central Paris. You need to go in and retrieve everything you can from their offices. A private security team has been alerted to your presence and is headed to the offices to stop you. You need to secure and extract whatever evidence there may be. Drop 'Em Like Liquid A hostage situation has developed in Paris. It’s confirmed that Abu Muhammad is on site orchestrating the operation. French police have requested our help. We are sending you in to assist. You need to provide sniper support, free the hostages and neutralize Abu Muhammad. The Eleventh Hour The attack has started. We’re confident this is the main attack referred to by El Zakir. Witnesses claim bomb like devices have been left in the metro and the Paris Stock Exchange. If Abdul Rahman is behind this attack, we expect it to be similar to the one that took place in London several years ago. You will be assisting the French police to locate and disarm the bombs and neutralize Rahman if the opportunity presents itself.
There are also seven weapons which can be unlocked for multiplayer kits by earning co-op points (points needed to unlock weapons were significantly reduced following a patch):
Kit Weapon Points (after patch) Points (pre-patch) Assault KH2002 17,000 126,000 Assault G3A3 160,000 441,000 Engineer SG553 120,000 378,000 Recon M39 EMR 58,000 252,000 ALL 93R 86,000 315,000 ALL MP7 34,000 189,000 ALL MP412 REX 5,000 63,000
Multiplayer Operation Metro screenshot Battlefield 3 features the franchise's trademark all-out-war vehicular warfare multiplayer experience that the series is known for. The game features a similar persistent multiplayer model seen in recent Battlefield games, while bringing back the overall essence and gameplay aspects of the older games of the franchise. The multiplayer's persistence system consists of gaining experience points by killing enemies, performing supporting actions for the team and accomplishing objectives. As the player gains more XP, they go up in rank (top rank is 145), earn ribbons and medals that award them for specific actions on the battlefield, as well as unlocking better weaponry for the various kits and unlocking several weapon attachments, player gadgets/tools, performance-enhancing perks and vehicle specializations.
The multiplayer component features 9 maps on the disc, and five different game modes for each map (with different pacing, objectives and player count for each mode). DLC adds even more maps and game modes.
Health regeneration has been significantly tweaked. In Battlefield 3, where after taking damage, health regeneration is delayed for up to 20 seconds before it kicks in, and it takes a good while before reaching 100%. Furthermore, when the player is under enemy suppression, health regeneration is paused. The ability to go prone also makes a return, but is balanced by making the action a slow process, and also slowing the movement in prone position.
DICE's executive producer Patrick Bach stated in an interview that they slowed down the pace of leveling up after the studio underestimated the popularity of Bad Company 2. Unlike BC2, the top ranks become an incentive and carry bonuses.
Game Modes The game modes from previous Battlefield games return, including classic Conquest and Rush and Squad Deathmatch which were introduced in the Bad Company series, with additional modes and options to choose from. Hardcore Mode returns from Bad Company 2, which is an alternative version to the "normal mode" of regular servers. Any game mode can be toggled to be Hardcore Mode, which removes a lot of the HUD elements and raises bullet damage, and any map can be selected to be infantry-only, with no attack vehicles (transport vehicles will still spawn in):
Conquest (Maximum of 32 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - The classic Battlefield game mode in which two teams scramble to maintain control of flags scattered around parts of the map. Killing enemies depletes the enemy ticket count, and controlling a majority of the flags on the map causes the enemy team to bleed tickets over time. Teams win by depleting the enemy team's ticket count.Conquest Large (Maximum of 64 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - Conquest mode with "Large" variants of maps, built with more flags and for more players in mind. Rush (Maximum of 32 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - An attack and defend game mode in which one team must defend three sets of two M-COM crates from being destroyed by the attacking team. As each set of M-COM is destroyed, the defending team is pushed further back into the map. Attacks win when all M-COMs are destroyed, and defenders win when the attacking team's ticket amount is depleted.Squad Rush (8 players) - A variant of Rush in which there is only one M-COM crate per map phase, and significantly less tickets, encouraging more careful gameplay and shots that count. Team Deathmatch (Maximum of 32 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - Standard deathmatch mode in which two teams fight to reach a specified kill count.Squad Deathmatch (Maximum of 16 players across all platforms) - Up to four teams of four go against each other to see who can reach the maximum kill count first. An Infantry Fighting Vehicle will spawn at random intervals during the match to shake up the battle. Classes Battlefield 3 has four player classes (kits) to choose from in the multiplayer, which are similar to those found in Battlefield 2142 . Each class gets its own exclusive special equipment and gear, which consist of the Commander mode's assets from Battlefield 2 (i.e. UAV , artillery), in addition to brand new equipment to the franchise.
Class Lineup Assault - The normal Battlefield assault class (carrying assault rifles) has been combined with the medic class and is able to heal & revive teammates with medic kits & defibrillators . Should the player choose to play as assault, they can replace the med-pack with an underslung grenade launcher on their assault rifle. According to senior multiplayer designer Lars Gustavsson,"The reason for this class fusion is because the assault class serves at the frontlines, so it only makes sense to give those frontline players the ability to revive downed teammates".
Engineer - This class carries carbines & anti-vehicle rocket launchers. They are able to repair vehicles with a repair torch , or can remotely arm and disarm MCOMs with a Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot (EOD bot). Anti-tank mines can replace the repair torch.Support - This class carries light machine guns (LMG), and has the ability to mount their LMG using the bipod on the front of the gun for better accuracy. They have the ability to throw out ammo packs to resupply teammates, and also have access to explosives such as C4 , Claymores, and mortars. An effective support player can help drive the Assault players forward with more ammunition and mortar fire to suppress the enemy.Recon - This class is equipped with long range sniper rifles , in addition to other reconnaissance equipment such as motion sensors and Micro Air Vehicles (MAV). Rifle sway has been added to the game, forcing snipers to actively hold their breath before taking a shot for the best accuracy, and can be augmented with bipods. Quick scoping will be much more inaccurate. An addition to this class is a radio beacon that the player can drop and acts as an additional spawn point for their squadmates to use. In order to counter snipers who lay down in the grass (prone position), a new feature has been added where if the player lays in the grass for too long, a glint will appear on their sniper rifle scope (sun reflection), giving away their position. This forces them to not camp but rather stay on the move.Squads Though DICE decided to remove the chain of command from the game's multiplayer (used in Battlefield 2- A commander and squad leaders), in order to achieve their new design philosophy "Lowering the threshold, making the game easy to play, hard to master", the squad leader position has returned to the game. Every squad consists of four players max (as seen in Bad Company 2), one of whom is the squad leader (the person who created the squad). All squad members can spawn on each other. The squad leader has a star by his name and over his head in-game, indicating that he's a squad leader. Squad leaders are able to set attack/defend orders on objectives which give bonus points to squad members who follow these orders.
