The Guildford-based studio will join the Wargaming UK office
World of Tanks developer and publisher, Wargaming, has acquired Edge Case Games Ltd. The studio was founded in 2014 and developed award-winning Fractured Space which went live in 2016.
The studio, comprised of 32 people, will become part of the recently opened Wargaming UK office also based in Guildford and will work together on an unannounced MMO project.
“We are very excited to become part of the world-renowned Wargaming, creating an expanding studio in Guildford,” states James Brooksby, CEO of Edge Case Games. “We have built a great team with lots of relevant experience, who can’t wait to get their teeth into starting work on a big new ambitious game backed by the might of Wargaming.”
By acquiring Edge Case Games, Wargaming is strengthening its position in the UK by bolstering its newest office with a studio well-versed in the free-to-play sphere and the Unreal Engine.
“We’re happy to welcome Edge Case Games to the Wargaming family,” states Sean Decker, Product Director, Wargaming UK. “They’re a talented team and with their free-to-play expertise, we know they will be a perfect fit for Wargaming and our as of now unannounced project. We are also looking to expand the UK team, across all disciplines.”
Having recently opened its doors, the Guildford-based Wargaming office is still looking for a wide range of additional, passionate talent, to help its growth. You can find all the available career listings here https://wargaming.com/en/careers?office=403#jobs_list.
About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Founded in 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4000+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.
The company’s dedicated unit, Wargaming Mobile, is forging collaborations to deliver new mobile experiences alongside their in-house game development.
COMMAND & CONQUER: RIVALS LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE, BRINGS COMPETITVE REAL-TIME STRATEGY EXCITEMENT TO MOBILE
Dominate the Leaderboards with Skill and Strategy in Quick, Fast-Paced Battles
Australia – Dec. 5, 2018 – Commanders, the war for Tiberium is here! Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) officially launched Command & Conquer™: Rivals, a fast-paced, real-time strategy (RTS) action game for Android and iOS devices worldwide. Built from the ground up specifically for mobile, Command & Conquer: Rivals offers innovative player versus player (PVP) gameplay, with intuitive controls that enable players to focus their efforts on strategy and skill as they face off in intense 1v1 battles.
“Over the past few months, we’ve made the world talk about Command & Conquer more and it has been really exciting to see,” said Michael Martinez, General Manager of Redwood Studios. “We’ve been playing Rivals every day with our community, working with them to make it as fun and balanced as it can be. Our goal was to bring something new to mobile players who play RTS games, giving them full control of their every move, to bring out their true competitive skill.”
In Command & Conquer: Rivals, players must lead their faction to victory, choosing between the hi-tech Global Defense Initiative or the faster-paced Brotherhood of Nod factions. It’s supreme Colonel Jackson vs the fan-favorite Kane. True to the iconic RTS series, planning and tactical execution are keys to winning. Moves are quick and frenetic, and each match requires a unique approach where players must create their best combination of infantry, tanks, aircraft, and behemoths in order to defend and out-maneuver an opponent.
Competition is at the heart of this game with Rivals Champions, an exclusive in-game weekend event available at launch. In Rivals Champions, players of all skill levels can compete in a unique matchmaking pool with different ranked tiers, and the better a player performs, the bigger the rewards. Next year, EA’s competitive gaming roster will expand with Command & Conquer: Rivals. Rivals Champions, modeled after the immensely popular FIFA Ultimate Team Champions in FIFA, is the signature competitive experience where the development team will work with the community to launch a multi-continent esports program in 2019.
Command & Conquer: Rivals is available to download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information and to stay up to date on the latest news, visit www.cncrivals.com or check out the game on Twitter, Discord and Reddit.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.
