Every Battlefield 3 multiplayer mode

By Robert Purchese Published 16 September, 2011

What they are, what they do.

DICE has documented the five Battlefield 3 multiplayer modes. They are Team Deathmatch, Squad Deathmatch, Rush, Squad Rush and Conquest.

Each of the five modes can be played on each of the nine Battlefield 3 maps available at launch.

Team Deathmatch supports two teams of 12 players (24 in total). The goal is to reach a kill-count before the other team. There are no vehicles in Team Deathmatch.

Squad Deathmatch is for four teams of four (16 in total). Again, the goal is to reach a kill-count before the other squads. An Infantry Fighting Vehicle can be used. An Engineer can repair it.

Rush is for 24 players on console and 32 players on PC. The goal is for the attackers to destroy all M-Com stations, and for the defenders to kill all the attackers. Defenders have unlimited tickets (respawns). Attackers gain tickets by destroying M-Coms.

Rush has lots of vehicles, including transport vehicles, armoured vehicles, helicopters and jets.

Rush was available in Bad Company 2 but has been tweaked for BF3. You cannot use explosives on or shoot at M-Com stations, you can only arm or disarm them. If all the attackers die after an M-Com is armed, the game continues until it blows up or the defenders disarm it. If a defender begins disarming just before the timer runs out, the explosion will be prevented until the disarm is finished. If a defender is shot and killed while disarming, the M-Com will instantly blow.

Squad Rush is for two teams of four (eight in total). It's the same as Rush but more intimate. There are only two bases with 1 M-Com station per base. There are no vehicles in Squad Rush.

Conquest is for 24 players on console and 32 on PC. This is the famous all-out Battlefield warfare mode. Big maps, all the vehicles. The idea is to capture and hold flags. Doing so drains the opposing team's tickets. The first team to run out of tickets loses.

Those are the base multiplayer modes. But you can tweak them. You can opt for Infantry Only and get rid of vehicles; you can select Hardcore Mode to remove the game's interface help.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (58) Latest comment 8 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sir_tripod #1 8 months ago

    I am so hard for this game.

  • DozyKipper #2 8 months ago

    Damn. There goes my kamikaze C4 quad bike assaults on the M-COMs.

  • rojjer #3 8 months ago

    no mention of 64 players on PC? hmm...

  • revan8 #4 8 months ago

    glad u can't blow up m com with c4 or other weapons. Was major flaw on some maps in bc2. Not sure about the timer stopping if someone goes to disarm.

  • richarddavies #5 8 months ago

    If your trying to disarm an m-com and you get shot it instantly explodes? That's a bit harsh.

  • FireMonkey #6 8 months ago

    Not sure about stopping the C4 on them. I thought that was a valid tactic as you still have to get to the M-COM plant and then get away without being killed which is pretty hard if the other team is actually defending. Shooting them with a tank from the other side of the map however....

  • dadrester #7 8 months ago

    oh. i quite liked that map on BFBC2 in the snow where you could blow up the first m-com station from a window about 200m away. I always legged it there first when i was defending too and racked up a jolly good kill count doing so.

  • rudedudejude #8 8 months ago

    Oooooh interesting about the MCom stations.

    I hope they don't blow up when the building they are in is destroyed, that sucks.

  • rudedudejude #9 8 months ago

    he only mean that richard if the timer has expired.

  • Yogim0nn #10 8 months ago

    I read this on another site earlier this morning, 64 players on PC is tagged on the conquest mode, although i expected that it would be on rush mode also.

  • CaptainQuint #11 8 months ago

    Are you a pain in the arse in real life as well, Eddie?

  • couloir #12 8 months ago

    It's 32 players per team on pc and 24 players in total on console right? I'd love 48 players on xbox but I don't think that is going to happen.

    @richarddavies

    I think it means if you are disarming it after time has run out. Otherwise yes it would be harsh. Actually now I think about it it still seems harsh... I mean you haven't really taken out the M-Com if you set the charge and then time runs out, but seems like that will count.

  • andytheadequate #13 8 months ago

    @Richard- i think it only means it explodes instantly if the guy who gets shot was disarming it when it went over its timer limit, not just anybody who gets shot whilst disarming it

  • richarddavies #14 8 months ago

    Ah thanks adam. Thought it sounded a bit hard.

  • chrisola #15 8 months ago

    "If a defender is shot and killed while disarming, the M-COM station will instantly blow"

    What if they get knifed or grenaded? :p

    Seriously though -- this seems strange -- basically unless your defence is air tight you can lose the station for your team by dieing during a disarm. Not sure what to think - i'm sure DICE know their stuff though so i trust it will play fine.

    And yep - where has the 64 players on PC gone?

  • RedSparrows #16 8 months ago

    It's more a sudden death thing - if the bomb would have gone DURING a disarm, if that disarm then fails, the bomb will THEN explode.

  • DirectAim #17 8 months ago

    I am an avid BF3 fan but the large amount of fun modes on MW3 is very impressive, it never gets boring.

    I would of expected more game modes to appeal to a larger audience. In MW3 you have gun game and stuff like that that are great after 4 hours of competitive/serious gameplay, maybe after playing BF3 ill have to stick in MW3 now then.