Dog Tags Dog Tags return in BF3, though their usage has changed slightly. The tags are collectable by stabbing another player, but can be customized with a variety of different pieces of information, such as a player's total number of kills with assault rifles and so on. Some collectables are also limited in their availability, due to pre-order offers or other promotional items. Certain tags were limited only to certain retailers, such as Amazon, and some tags are given only to those who have registered on the Battlefield Veteran program and verified they have played previous games in the series.
New Additions Suppressive Fire Battlefield 3 features a new multiplayer combat mechanic called Suppressive Fire. When someone takes heavy fire, their vision will become blurred and their accuracy will decrease. A single shot from a sniper rifle will instantly suppress an enemy as it whizzes by their head, due to its size and power.
Bipods Another new mechanic in Battlefield 3 is the ability to use bipods on weapons. This provides added stability for the gun, decreasing kick and recoil, and increasing accuracy. Deploying a sniper rifle on a bipod eliminates scope sway. Bipods can be deployed anywhere while the player is prone or when in front of certain objects, such as a window sill or cement barricade. The Bipod is available for all weapons except for PDWs and shotguns.
Battlelog The game launched with a social networking website called Battlelog , which will serve as the game's only menu and server browser, featuring extensive stat tracking, instant messaging, and an activity feed. Everything you do on the battlefield is shared on your wall amongst your friends, and (like most current social network apps) players can "like", comment, and post messages.
Game Servers Much like past Battlefield titles, Battlefield 3 has strong dedicated server support, where anyone can rent and operate their own server. According to KM Troedsson, Battlefield 3 did not ship with LAN support for security reasons.
Battlefield 3 supports both ranked and unranked servers. Renting a ranked server gives you the restricted freedom to set the game map/mode etc. since Ranked servers will track player progression EAs master servers (much like in past Battlefield games). Whereas renting an unranked server gives the owners/administrators a lot more freedom to do as they will with their servers, allowing them to select specific things such as which weapons are available to players etc. The unranked server option is suited for tournaments because everyone has a level playing field (no ranks/unlocks). You cannot rank up or unlock new weapons on unranked servers.
According to DICE's Mikael Kalms , renting servers is not be available in every country in the world, because the servers will be provided by select Ranked Server Providers (RSPs) around the world. Since Battlefield 3 requires more processor power per player than Bad Company 2, the pricing for server rental is higher for Battlefield 3. Unlike Battlefield 2, players aren't able to create their own servers running on their own machines.
Battlefield Premium As of early June 2012, Battlefield Premium has become available for purchase for all owners of Battlefield 3. For a single one-time fee, players gain access to all of the existing and scheduled-to-launch DLC expansions with a 2 week early access period. In addition, Premium members gain access to exclusive cosmetic in-game items such as unique dogtags, gun and soldier camouflages, and a new type of knife. DICE also announced additional perks for Premium players, such as exclusive strategy guides, videos and Battlefield-themed events such as Double XP Weekends.
Multiplayer Maps Battlefield 3 launched with 9 multiplayer maps, taken from settings in the single player campaign, which are set in France and Iran. All of the game modes are playable on all of the maps.
Map Name Description Image Operation Métro Operation Metro is set in downtown Paris. The battlefields range from spacious parks to the Paris metro station, finally moving up to the streets of Paris. Seine Crossing Seine Crossing is a fairly large map with open roads and tight spaces in between buildings. Caspian Border Caspian Border is a large map littered with plains, hills, and small towns. This map features all the vehicles in Battlefield 3. Caspian Border appeared in the PC beta of the game but was not available on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 version at the time. The map is presumably set in Iran, with four points to capture in Conquest. Operation Firestorm Operation Firestorm is a large map taking place at an oil refinery. Fairly open spaces allow for tank battles with warehouses providing cover for infantry. Grand Bazaar Grand Bazaar is set in one city block of an Iranian city. Periphery roads allow for infantry fight vehicles and jeeps to traverse. The middle of the map consists of narrow alleyways creating choke points. Tehran Highway Tehran Highway is the only night map in the core game, taking place along a stretch of the highway in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The map focuses on blending infantry and vehicular combat. The map is well known due to the relatively easy nature of 'spawn trapping' in Conquest, since the linearity of points A and C to their initial spawns make player movements highly predictable. Kharg Island Kharg Island takes place in and around a seaport. Being a vehicular-based map, tanks and air support will make many appearances. Infantry can take refuge in the few buildings or behind many shipping containers around the objectives. Damavand Peak Damavand Peak takes place in and around a mining operation near an Iranian mountain range. The conquest map is centred around the narrow tunnel creating a choke point. The rush map has one team pushing down the mountain towards the mining area and the tunnel from the conquest map. Noshahr Canals Noshahr Canal begins with the American team on an aircraft carrier, and the Russian team at a gas station during Conquest. Each area of the map is varied in its design, with the teams having to make their way to each of the different points using a variety of vehicles. Jets appear on this map along with the AA gun on the aircraft carrier supposedly only spawning on the PC version of the game. An area of shipping containers makes a shotgun's paradise, with enemies rushing to the next flag becoming prime targets in the urban jungle of the crates.