In fiscal year 2018, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.15 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognised for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
Command & Conquer, Maxis, EA SPORTS, Battlefield, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
ASSASSIN’S CREED® ODYSSEY LEGACY OF THE FIRST BLADE, EPISODE 1, NOW AVAILABLE
Meet Darius the Legendary Owner of the Assassin’s Creed Hidden Blade in the First Episode of the New Episodic Post-Launch Story Arc
Sydney, Australia — December 5, 2018 — Today, Ubisoft announced that the first episode, Hunted, of the first post-launch story arc of Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey, Legacy of the First Blade is now available across all available platforms. The first episode introduces new elements and features to Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey along with the beginning of a new epic story where they encounter Darius, the legendary first user of the iconic Assassin’s Hidden Blade. Legacy of the First Blade is part of the Season Pass of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
In Hunted, the first episode of Legacy of the First Blade, players will meet Darius, a mysterious warrior who fights with the iconic hidden blade. Darius is a legend from the Assassin’s Creed lore whose tomb appeared in Assassin’s Creed 2. In Hunted, players will learn about a new threat: the Order of the Ancients, a secret Persian organization that will pose a deadly threat to our hero.
Each of the three episodes of Legacy of the First Blade will feature a new ability linked to each branch of the skill tree, Hunter, Warrior and Assassin. In Hunted, the first episode, players will discover Death Veil, a new Assassin Ability. Using Death Veil will cause the bodies of assassinated enemies to immediately disappear, which makes this new ability perfect for a stealth approach. In addition, new legendary gear and weapons will be available to help players face the new threat.
To have access to the first episode Hunted from Legacy of the First Blade, players must have completed the Naxos questline in Episode 7 of the main story of the game and reached character level 28 or above.
The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey post-launch plan is the biggest and most ambitious in the franchise, and the launch of Legacy of the First Blade marked just the beginning for players who wish to progress further with new content in Ancient Greece. Season Pass owners will access two major episodic storylines, Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis. Players can dive into new episodes as they premiere, or experience the epic adventures in their entirety once all episodes are available. The Season Pass also includes Assassin’s Creed® III Remastered and Assassin’s Creed® Liberation Remastered, two major milestones of the Assassin’s Creed franchise history, which will be released in March 2019.
For more information on Assassin’s Creed, please visit: assassinscreed.com.
For the latest on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and all of Ubisoft’s games, visit Ubisoft News: https://news.ubisoft.com
ABOUT UBISOFT Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! Funks Up Earth March 1
Jamming Out on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 5 December 2018 – ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove!, the upcoming fourth entry of the beloved, funkadelic action roguelike series from HumaNature Studios, helmed by original co-creator Greg Johnson, puts the “fun” in funky on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on Friday, 1 March.
The iconic ‘90s alien duo is back. ToeJam and Earl, hoping to impress Latisha and Lewanda, have…”borrowed” the Rapmaster Rocket. One black hole-related accident later, they are back on the floating remnants of Earth, scrambling to pick up the pieces of their ship before their home planet of Funkotron notices anything missing.
Hidden throughout the procedurally-generated levels are presents with random effects that help the duo find their ship parts. Rocket skates, Icarus Wings, Boomboxes and more than 60 other presents make each run feel fresh. Characters and unlockable hats that offer awesome hidden powers persist across playthroughs so there’s more to strive for beyond getting back home.
You would think a three-legged alien in dope threads would be the weirdest thing on the planet, but Earthlings give ToeJam and Earl a run for their money. Sneak around humans like the Hula-Girl so you don’t get hypnotized into shaking your hips, leaving you vulnerable to attacks. Over 50 Earthlings ranging from King Tut, armies of chickens and Internet Trolls roam around each level, so get to know which are friends and which are foe.
Back in the Groove!’s got all the classic moments which made the series a staple of ‘90s gaming with modern improvements like online play, all in a nostalgic underground comic style.
Up to four friends can play together through online multiplayer and choose from nine characters — some blasts-from-the-past, some new and funky fresh. Each character has their own stats and special abilities. Console players can enjoy couch co-op with two players total, while PC will enable local co-op accommodating four players.
Minigames keep ToeJam and Earl on their toes. The side-scrolling HyperFunk Zone from Panic on Funkotron is back so players can earn extra presents and cash. Feeling the beat? Jump into a rhythm-based dance-off. Get ready to jam out with your homies to more than 30 groovy tunes, including classic remixes from the original games.
“ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! is what I’ve been wanting to do for the series for over 20 years,” said Greg Johnson, founder of HumaNature Studios. “We’ve included pretty much all of the original ‘old skool’ characters and presents, and we have a TRUCKLOAD of new surprises, many of them fan-inspired. I think we’ve captured the spirit of the original game, as well as a lot of what people loved about game two. I think this is what our fans have been waiting for. I can’t wait to see what they think!”
