Battlefield 4 is almost upon us and up to this day, some questions are still left unanswered when it comes…
Battlefield 4 is almost upon us and up to this day, some questions are still left unanswered when it comes to DICE’s upcoming blockbuster shooter.
While BF4 info has not been scarce at all, we thought it best to talk directly to DICE General Manager (GM) and head honcho Karl Magnus Troedsson to try and answer some of the nagging questions we still have. Questions such as: will there be free maps and modes in BF4 just like it was in Bad Company 2? Or what resolution are they aiming for when it comes to BF4 on next-gen platforms?
Pixel Enemy (PE): There’s recently been a furor over what resolution BF4 will be on next-gen platforms. Can you state once and for all, if BF4 for PS4/Xbox One will run at 1080p? If not, what resolution are you guys shooting for since we’re about a month from release?
Karl Magnus Troeddson (KM): We always evaluate what is the best quality & performance tradeoff for each platform and make decisions for graphical quality and resolution accordingly. With the power of Frostbite 3, not only will Battlefield 4 looks fantastic on Xbox One and PS4, but it will also deliver the all-out-warfare experience our fans have come to expect from DICE. And don’t forget, for the first time ever on next-gen consoles Battlefield 4 will support 64 player matches all running at 60fps. Combine that with intense Levolution moments both big and small and the return of Commander Mode and you have the best looking, deepest, and most fun Battlefield experience ever on console.
PE: For the first time in the series, micro-transactions will make its way into the game with Battlepacks. Will they offer only cosmetic items (dog tags, emblems, camos, knife variants, etc.) or will people be able to unlock scopes, guns, abilities and other items?
KM: Battlepacks are something you earn in-game by playing the game and add an all-new layer of persistence and an element of chance to progression in Battlefield 4. The Battlepacks contain random items such as new camos, dog tags, knives, XP boost or gun attachments. All of these things are designed to let you add a little flavor and customization to your character. Everything in a Battlepack is something that can be unlocked by playing the game, you just might get it a little quicker with a Battlepack.
PE: EA has announced that BF3 Premium now has over 4 million members, and needless to say, has been a huge success for DICE. Does this put an end to “free” maps and modes like in Bad Company 2 or is DICE open to dishing out more free content?
KM: Battlefield 3 Premium was a huge success, and we’re excited about what we are delivering with Battlefield 4 Premium. Through Battlefield 4 Premium we will be delivering free content on a weekly basis in the form of assignments, challenges and more. Whether or not this may occasionally include a new map or mode you’ll just have to wait and see.
PE: Seeing as BF4 is about a month away from hitting retail, will there be a day one patch? Or does this depend on how people react to the beta?
KM: The reason we do a beta is so that we can test servers, our net code, troubleshoot latency, balance; a ton of things. We then take all that feedback and decide what the priorities are and work to address those before launch, which is usually through the day one update. Ultimately, the day one update is making the game a better experience for our fans. In addition to that, we will continue to support the game after release with more updates from the beta and launch to make the game better and more fun for all our fans.
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We’d like to thank EA and Karl Magnus Troedsson for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions.
Battlefield 4 is set to shoot its way out on October 29 for PC and current-gen platforms, while the next-gen versions will be out in November.