Weapons, Items & Customization Weapons In Battlefield 3, the weapons are divided into 3 groups:
Class & team exclusive weapons : Weapon exclusivity for the default primary in each class is only fixed until a certain amount of XP is earned using that class. When that amount is earned the other team's initial primary for that class will be available.Class-bound weapons: The unlockable primary weapons of each kit can be used for said kit on both teams, and only those. Universal weapons: The sidearms in the game, as well as a number of unlockable primary weapons, can be used by any team and any kit. Weapon Class Team Description M16A3 Assault USMC Default - Primary M16A4 Assault USMC Unlockable - Primary AK-74M Assault RUS Default - Primary G3 Assault Universal Unlockable - Primary M416 Assault Universal Unlockable - Primary AN94 Assault Universal KH2002 Assault Universal Unlockable - Primary AEK971 Assault Universal Unlockable - Primary F2000 Assault M27 IAR Support USMC Default - Primary RPK-74M Support RUS Default - Primary M249 Support Universal Unlockable - Primary M240 Support Universal Unlockable - Primary Type 88 Support Universal Unlockable - Primary PKP Pecheneg Support Universal Unlockable - Primary PKM Support Universal Unlockable - Primary M60 Support Universal Unlockable - Primary M4A1 Carbine Engineer USMC Default - Primary AKS-74u Engineer RUS Default - Primary G36C Engineer Universal Unlockable - Primary Scar-H CQB Engineer Universal Unlockable - Primary A-91 Engineer Universal Unlockable - Primary SG553LB Engineer Universal Unlockable - Primary MK11 Recon USMC Default - Primary SVD Recon RUS Default - Primary SV-98 Recon Universal Unlockable - Primary M98B Recon Universal Unlockable - Primary M40A5 Recon Universal Unlockable - Primary M82A3 - Single-player onlyRecon N/A N/A M39 Recon Universal Unlockable - Primary SKS Recon Physical Warfare DLC M67 Grenade Universal Universal Frag Grenade M9 Universal Universal Sidearm M1911 - Unlocked via EA Gun Club, Battlefield Veteranship or Physical WarfareUniversal Universal Sidearm .44 Magnum (a scoped version is available to DICE employees)Universal Universal Sidearm Glock 18 Universal Universal Sidearm M93R Universal Universal Sidearm Glock 17 Universal Universal Sidearm Mp-443 Grach Universal Universal Sidearm Sig P226 Universal Universal Sidearm MP7 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary M1014 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary 870MCS Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary USAS-12 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary Saiga 20k Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary DAO-12 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary AS VAL Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary P90 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary UMP .45 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary PP2000 Universal Universal Unlockable - Primary
Weapon Accessories Every primary weapon of every class gets 3 different unlockable add-on slots: Optics, Primary (grip or bipods), Secondary (barrel). After getting a sufficient number of kills with a gun it becomes possible to mount the other team sights upon it. For example, the Russian Kobra Red Dot Sight can be mounted on an American M16A3 rifle and so on.
Add-on Slot Initial Team Weapons Red Dot Sight #1 Optics USMC All (unlock) ACOG 4X #1 Optics USMC All (unlock) PK-AS (Holo) #1 Optics RUS All (unlock) M145 (3.4x) #1 Optics USMC All (unlock) PKS-07 (6x) #1 Optics RUS All (unlock) PSO-1 (4x) #1 Optics RUS All (unlock) 12x Ballistic #1 Optics Both RDS Reflex #1 Optics RUS All (unlock) Kobra #1 Optics RUS All (unlock) Holographic #1 Optics USMC All (unlock) PK - A #1 Optics RUS All (unlock) IRNV #1 Optics Both All (unlock) Rifle Scope (8x) #1 Optics Both Foregrip #2 Primary Both Bipod #2 Primary Both Heavy Barrel #3 Secondary Both Target Pointer #3 Secondary Both Extended Mag #3 Secondary Both Flash Suppressor #3 Secondary Both Tactical Light #3 Secondary Both Straight Pull Bolt #3 Secondary Both
Gadgets Gadgets are the soldier equipment (secondary weapons and/or tools that each class carries)
Class Gadgets Description Universal Combat Knife The main melee weapon, used for frontal stabbing + stealth takedowns Universal M67 Hand Grenade The game's frag hand grenade N/A M18 Smoke Grenade (single-player only) Thrown smoke grenade Assault (Combat) M320 Grenade Launcher: 40mm Grenades Underslung frag grenades (Combat) M320 Grenade Launcher: DART Large sized shots, fires flechette rounds (Combat) M320 Grenade Launcher: Smoke Grenade Underslung smoke grenades (Medic) Defibrillators The medic apparatus used to revive downed teammates (Medic) Medic Kit Thrown medical kits which accelerate teammate's health regeneration Support Ammo Box Thrown box that replenishes teammates' ammo C4 Explosive Remotely-triggered explosive pack M18 Claymore Mines A motion-triggered anti-infantry land mine 60mm Mortars A deployed artillery mortar Engineer SMAW Anti-tank rocket launcher RPG-7V2 Anti-tank rocket launcher M136 AT4 Anti-tank rocket launcher Javelin Anti-air rocket launcher FIM-92 Stinger Anti-air rocket launcher SA - 18 IGLA Anti-air rocket launcher Welding Tool The tool used by the engineer class to repair friendly vehicles M15 Anti-Tank Mine Thrown AT mine that blows up land vehicles EOD Bot A remotely-controlled military robot that repairs friendly vehicles, arms/disarms M-COMS Recon UG Sensors Deployed motion sensor SOFLAM Laser target designator Radio Beacon Deployable squad spawn point MAV Micro Air Vehicle used as a surveillance device
Player Specialization Player specializations are performance-enhancing perks a player can equip. Players can equip one specialization at a time (no multiple perks equipped at the same time). Each specialization has a Squad variant unlocked at later ranks in which the effects from the specialization applies to both you and your squad.
Specialization Description Sprint (SPRNT) Increases sprint speed Extra Ammo (AMMO) Increases the total amount of spare clips Flak Vest (FLAK) Reduces splash damage taken from explosives Extra Explosives (EXPL) Increases the total number of explosives carried Suppression Reduction (COVR) Reduces the effect of incoming suppression (Cancels against SUPR) Suppression (SUPR) Increases the suppressive effect of your weapons (Cancels against COVR) Extra Grenades (FRAG) Increases the total number of grenades carried
Vehicles Vehicle customization screen Battlefield 3 features a large variety of usable vehicles, from tanks to buggies and helicopters to jets. Damage to vehicles has changed; this time the point of impact can decide what passenger(s) has been killed. Vehicle health has also been changed; they can now be immobilized with turrets intact.
This new "vehicle disablement" feature delays the explosion of vehicles, allowing passengers to exit the vehicle and have a chance to fight back. When a vehicle is disabled, it catches fire and its speed is dramatically reduced. The vehicle can still be repaired by an Engineer at this point.
Vehicle perks and points are based on the new vehicles classes. Vehicles will have secondary weapon slots, gadget slots, and upgrade slots. The player can use the vehicle specializations to customize the vehicle to their specifications.