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! will be available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Latin America), and Brazilian Portuguese for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC for $19.99 USD on February 5.
About HumaNature Studios Founded in 2006 by veteran game designer Greg Johnson, the studio is the creator behind Doki Doki Universe and aims to build charming and playful games that appeal to non-gamers and help people connect with others in expressive and creative ways.
TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX® SIEGE OPERATION WIND BASTION IS NOW AVAILABLE
Discover two new Operators as well as the Moroccan mountains in the all-new Fortress map in Year 3 Season 4
SYDNEY, Australia — December 5th, 2018 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Operation Wind Bastion, the fourth and last season of Year 3 of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege, including two new Operators and the new Fortress map, is now available for PC, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. Year 3 pass owners can now play Operation Wind Bastion’s two new Operators, Nomad and Kaid. All other players will be able to unlock these Operators starting December 11th using Renown or R6 Credits. The all-new Fortress map and new content improvements are now available for free to all players.
New Content of Year 3 Season 4 Available Today
In Operation Wind Bastion, players will meet two new Operators:
Nomad, a Moroccan Attacker, packs quite a punch thanks to her Airjab launcher. Airjabs are sticky, proximity-triggered air blast grenades that allow Nomad to shove Operators back and throw them to the ground.
Kaid is a Moroccan Defender that serves as a powerful counter to hard breachers. Kaid uses his Rtila electroclaw to electrify all metallic objects in proximity: reinforced walls, barbed wire, deployable shields.
In addition, players will discover the Moroccan mountains in the new Fortress map, which functions as both a military training facility and Kaid’s home. Inspired by the iconic architecture from the southern region of Morocco, Fortress features solid rotation between floors, an accessible roof, and many dangerous lines of sight and flanking routes.
Year 3 Season 4 Major Update Implementation
In addition to this new content, Operation Wind Bastion will include a major update on the following features:
A redesigned in-game shop to improve the user experience. For example, the shop will feature a new full screen view for weapons, a new light theme, and the possibility for players to browse left and right within a category, among many other changes.
Updated throw curves to make throwable gadgets easier and more comfortable to use. All throwables now use this new curve except for the Nitro Cell, which will be classified in a different category defined as “heavy throw.”
An optional Area of Effect feature for Kaid and Nomad that is designed to help new players better understand the area of effect when deploying a gadget. This will only be visible for the Operator placing the gadget. This feature can be disabled in the game’s settings.
Finally, in addition to gameplay and technical fixes, players can expect playlist changes to the Ranked Map pool and Casual Map pool.
New Pro League Team BDU and Headgear
With Operation Wind Bastion, players can now acquire a matching BDU and Headgear to deck out a specific Operator from head to toe in support of their favourite Pro League team.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege has partnered with eleven Pro League teams to introduce revenue sharing as a model to fund the Six Invitational prize pool and to encourage the stability and growth of the Pro League scene: 30 percent of the revenue from Pro Team BDU and Headgear sales will go to the organisations that are a part of the program.
About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Inspired by real-world counter-terrorist organisations, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of lethal close-quarter confrontations. For the first time in a Rainbow Six game, players will engage in sieges, a new style of assault where enemies have the means to transform their environments into modern strongholds while Rainbow Six teams lead the assault to breach the enemy’s position. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege gives players unprecedented control over their ability to fortify their position by reinforcing walls and floors, using barbed wire and deployable shields, laying mines and more, or to breach the enemies’ position using observation drones, setting charges, rappelling and more. The fast pace and uniqueness of each siege sets a new bar for intense firefights, strategic gameplay and competitive gaming.
ABOUT UBISOFT Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.
SYDNEY, 5th DECEMBER 2018 –JUST CAUSE 4, the pivotal new entry in the highly successful action-sandbox series, developed by AVALANCHE STUDIOS, is out now for Xbox One, PC and PS4.