    Anyone else agree or are we all hardcore tactical SAS commandos?

  • Nasty #18 8 months ago

    Eh...64 players total on PC or GTFO Dice

    Edit : Checked Blog. All is well
    Edited by Nasty at 16/09/11 @ 12:34

  • arcam #19 8 months ago

    Conquest is for 24 players on console and 32 on PC.

    You got me worried for a minute there. Checking DICE's blog post confirms that Conquest is 64 players on PC.

  • polaris70 #20 8 months ago

    Jets in Rush mode, excellent. I was told they were only in conquest. Made my day that has ;p

  • Scurrminator #21 8 months ago

    It should say 24 for consoles or 32/64 for PC on conquest mode.

  • CaptainQuint #22 8 months ago

    My mother is dead.

  • roquey Verified Lead Quality Assurance Tester and Compliance Specialist, Universally Speaking #23 8 months ago

    @Adam_T so if the building falls, the Mcom inside it shouldnt blow up? thats a stupid request. "Quick, get the digger in lads! we need to blow up this Mcom thats under 12 tons of rubble!"

  • Tryhard #24 8 months ago

    No Mcoms are in destructible buildings this time.Defenders have to be seriously crap to lose a round now.

  • geeza2020 #25 8 months ago

    I just had a little sex wee - Jets on Rush, WOOP!

  • Brownie-uk7 #26 8 months ago

    "If a defender is shot and killed while disarming, the M-Com will instantly blow."

    That is not gonna be popular! Charging in and being prepared to die to try to disarm a ticking M-commbomb was crucial in BFBC2.

    This will discourage people from trying to disarm (which is already a problem in randowm games in BFBC2) and also make it incredibly easy to capture the m-comm as you simply arm it and then C4 the bleeder. As soon as anyone goes near it you blow them and (by proxy) the M-comm to kingdom come! In fact once you arm, you can hide, wait until someone is disarming and then shoot them. One M-Comm heading straight to high heaven!

    Lets wait to see how it really plays on the Beta before any stink it really kicked up as it may be a little more thought out than described here ... but i think it will prove hugely unpopular if each station is so easy to take. Well, with me at least!!

    edit:
    ah, AndyTheAdequate pobably has got it bob-on already with...
    @Richard- i think it only means it explodes instantly if the guy who gets shot was disarming it when it went over its timer limit, not just anybody who gets shot whilst disarming it
    Edited by Brownie-uk7 at 16/09/11 @ 13:04

  • Stratix #27 8 months ago

    How many people are going to make a mistake about the thing blowing if a defender is disarming IF IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BLOWN? This is getting ridiculous!

    It's like an overtime. You get one chance to disarm it if it has gone past it's timer and if you die, that's it.

    If you die while disarming and it has plenty of timer left, you can have another go!

  • StolenGlory #28 8 months ago

    "Conquest is for 24 players on console and 32 on PC."

    Christ on a bike what is it with sites just lazily copy and pasting the same release with the same mistakes?

    I've seen this erronous 32 player conquest limit on PC misquoted on SEVEN sites so far.

    Sort it out.

  • CrispyXUK64 #29 8 months ago

    What the hell is an M-Com?

  • rojjer #30 8 months ago

    Just heard 'on the vine' that the beta is due to drop today/this evening. Hope its true

  • dirtysteve #31 8 months ago

    I'm not sure about the countdown pause on the M-com thing, one of the most tense moments in Bad Company is disarming the bomb when you know the timer is ticking. Of courses sometimes you reach the bomb, and can tell you don't have a hope in hell of disarming it in time, so I guess they want to give you a chance. I wouldn't be surprised to see this pause countdown being heavily debated.
    On another note how humane is it of the attackers to put a loud siren on their bombs? That's just downright considerate.

  • king26 #32 8 months ago

    Can't say I'm bothered about all this M-Com business, it'll be conquest straight from the go for me.

  • carlitoswagon #33 8 months ago

    console 24 player on Rush
    PC 32 player on Rush
    (PC 64 player on conquest only)

    Just wanted to clear that up.

    Edit: am assuming PC 32 player on Rush as having 64 players attacking/defending a couple of m-com stations at a time = cluster fuck.
    Edited by carlitoswagon at 16/09/11 @ 13:46

  • bratmandu #34 8 months ago

    No C4ing M-comms? Balls. Hopefully I'll still be able to plaster the crate room in c4, arm it - then stand about holding a grenade so it sets off the explosives when I die. I'm dirty.
    Edited by bratmandu at 16/09/11 @ 14:49

  • Arsecake_Baker #35 8 months ago

    @Brownie-uk7

    I concur, this will not be popular at all! There are so many things Dice could potentially fuck up in this iteration and that sounds like the first mistake, snipers are another colossual problem in this "team" game and here's hoping it's now one sniper per side, cross team chat is another thing that needs sorting as is forced squadding on spawn, there should be absolutely no lone wolfs.

    Spotting and spotting scopes are hopefully a thing of the past as well, or at least drop the amount of time the triangle appears over the target, a second is more than long enough to gauge enemy movement.