Tanks Vehicle Faction Class Type M1 Abrams U.S. Main Battle Tank T-90 Russian Main Battle Tank
IFV Vehicle Faction Class Type LAV 25 U.S. Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) BMP-2M Russian Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)
Transport Vehicle Faction Class Type Humvee U.S. Light Armored Transport GAZ-3937 Russian Light Armored Transport Growler ITV U.S. Light Utility Transport VDV Buggy Russian Light Utility Transport
Mobile Anti-Air Vehicle Faction Class Type LAV-AD U.S. Mobile Anti-Air (AA) Tunguska 9K22 Russian Mobile Anti-Air (AA)
Helicopters Helicopters in the game will not have auto-stabilization like those in Bad Company 2 (hover mode that disallows maneuvers and agile piloting)
Vehicle Faction Class Type AH-6J U.S. Light Observation Helicopter Z-11W Russian Light Observation Helicopter AH-1Z SuperCobra U.S. Attack Helicopter Mi-28 Havoc Russian Attack Helicopter UH-1Y Venom U.S. Transport/Utility Helicopter Ka-60 Kasatka Russian Transport/Utility Helicopter
Jets Jets have returned to Battlefield 3 after being taken out in the Bad Company series.
Boats Vehicle Faction Class Type Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) Universal Amphibious Personnel Carrier Assault Amphibious Vehicle AAV-7A1 Universal Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier
Vehicle Specializations The game features 80 unlockable vehicle customizations, where players unlock customizations based on the vehicle class they play. Players can have 3 active vehicle perks.
Scout Helicopters Name Description IR Flares Launches flares that deter incoming missiles. Heat Seekers Heatseeking missiles that lock onto enemy aircraft. Stealth Passively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration. Belt Speed Decreases time between bursts of the main weapon. Proximity Scan Shows nearby enemies on the minimap. Air Radar Increases minimap size and shows all aircraft. Extinguisher Extinguishes fires, saving the vehicle from destruction/disablement. Maintenance Improves vehicle self repair time. Guided Missile A missile that locks onto land vehicles. Below Radar Hides the aircraft from enemy anti-air and radar when flying at low altitudes. Laser Painter Automatically laser designates targets in line of sight. ECM Jammer Temporarily protects the aircraft from being locked onto.
Attack Helicopters Name Description IR Flares Launches flares that deter incoming missiles. Heat Seekers Heatseeking missiles that lock onto enemy aircraft. Stealth Passively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration. Belt Speed Decreases time between bursts of the main weapon. Zoom Optics Adds zoom capability. Proximity Scan Shows nearby enemies on the minimap. Air Radar Increases minimap size and shows all aircraft. Guided Missile A missile that locks onto land vehicles. Extinguisher Extinguishes fires, saving the vehicle from destruction/disablement. Maintenance Improves vehicle self repair time. Thermal Optics Adds thermal view capability. Laser Painter Automatically laser designates targets in line of sight. Below Radar Hides the aircraft from enemy anti-air and radar when flying at low altitudes. ECM Jammer Temporarily protects the aircraft from being locked onto. Guided Rocket Increases accuracy and range of the pilot's missiles. TV Missile Adds a missile which, once fired, must be player controlled.
Jets Name Description IR Flares Launches flares that deter incoming missiles. Heat Seekers Heatseeking missiles that lock onto enemy aircraft. Stealth Passively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration. Belt Speed Decreases time between bursts of the main weapon. Proximity Scan Shows nearby enemies on the minimap. Rocket Pods Adds rockets. Air Radar Increases minimap size and shows all aircraft. Extinguisher Extinguishes fires, saving the vehicle from destruction/disablement. Below Radar Hides the aircraft from enemy anti-air and radar when flying at low altitudes. Maintenance Improves vehicle self repair time. Guided Missile A missile that locks onto land vehicles. Beam Scanning Lock on now happens faster when using heatseeker or guided missiles. ECM Jammer Temporarily protects the aircraft from being locked onto.
Anti-Air Name Description IR Smoke Launches a smoke screen that removes locks and spots. Anti-Air Missile Adds anti-air missiles. Belt Speed Decreases time between bursts of the main weapon. Zoom Optics Adds zoom capability. Proximity Scan Shows nearby enemies on the minimap. Thermal Optics Adds thermal view capability. Air Radar Increases minimap size and shows all aircraft. Maintenance Improves vehicle self repair time. Thermal Camo Passively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration. Reactive Armor Adds special armor which decreases damage taken once.
Tanks Name Description IR Smoke Launches a smoke screen that removes locks and spots. Coaxial LMG Adds a light machine gun. Auto-loader Decreases time between main weapon shots. Zoom Optics Adds zoom capability. Maintenance Improves vehicle self repair time. Coaxial HMG Adds a heavy machine gun. Proximity Scan Shows nearby enemies on the minimap. Guided Shell Tank shells now lock onto targets. Thermal Optics Adds thermal view capability. Thermal Camo Passively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration. Canister Shell Main cannon now fires thousands of pellets rather than one shell. Reactive Armor Adds special armor which decreases damage taken once. CITV Station Adds a 3rd position to the tank which laser designates and proximity scans.
Infantry Vehicles Name Description IR Smoke Launches a smoke screen that removes locks and spots. ATGM Launcher Adds guided anti-tank missiles. Belt Speed Decreases time between bursts of the main weapon. Coaxial LMG Adds a light machine gun. Thermal Optics Adds thermal view capability. Proximity Scan Shows nearby enemies on the minimap. Zoom Optics Adds zoom capability. Maintenance Improves vehicle self repair time. APFSDS-T Shell Armor piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (with tracer) shell deals direct damage with no explosion. Thermal Camo Passively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration. Guided Missile A missile that locks onto land vehicles. Reactive Armor Adds special armor which decreases damage taken once.
Player Awards Ribbons & Medals Real military ranks, ribbons and medals returned from Battlefield 2.
As players progress in the game and unlock new weapons and customization items, they also rank up, receive ribbons rewarding them for the different tasks a soldier performs on the battlefield (both weapon usage/combat performance, and helping/supporting their team with teamwork actions), and also giving prestigious medals to the best achievers.
Ranks The game featurse a large amount of military ranks, achieved by players as they progress in the game by gaining XP for teamwork and kills, and unlocking weapons and gadgets.