The JUST CAUSE 4 Launch Trailer can be found here:
Set in the fictional South American world of Solis,JUST CAUSE 4takes the series incredible destruction and unique physics to a whole new level with the introduction of tornadoes and other Extreme Weather events. JUST CAUSE 4 has four distinct biomes: Rainforest, Grasslands, Alpine & Desert. With each biome offering its own individual, fully simulated weather event, players will have a truly unique experience as they traverse this deep, diverse world.
Rico Rodriguez returns in JUST CAUSE 4 with his trademark parachute, wingsuit and, of course his grapple hook, now enhanced with new functionality and fully customisable. Making it the most powerful and creative tool the player has ever had.
The new Apex engine underpins everything in JUST CAUSE 4. It delivers the most interactive, extreme weather simulations ever seen in a videogame, complimented by incredible visuals, unparalleled physics and endless creative possibilities.
Avalanche Studios and Square Enix announced Just Cause 4is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. Rico’s latest escapade takes him to the fictional South American country of Solis. Rico has heard rumours about his father’s connection to Solis, so he’s putting back on the grappling hook to face off with the Black Hand and anyone else who will stand in his way.
Just Cause 4 is the first game running on Avalanche’s new Apex engine, offering improved visuals, physics, and weather effects. Players will experience everything the Apex engine has to offer with Solis’ four biomes: rain forest, grasslands, alpine, and desert.
Just Cause 4 is launching with three editions: Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Gold Edition. Digital Deluxe Edition comes withe The Black Hand Stealth Micro Jet and SkyStriker Wingsuit. The Gold Edition comes with all the content in the Digital Deluxe Edition, the Expansion Pass, and the “Golden Gear Pack” DLC.
To celebrate the launch, Avalanche Studios and Square Enix have released the Just Cause 4 launch trailer.
UBISOFT BRINGS ASSASSIN’S CREED® TO LIFE THROUGH AN IMMMERSIVE SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE
Relive the Greatest Moments of Assassin’s Creed with the Assassin’s Creed® Symphony, Touring North America and Europe Starting June 2019
Sydney, Australia — December 4, 2018 – Ubisoft announced the first worldwide tour dates for the Assassin’s Creed® Symphony, opening at Hollywood’s acclaimed Dolby Theater on June 11, 2019. The world premiere coincides with one of the biggest video game industry events, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.
Assassin’s Creed Symphony is the ultimate fan experience, fusing the powerful sounds of a full symphony orchestra and choir with a ground-breaking, immersive 3D concert. This two-hour show will present the music, characters and stories at the core of Assassin’s Creed®, allowing fans to relive the most memorable moments from the series with music from talented composers including Jesper Kyd, Lorne Balfe, Brian Tyler, Austin Wintory, Sarah Schachner, Winifred Philipps, Elitsa Alexandrova, Chris Tilton, Ryan Amon and The Flight.
“We’re excited to partner with MGP Live to offer Assassin’s Creed fans a brand new experience to celebrate the series they have enjoyed playing over the last decade,” said Hinde Daoui, Live Entertainment producer, Ubisoft. “It’s always a pleasure to work with other entertainment industry leaders such as MGP Live who have a successful track record in introducing symphonic music to new audiences while bringing the sights and sounds of internationally renowned entertainment brands to life.”
“We are honored to partner with Ubisoft on this innovative multimedia project. We are approaching this production with passion and a sense of mission,” said Massimo Gallotta, CEO of MGP Live. “Our aim is to create concerts for all generations and let the power of music, which speaks every language, talk to the heart of gamers. We immediately felt Assassin’s Creed had the potential for a unique symphonic experience because of the diverse cultural influences in its iconic soundtrack. We love that this concert is opening up symphonic music to a new generation of fans.”
Following the world premiere in Los Angeles, the tour will visit the Palais des Congrès in Paris (June 29), Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco (August 3), Place des Arts in Montréal (September 27), Eventim Apollo in London (October 5) and Teatro Arcimboldi in Milan (October 6).
Pre-sale tickets are available starting December 7 for Ubisoft Club Members and will go on sale to the public December 10 at 10am (local time).
For more information on the Assassin’s Creed Symphony, visit ACSymphony.com.