Insignia Rank Unlocks Points Required Total Points Required 0 Recruit N/A 0 0 1 Private First Class 870MCS 1,000 1,000 2 Private First Class 1 Star Sprint Specialization 7,000 8,000 3 Private First Class 2 Star Woodland Pattern Camouflage 10,000 18,000 4 Private First Class 3 Star G17C 11,000 29,000 5 Lance Corporal Ammo Specialization 12,000 41,000 6 Lance Corporal 1 Star Ranger Camouflage 13,000 54,000 7 Lance Corporal 2 Star PP-2000 13,000 67,000 8 Lance Corporal 3 Star Flak Specialization 14,000 81,000 9 Corporal Army Green Camouflage 15,000 96,000 10 Corporal 1 Star M9 Tactical 15,000 111,000 11 Corporal 2 Star Explosives Specialization 19,000 130,000 12 Corporal 3 Star Expeditionary Force Camouflage 20,000 150,000 13 Sergeant MP433 Tactical 20,000 170,000 14 Sergeant 1 Star Cover Specialization 20,000 190,000 15 Sergeant 2 Star Paratrooper Camouflage 30,000 220,000 16 Sergeant 3 Star UMP-45 30,000 250,000 17 Staff Sergeant Suppressive Specialization 30,000 280,000 18 Staff Sergeant 1 Star Navy Blue Camouflage 30,000 310,000 19 Staff Sergeant 2 Star G17C Suppressed 30,000 340,000 20 Gunnery Sergeant Frag Specialization 30,000 370,000 21 Gunnery Sergeant 1 Star Jungle Pattern Camouflage 30,000 400,000 22 Gunnery Sergeant 2 Star M1014 30,000 430,000 23 Master Sergeant Squad Sprint Specialization 40,000 470,000 24 Master Sergeant 1 Star Desert Khaki Camouflage 40,000 510,000 25 Master Sergeant 2 Star M9 Suppressed 40,000 550,000 26 First Sergeant Squad Ammo Specialization 40,000 590,000 27 First Sergeant 1 Star Urban Pattern Camouflage 40,000 630,000 28 First Sergeant 2 Star MP-443 Suppressed 40,000 670,000 29 Master Gunnery Sergeant Squad Flak Specialization 40,000 710,000 30 Master Gunnery Sergeant 1 Star G18 50,000 760,000 31 Master Gunnery Sergeant 2 Star Squad Explosive Specialization 50,000 810,000 32 Sergeant Major PDW-R 50,000 860,000 33 Sergeant Major 1 Star Squad Suppressive Specialization 50,000 910,000 34 Sergeant Major 2 Star SAIGA 12K 50,000 960,000 35 Warrant Officer 1 Squad Cover Specialization 50,000 1,010,000 36 Chief Warrant Officer 2 .44 Magnum 50,000 1,060,000 37 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Squad Frag Specialization 50,000 1,110,000 38 Chief Warrant Officer 4 DAO-12 55,000 1,165,000 39 Chief Warrant Officer 5 Veteran Package Camouflage 55,000 1,220,000 40 Second Lieutenant P90 60,000 1,289,000 41 First Lieutenant G18 Suppressed 60,000 1,340,000 42 Captain Spec Ops Black Camouflage 60,000 1,400,000 43 Major USAS-12 60,000 1,460,000 44 Lt. Colonel .44 Magnum Scoped 60,000 1,520,000 45 Colonel AS VAL 80,000 1,600,000
Ribbons Category Description Assault Rifle Ribbon Weapons Kill 7 Enemies with Assault Rifles in a Round Shotgun Ribbon Weapons Kill 5 Enemies with Shotguns in a Round Sniper Rifle Ribbon Weapons Kill 7 Enemies with Sniper Rifles in a Round Machine Gun Ribbon Weapons Kill 7 Enemies with Light Machine Guns (LMG) in a Round Carbine Ribbon Weapons Kill 7 Enemies with Carbines in a Round Handgun Ribbon Weapons Kill 4 Enemies with Handguns in a Round Melee Ribbon Weapons Kill 4 Melee Kills in a Round PDW Ribbon Weapons Kill 4 Enemies with Personal Defense Weapons in a Round Combat Efficiency Ribbon Combat Perform 3 Streak Bonuses in a Round Nemesis Ribbon Combat Perform 2 Nemesis Kills in a Round Avenger Ribbon Combat Perform 3 Avenger Kills in a Round Marksman Ribbon Combat Perform 5 Headshots in a Round Disable Vehicle Ribbon Combat Disable 4 Enemy Vehicles in a Round Air Warfare Ribbon Combat Kill 6 Enemies with Air Vehicles in a Round Anti Vehicle Ribbon Combat Destroy 3 Enemy Vehicles in a Round Stationary Emplacement Ribbon Combat Kill 3 Enemies with Emplaced Guns Ground Warfare Ribbon Combat Kill 7 Enemies with Land Vehicles in a Round Anti Explosives Ribbon Combat Destroy 2 Enemy Explosives in a Round Squad Wipe Ribbon Combat Perform 2 Squad Wipe Bonuses in a Round Resupply Efficiency Ribbon Supporting Actions Perform 7 Resupplies in a Round Medical Efficiency Ribbon Supporting Actions Perform 5 Revives in a Round Maintainence Efficiency Ribbon Supporting Actions Perform 7 Repairs in a Round Transport Warfare Ribbon Supporting Actions Kill 5 Enemies with Transport Vehicles in a Round Surveillance Efficiency Ribbon Supporting Actions Perform 5 UAV Spot Assists Suppression Ribbon Supporting Actions Perform 3 Suppressions Squad Spawn Ribbon Teamwork Perform 2 Squad Spawn Bonuses in a Round Ace Squad Ribbon Teamwork Be part of the Best Squad in a Round Savior Ribbon Teamwork Perform 2 Savior Kills in a Round Flag Defender Ribbon Objectives Defend 4 Flags in a Round Flag Attacker Ribbon Objectives Capture 4 Flags in a Round M-COM Defender Ribbon Objectives Defend 4 M-COM Stations in a Round M-COM Attacker Ribbon Objectives Blow Up 3 M-COM Stations in a Round Rush Ribbon Objectives Finish a Rush Round Rush Winner Ribbon Objectives Win a Rush Round Squad Deathmatch Ribbon Objectives Finish a Squad Deathmatch Round Squad Deathmatch Winner Ribbon Objectives Win a Squad Deathmatch Round Squad Rush Ribbon Objectives Finish a Squad Rush Round Squad Rush Winner Ribbon Objectives Win a Squad Rush Round Team Deathmatch Ribbon Objectives Finish a Team Deathmatch Round Team Deathmatch Winner Ribbon Objectives Win a Team Deathmatch Round Conquest Ribbon Objectives Finish a Conquest Round Conquest Winner Ribbon Objectives Win a Conquest Round MVP Ribbon Performance Be the Best Player in a Round MVP 2 Ribbon Performance Be the 2nd Best Player in a Round MVP 3 Ribbon Performance Be the 3rd Best Player in a Round
Medals Medal Category Description Assault Rifle Medal Weapons Obtain the Assault Rifle Ribbon 50 times Light Machine Gun Medal Weapons Obtain the Light Machine Gun (LMG) Ribbon 50 times Sniper Rifle Medal Weapons Obtain the Sniper Rifle Ribbon 30 times Shotgun Medal Weapons Obtain the Shotgun Ribbon 50 times Carbine Medal Weapons Obtain the Carbine Ribbon 50 times PDW Medal Weapons Obtain the Personal Defense Ribbon 30 times Handgun Medal Weapons Obtain the Handgun Ribbon 30 times Melee Medal Weapons Obtain the Melee Ribbon 30 times Claymore Medal Weapons Kill 150 Enemies with the Claymore Laser Designator Medal Weapons Obtain 150 damage assists with the Laser Designator Combat Efficiency Medal Combat Obtain the Combat Efficiency Ribbon 30 times Stationary Emplacement Medal Combat Obtain the Stationary Ribbon 10 times Stationary Service Medal Combat Spend 1 hour in Stationary Weapons Avenger Medal Combat Obtain the Avenger Ribbon 50 times Nemesis Medal Combat Obtain the Nemesis Ribbon 50 times Mortar Medal Combat Kill 150 Enemies with the Mortar Tank Service Medal Combat Spend 10 hours in Tanks Marksman Medal Combat Obtain the Marksmen Ribbon 50 times Ground Warfare Medal Combat Obtain the Armor Warfare Ribbon 30 times Helicopter Service Medal Combat Spend 10 hours in Helicopters Jet Service Medal Combat Spend 10 hours in Jets Air Warfare Medal Combat Obtain the Air Warfare Ribbon 20 times Assault Service Medal Classes Spend 50 hours as Assault Support Service Medal Classes Spend 50 hours as Support Engineer Service Medal Classes Spend 50 hours as Engineer Recon Service Medal Classes Spend 50 hours as Recon Resupply Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Resupply Ribbon 50 times Medical Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Medical Ribbon 50 times Maintainence Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Maintenance Ribbon 30 times Surveilance Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Surveillance Ribbon 50 times Savior Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Savior Ribbon 50 times Transport Warfare Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Transport Warfare Ribbon 10 times Radio Beacon Medal Supporting Actions Obtain 100 spawns on your Radio Beacon Suppression Medal Supporting Actions Obtain the Suppression Ribbon 50 times Flag Defender Medal Objectives Obtain the Flag Defender Ribbon 50 times Flag Attacker Medal Objectives Obtain the Flag Attacker Ribbon 50 times M-COM Defender Medal Objectives Obtain the M-COM Defender Ribbon 50 times M-COM Attacker Medal Objectives Obtain the M-COM Attacker Ribbon 10 times Rush Medal Objectives Obtain the Rush Ribbon 50 times Squad Rush Medal Objectives Obtain the Squad Rush Ribbon 20 times Squad Deathmatch Medal Objectives Obtain the Squad Deathmatch Ribbon 20 times Team Deathmatch Medal Objectives Obtain the Team Deathmatch Ribbon 30 times Conquest Medal Objectives Obtain the Conquest Ribbon 50 times Ace Squad Medal Performance Obtain the Ace Squad Ribbon 50 times US Army Service Medal Performance Spend 100 hours in the USMC RU Army Service Medal Performance Spend 100 hours in the Russians MVP Medal Performance Obtain the MVP Ribbon 30 times 2nd MVP Medal Performance Obtain the 2nd MVP Ribbon 30 times 3rd MVP Medal Performance Obtain the 3rd MVP Ribbon 30 times
Multiplayer Point System Name Description Points Avenger Bonus Kill an enemy shortly after they have killed a team-mate. 10 Headshot Bonus Shoot someone in the head. Simple. 10 Enemy Squad Eliminated Wipe out an enemy squad in quick succession. 10 Squad Spawn on You Have someone in your squad spawn on your location. 10 Spot Bonus Identify an enemy who is killed afterwards by a team-mate. 10 Suppression Assist Fire at an enemy who is then killed by a team-mate. 10 Savior Bonus Save an injured ally from an enemy who would otherwise have killed them. 20 M-COM Attack Kill Kill someone while attacking the M-COM in Rush. 20 M-COM Defense Kill Kill someone while defending the M-COM from the Defenders in Rush. 20 Repair Repair a vehicle being used by an ally. 20 Squad Repair Repair a vehicle being used by an ally in your squad. 30 Comeback Bonus 40 Double Kill Kill two enemies in rapid succession. 40 Suppression Assist 50 Destroy Vehicle Destroy a vehicle occupied by, or soon after it has been vacated by an enemy. 60 Nemesis Kill 60 Killstreak Stopped 70 Enemy Down 100 M-COM Armed 100 M-COM Disarmed 100 Disable Enemy Vehicle 100 Revive Teammate Revive a team-mate who has been killed by the enemy. 100 Squad Revive Revive a team-mate, who is in your squad, who has been killed by the enemy. 120 M-COM Destroyed 200 Destroy Enemy Vehicle 200 Knife Kill 300 Squad Passenger Assist Based on Kill Kill Assist Injure an enemy while a team-mate finishes them off. Based Upon Damage Dealt Squad Kill Assist Injure an enemy while a squad-mate finishes them off. Based Upon Damage Dealt Marksman Bonus Kill an enemy from a long distance with a sniper rifle. Based on Distance
Availability Battlefield 3 boxed version is available at retailers around the world in a variety of editions. The game is available as a digital edition on several digital distribution services, except for Steam .