About MGP Live MGP Live is an international entertainment company based in NYC specialized in promoting concerts, cultural and special events. For over 30 years Massimo Gallotta, Founder and CEO of MGP Live, has been a leading promoter on the Italian and international music scene. Some of the artists MGP Live worked with include Academy Award and Grammy winning composer Ennio Morricone, Frank Sinatra, Joe Cocker, Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Roberto Benigni, Pino Daniele, The Legend of Zelda Symphony Tour and Distant World: music from Final Fantasy. To learn more, please visit: www.mgplive.com
About Ubisoft Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017-18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Reveals 2019 Release Date and Extended Gameplay Trailer at Mech_Con 2018
Battle Trailer Offers Fresh Perspective of Exhilarating Mech Warfare Awaiting Pilots
VANCOUVER – Dec. 3, 2018 – MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, the series’ first dedicated single-player entry in the classic PC gaming series in more than 15 years, has locked onto a Sept. 10, 2019 launch on PC, developer Piranha Games announced tonight at Mech_Con 2018.
Revealed live on stage in front of some of the world’s most dedicated MechWarrior fans at the fourth annual Mech_Con, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries’ release date was announced with a new gameplay trailer showing off the explosive high-stakes battles and decisions pilots will face when they take control of their own mercenary unit on launch day.
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will allow pilots to build, manage and guide their own mercenary unit through a multi-year campaign during the sprawling Third and Fourth Succession Wars. Whether braving missions alone, alongside AI-controlled pilots, or with the help of up to three friends via co-op play, players will face complicated situations with no perfect solution as they choose which contracts to accept, where in the galaxy to direct their attention, and how to balance repairs or upgrades with maintaining their unit’s precious resources.
Mech_Con is an annual celebration of the MechWarrior universe, as well as the world of BattleTech, which gathers the MechWarrior community’s most dedicated pilots in Vancouver. Now a two-day event as of Mech_Con 2018, attendees are treated to a full schedule of live presentations, developer Q&As, and hands-on demo opportunities for the latest MechWarrior titles, as well as front-row seats for the final matches of the 2018 MechWarrior Online World Championships.
“Getting to meet with MechWarrior’s most diehard fans and see them react to the team’s hard work at Mech_Con has become an incredible tradition for us,” said Russ Bullock, president of Piranha Games. “The team has put so much work and passion into our mission to bring MechWarrior back into the spotlight, and seeing our excitement for what’s still to come for this classic series reverberate with the community in the room tonight was incredible.”
DICE and EA are taking Battlefield V back to World War II where the franchise first started. While the setting is the same, Battlefield V is taking a decidedly more modern approach to World War II, carrying over a lot of features from Battlefield 1 and adding some new features to encourage teamplay. The game ships with three singleplayer War Stories and eight multiplayer maps.
Story
There’s a good reason why the video game industry moved on from World War 2 in the early 2000s. It was overdone, and games were quickly boiling down to the same rehashed tale about Normandy with a few stories about the eastern front thrown in for good measure. Battlefield V’s writers are opting to explore stories mainstream pop culture passed over, those of criminals, resistance fighters, and colonial armies. Whether you want to call it mining the dusty corners of history for fresh content or some social justice agenda, the topics are a lot more interesting than reliving D-Day for the thirtieth time.
War Stories ships with three short stories following the Special Boat Service during Operation Albumen, the Norwegian resistance looking to sabotage the German nuclear weapons program, and the Senegalese Tirailleurs during Operation Dragoon. Each story can be completed in about an hour, so there isn’t much time for deep storytelling. It’s hard to develop strong characters in that period, so each War Story feels more like a sample bite at the local grocery store in hopes you’ll look into the full product on your own time. While a fourth War Story is scheduled to launch on December 4th, Battlefield V is still woefully short of a full singleplayer campaign.
Grand Operations are multi-stage multiplayer maps that follows major battles. I like the fact they offer a little bit of history and context to the map. While the match outcomes don’t change history, it’s nice to see each round’s briefing react to the outcome of the previous round.