Premium Edition Released on September 11, 2012, this edition of the game includes membership in Battlefield Premium, which grants access to all 5 expansions. It also includes a "Multiplayer Head Start Kit" which gives players 15 advanced weapons plus additional gadgets, vehicle upgrades, and more.
Limited Edition Limited Edition Includes the full game as well as free access to the Back to Karkand DLC when it released in December 2011. In addition to the Back to Karkand DLC, the Limited Edition pre-order also includes bonus item packages. Those packages were available at select retailers all over the world (each retailer had their own package to offer).
A list of all Limited Edition pre-order bonus packages:
SPECACT Kit Upgrade: A set of 8 multiplayer skins, one for each class and side in Battlefield 3. Dog Tag Pack: A set of 5 unique in-game dog tags to choose from (for more information about Dog Tags, read above) Avatar Battlefield 3 Gear: Battlefield 3 gear for your Xbox 360 avatar Shotgun and Beret for Battlefield Play4Free: An 870S shotgun and a beret for in-game use in the play-for-free title Battlefield Play4Free . This pack could only be acquired by pre-ordering Battlefield 3 Limited Edition from Origin (ODM) Limited Edition: Physical Warfare Pack Physical Warfare Pack Includes the Physical Warfare Pack (PWP), which consists of a set of three time-based exclusive items and one early weapon unlock for Battlefield 3. The items: The Type 88 LMG, a Flash Suppressor for the SKS sniper rifle, Flechette Ammo and an early unlock of the DAO-12 shotgun (returning from Battlefield 2). The pack was available at select retailers all over the world. It was available on day 1 for pre-orders, and 30 days later (November 25th) at no extra charge for non pre-orders.
Steelbook Edition Steelbook Edition The Steelbook edition was originally only announced within Sweden, though this was changed and it was released worldwide. The game comes with all the bonuses of the aforementioned Limited Editions, but with a steelbook case.
Standard Edition Standard Edition Includes the full game only, without any multiplayer bonuses or free DLC.
Downloadable Content There are a total of 5 downloadable content packs for the multiplayer portion of the game. Each is available individually for purchase at $15, or all included in a bundle if a player signs up for Battlefield Premium ($50).
Back To Karkand The Limited Edition of Battlefield 3 included a code for the "Back to Karkand" expansion pack at no extra charge. The expansion pack became available in December 2011 for Limited Edition owners, and became available for purchase one month later for all other players. It is also included for all Premium members as well. The expansion pack features classic weapons, vehicles, and 4 updated maps from Battlefield 2.
New Game Mode
Conquest Assault - Exclusive to Back To Karkand maps, this variant of Conquest brought back from the original Battlefield games has one team that starts with no flags and the other team begins with all of them, which is balanced by having the team with no flags start with significantly more tickets than their opponents.New Maps Name Description Wake Island A remake of the classic Battlefield 1942 map. Attackers can come from the air, or by sea. Once on the island, the multiple roads and different attack options will keep the defenders on their toes. Strike at Karkand Strike at Karkand is a large map built for close quarter combat, and tank battles taking place on the main streets. Gulf of Oman Gulf of Oman is a desert map, with open areas for vehicle combat and urban districts for infantry fighting. Sharqi Peninsula Another map that has a dense urban environment, with tight quarters and multiple firing vantage points.
Close Quarters The second DLC Pack, called Close Quarters, was released in June 2012. It focuses on infantry-only combat featuring 4 new maps, ten new guns, ten new assignments, five new dogtags and two new game modes.
New Game Modes
Conquest Domination - This game mode is very similar to traditional Conquest, with the main difference being that players cannot spawn on flags they control. Rather, they are relegated to spawning on their squadmates or at random points on the map. Also flag capture & ticket bleed rates are significantly faster. Gun Master - Exclusive to Close Quarters maps, this game mod pits two teams of 8 against each other. Every player begins with a low-tier weapon, and every two kills with that weapon, said player advances to the next tier of weaponry. Upon reaching the final tier, the player must get a kill using only the knife. Knifing a player demotes them down a weapon tier.New Maps Name Description Ziba Tower Ziba Tower takes place on top of a skyscraper in the middle of a city and features a central area flanked by numerous rooms with two levels. Donya Fortress Donya Fortress is a fortress that has seen better days. The map features three levels, including an underground tunnel that goes through the central plaza. Operation 925 Operation 925 is a large office building featuring many office spaces and an underground parking garage filled with vehicles ready to explode when shot. Scrapmetal Scrapmetal takes place in two industrial buildings connected by walkways and covered in pipes and concrete walls.
Armored Kill The third DLC pack called Armored Kill provides 4 extremely large new maps that have a focus on vehicular combat. It also contains new weapons, vehicles, assignments, and a new game mode called Tank Superiority. It was released in September 2012.
New Game Mode
Tank Superiority - Exclusive to the Armored Kill expansion maps, this game mode is essentially Conquest, except with only one flag to attack. Also, there is no cooldown on vehicle respawns; as soon as one is destroyed another immediately appears back in the player spawn area so they can get back into the action quickly.New Maps Map Description Alborz Mountain A snowy mountain range with high towers and narrow valleys. Bandar Desert Billed as "The Largest Map in Battlefield History," this is a large open desert map. Death Valley A moonlit valley. Armored Shield Set in the outskirts of Sanoy, Russia, this is a large open grassy field.
Aftermath The fourth piece of DLC is called aftermath, and takes place in an Iranian city immediately following a devastating earthquake that has completely destroyed the surroundings. It features 4 new maps, vehicles, assignments, and a new game mode. It also introduces the new crossbow weapon. It was first released to Premium members on PS3 November 27th, 2012, and to other platforms throughout the following weeks in December 2012.
New Game Mode
Scavenger - Another twist on the Conquest game mode, this time players start the game as lost & disoriented soldiers immediately following an earthquake, and start the round equipped with only a knife, a grenade, and their sidearm. Ammo is extremely scarce, and players must search the environment for more powerful weapons and take control of flags to win the game.New Maps Map Description Azadi Palace A tourist hotspot destroyed. Epicenter A post-earthquake city with a close urban environment. Markaz Monolith An under construction developing city center destroyed by earthquakes. Talah Market A dense market place with close quarters.
End Game The 5th and final piece of DLC is titled End Game, and was released in March 2013. It contains 4 new maps that are designed for high speed vehicles and combat. It introduces the dirt bike , the most agile vehicle in the game, and a new "dropship," which can rapidly parachute Infantry Fighting Vehicles down into the battlefield. Players can also choose to paradrop themselves from the dropship.
New Game Modes
Capture The Flag - Traditional CTF mode where each team tries to capture the enemy flag and return it back to their home base. The flag can only be captured if the team's own flag is at the base as well.Air Superiority - Only jet's are allowed in this conquest style mode. Team's battle over zeppelin control points in the sky. New Maps Map Description Operation Riverside Autumn-themed map with a river running through numerous electrical sub-stations Salaban Pipeline A snowy oil refinery with a large overhead pipeline. Kiasar Railroad A logging camp and a railroad. Nebandan Flats A wide open prairie wind farm.
Battlefield 3: The Russian Cover for The Russian Media consultant and ex-SAS Operator-turned novelist Andy McNab , who wrote books such as "Bravo Two Zero" and "Immediate Action", co-wrote a 400-page novel entitled "Battlefield 3: The Russian" with author Peter Grimsdale, and with the assistance of DICE executive producer Patrick Bach .
The book tells the story of RU Special Forces operator Dmitri "Dima" Mayakovsky, aka The Cleaner, one of the playable characters in the game, in the events taking place after the events of the game. The book paints a picture of that legendary and pragmatic soldier struggling to do whatever it takes to keep himself, and his platoon, alive.
The book was published by Orion Publishing in Europe and Grand Central Publishing in North America, and was released alongside the game on October 25th for the price of 10$. It is available for purchase on several online stores including Amazon.com .
Soundtrack The official Battlefield 3 soundtrack was released October 24, 2011. It was composed by Johan Skugge & Jukka Rintamaki.
1. Battlefield 3 Main Theme 1:56 2. Thunder Run 2:51 3. The Red Wire 0:32 4. Solomon's Theme 2:51 5. Spark 0:43 6. Frostbite 0:49 7. The Death of Vladimir 2:16 8. Fire From the Sky 3:06 9. Kaffarov's Villa 1:05 10. Operation Metro 2:03 11. La Bourse 0:53 12. Tremors 2:03 13. Choked 2:14 14. Black Gold 1:23 15. The Great Destroyer 2:22 16. Hunter's Point 0:54 17. Brawl 0:47 18. Interrogating Blackburn 6:39 19. Battlefield 3 Dark Theme 0:32
Multiplayer Alpha and Beta Alpha Trial Official ALPHA TRIAL homepage On July 20th, DICE launched an Alpha Trial for players at home to download and play, in order to test and debug the game. The trial runs on the same software used for the E3 2011 showcase floor demo, and on the same map (Operation Metro 32-player Rush).
Several waves of trial invitations were sent out in the weeks that followed. In order to be eligible to receive an invitation, the player has to subscribe to the EA newsletter , Battlefield 3 newsletter and have a Battlefield Veteran Status Rank.
Many Alpha participants broke the NDA agreement by capturing footage of the game and uploading it to YouTube, resulting in YouTube channel bans, and one EA lawsuit.
Alpha Trial Recommended System Requirements for PC:
OS: Windows 7 or Vista (SP1) Installed: Origin CPU: Quadcore @ 2.0 GHz or faster RAM: 4 GB or more Hard Drive: 7.25 GB free disk space Video: 512 MB or greater DirectX 10 or 11 compatible card with latest drivers (AMD 11.5 or later, nVidia 275.33 or later) Sound: DirectX 10 or 11 compatible card Internet: broadband connection Note that these do not necessarily represent the requirements for the final game.
Multiplayer Beta The beta started on September 29th and ended on October 10th, and was available on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Early beta access (48 hours) was available for those who pre-ordered the limited versions of Medal of Honor . The stipulation, however, was that the invite was only valid if the beta was opened within 12 months of MOH's release. Pre-orders on Origin got the same early access.
The beta was on the same map used in the Alpha Trial, Operation Metro, on the same game mode, Rush. Late in the beta Caspian Border was unlocked.
Reception Battlefield 3's PC version received favorable reviews at launch, as most reviewers praised the multiplayer aspect of the game, while criticizing the single player for being too linear and dull. However, critics were harsher on the console version of the game and cited multiple graphical & matchmaking bugs as deterrents to the multiplayer experience.
EA's Review Code Controversy EA's policy of sending review codes & copies only to selective press outlets caught flak from the gaming media and was criticized for trying to tilt the game's reception at launch.
Origin Privacy Controversy According to German radio station 1live the intrusive Origin service has once again broken federal laws by supposedly acting in many ways like spyware. Being required by EA to play the game as a countermeasure to piracy, Origin scans hard- and software and is able to log IP addresses and thereby identifying Gamers on a personal level. Because it also requires login via real names, Thomas Schwenke, entertainment lawyer, claims that EA has overstepped several German privacy laws and can be traded in with a statement of that fact. The data protection office of the state of Northrhine-Westphalia is also said to be investigating Battlefield 3's terms of use. To be safe, the author concludes, it is recommended to try playing one of the console ports instead; a poor substitute most likely.
PC System Requirements Minimum Recommended OS: Windows Vista (SP2) 32-bit PROCESSOR: 2 GHz dual core (Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz OR Athlon X2 2.7 GHz) MEMORY: 2 GB HARD DRIVE: 20 GB GRAPHICS CARD (AMD): DirectX 10.1 compatible with 512 MB RAM (ATI Radeon 3000, 4000, 5000 or 6000 series, with ATI Radeon 3870 or higher performance) GRAPHICS CARD (NVIDIA): DirectX 10.0 compatible with 512 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce 8, 9, 200, 300, 400 or 500 series with Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT or higher performance) SOUND CARD: DirectX compatible OS: Windows 7 64-bit PROCESSOR: Quad-core CPU MEMORY: 4 GB HARD DRIVE: 20 GB GRAPHICS CARD: DirectX 11 compatible with 1024 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950) SOUND CARD: DirectX compatible
Xbox 360 HDD Install Requirement Disc 1 of Battlefield 3 requires 7.3 GB to install on the Xbox 360's HDD, and Disc 2 requires 6.7 GB. The additional "HD-Texture Pack" which can be installed from Disc 1 requires 1.5 GB.
Online Pass An Online Pass (which comes with the game when purchased new) is required to play any multiplayer modes on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.
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