Gameplay
Battlefield V launches with the singleplayer War Stories and the normal multiplayer modes. The singleplayer campaign is showing its age. The mechanics feel like they have not changed much since Battlefield: Hardline. The stealth system is basic and feels clunky compared to modern systems. The AI is spotty and unpredictable. At times they know exactly where a supressed shot is coming from and swarm the player like angry hornets, other times they seem to be deaf to a shot ricocheting off a metal surface a few meters away. Considering there is only three to five hours of content right now, Battlefield V is definitely not worth the purchase for those interested only in singleplayer content.
Multiplayer is traditionally the main event for Battlefield titles, and even more so in the case for Battlefield V with its anemic singleplayer offerings. The game ships with the classic multiplayer modes we have become familiar with over the years, such as conquest and domination. These modes have aged well and continue to be a solid mainstay for players.
DICE is still tinkering with the much younger operations mode. This year brings a mode that is less vehicle focused than conquest but not a pure infantry experience like team deathmatch. Instead, DICE has taken some inspiration from last year’s Star Wars Battlefront II where vehicles and support abilities are summoned with points earned through the course of the match. The mode is a lot of fun, especially for players who are interested in strong teamplay.
I like the rejigged class system. DICE sticks with four classes but offers subspecialties for players who are looking to play the class with an emphasis on assault or support. While it’s impossible to force all players to stay with their squad and work as a team, giving all classes a chance to slowly revive squad members seems help. I really like the capped health regeneration as it gives medics a bigger role in the fight.
Balancing is still a work in progress. While the struggles of balancing air power have been ongoing since the birth of the Battlefield franchise, Battlefield V still hasn’t hit the sweet spot. December 4th is bringing a patch to nerf the KE7 and buff SMGs, which are steps in the right direction.
There has been controversy about Battlefield V, historical accuracy, and realism; especially in relation to the game’s cosmetics and marketing strategy. DICE has opted to fund the development of free gameplay content through cosmetics. A post-launch DLC plan that doesn’t split the player base makes the game’s cosmetic heavy strategy an easier pill to swallow. Personally, the some of cosmetics would feel out of place in a hyper-realistic shooter, but I don’t really consider Battlefield V a realistic World War II shooter in the first place. The game is very liberal with the use of unrealistic weapon mods like reflex sights and fully automatic weapons. Practically speaking, Battlefield V is a modern shooter with a World War II skin.
I think the pitfall of Battlefield V is the fact it feels rushed out the door. Considering the game isn’t a huge change from Battlefield 1, Battlefield V is a bit short on content. I get that Battlefield V is part of the new trend of video games as a service and that more free content is coming in the months ahead, but the game didn’t ship with the much-needed practice range, there is only three short War Stories, and Grand Operations is only an ad in the menus. On the server front, there’s no server rentals available for communities at launch and DICE’s servers have poor player balancing. I’ve seen entire teams empty out without switching solo-queued players over to the other side to balance out the teams. I expect better from DICE and their vaunted years of experience with multiplayer titles.
Visuals
Battlefield V is an excellent looking game. The game uses the aging Frostbite 3 engine, but the developers have done a good job updating the engine, so it can keep up with the latest and greatest. The engine is paired with excellent art direction to create a gorgeous and realistic looking game. The more focused nature of the War Stories offers some stunning moments amidst the bloodshed.
Audio
Battlefield V offers a solid audio experience. The soundtrack has great orchestral scores that sets the mood for the War Stories. The sound effects are solid. The voice acting is good, though some of the multiplayer lines could use some more variety. I really appreciate the fact that the voice acting in War Stories are in the character’s native language and subtitled as necessary. While I can’t comment on the quality of the non-English voice acting, I appreciate the sense of immersion.
Overall
Battlefield V is still an excellent large-scale shooter. The improvements to the teamplay experience are very good. Singleplayer is starting to show its age but has always been a bit of an afterthought for the mainline titles in the franchise. Mechanically speaking, I haven’t enjoyed a Battlefield game this much since Battlefield 3. The real problem is Battlefield V is short on content and features on launch. I suspect the game would have benefited from another delay to January 2019, after the Grand Operations mode, the fourth War Story, and battle royale mode are scheduled to launch. While a second review of Battlefield V in a few months time would technically be a review of a more complete game, the current state of Battlefield V feels like a no man’s land between an early access and full release.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Gameplay