  • rudedudejude #36 8 months ago

    Some people really need to learn how to read.

    And no, a station in a destructible building shouldn't blow up if the building falls - it negates the entire point of the station as they are piss easy to blow up, you just need to ground the building.

    But, as mentioned, luckily there will be no stations in destructible buildings, so it's been fixed ^_^

  • Ranger101 #37 8 months ago

    M-COM WILL INSTANTLY BLOW WHEN A DEFENDER IS KILLED, ONLY IF IT WAS ABOUT TO BLOW ANYWAY.

    Had to caps that because people are getting the wrong end of the stick.

    In BC2 if a defender starting disarming as the MCOM was blowing up, it blew up anyway. This is MUCH better.

    Full context quote:
    "If a defender begins disarming just before the timer runs out, the explosion will be prevented until the disarm is finished. If a defender is shot and killed while disarming, the M-Com will instantly blow. "
    Edited by Ranger101 at 16/09/11 @ 14:05

  • bratmandu #38 8 months ago

    "If a defender is shot and killed while disarming, the M-Com will instantly blow."

    ONLY IF THE EXPLODE TIMER RAN OUT WHEN YOU STARTED DISARMING

  • geeza2020 #39 8 months ago

    LOL at all the people thinking the MCOM always explodes if you die while disarming!!!

    It will only blow when you are killed while disarming, if it was going to blow anyway!!

    READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN!!!!

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #40 8 months ago

    @Arsecake_ Baker

    Jeez that's one hell of a laundry list of things you don't like about BF games. Perhaps you should buy something else? I'm not gonna be forced to spawn on your location when you will no doubt get me ran over by a Quad bike. I'll take my chances "Lone Wolf" style if I feel so inclined cheers.

    Here's a recommendation for you. 'Anal Warfare - Crybaby Edition' if pre ordered you unlock explosive toys to throw out of your pram!

  • madsox1 #41 8 months ago

    Eddieminge hasn't been banned yet??

  • orangpelupa #42 8 months ago

    been playing since BFBC1 and i still dont know.... what is M-COM???

    Monstar Communivator?

    Main Computer?

    Man Child Old Man ?

  • gallow #43 8 months ago

    This game ships with 9 maps. BF2 had 12 (and 15 after various updates) and BF1942 ended up with round 17 official maps (not sure on on the number that came with the original). So how long after release will the first map pack be released?

    I am still very excited about the game and the amount of content it has I an even thinking about getting it on PC (mp) and PS3 (co-op).

  • Bravestinsane #44 8 months ago

    Well old news, we knew the game modes already =/

    Although i like the Rush tweeks, always pissed me off, when i got to the MCOM disarming and blew up in my face lol,

    39/60

  • peppergomez #45 8 months ago

    So which mode supports 64 playrrs on PC?

  • Madder-Max #46 8 months ago

    "Anyone else agree or are we all hardcore tactical SAS commandos?"

    Um hardocre tactical commandos tbh...

  • Cobalt_Jackal #47 8 months ago

    @sir_tripod

    So am I. So hard infact... infact I, I.... http://www.flixya.com/files-photo/j/e/r/... :D
    Edited by Cobalt_Jackal at 16/09/11 @ 15:55

  • Arsecake_Baker #48 8 months ago

    @Sir_STRESSHEaD

    First and foremost it's a team game, Dice fucked it up from the start with the option to drop out and play alone, the object of the game is to win not get high KD ratios, this is practically impossible in a game full of selfish twats who could'nt give a rats arse about attacking properly or defending!

    Oh and i actually play in a BF league on a team that constantly wins in any given situation, because are entire team is squadded and in communication.......so excuse me if i tell you to feck off and shove your M95 where the sun doesn't shine!

    Bloody kids!

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #49 8 months ago

    @Arsecake_Baker

    Kids huh? I'm actually 32. I'm well aware that team play is the way to go on BF and I welcome that. However, I think that if you had your way the game would be 48% less fun to play. I am perfectly capable of working towards a common team goal without your restrictions and who are you to tell anyone else how to play?

    I play solo most of the time and don't have to be hooked into your snooty combat briefing to get the job done.

    If you and your crack commando hit squad are as good as you say you are then other peoples play styles aren't hampering your game at all. So why don't you get off your elitist high horse and quit bitching.

    Dice aren't trying to please your nerd squad league buddies alone. They're trying to make the game accessible and enjoyable for the masses.





  • geeza2020 #50 8 months ago

    @sir_stresshead - hear, hear! :D

  • abot #51 8 months ago

    Where's the beta???

    Its supposed to come out this month. This month is half-over and next week marks one month until game release.

    The folks at DICE are going to have to work their arses off in order to have a beta, get feedback, fix problems and (hopefully)release a "Day-1" patch all in one month.

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #52 8 months ago

    I got a Beta invite a while back now... but it was only for PC... not sure what's going on there. I'm sure they have it all in hand though.

  • blackbriar101 #53 8 months ago

    Looking forward to doing the Wookie bullet dodge waltz on the MCom dancefloor.

  • hiddenranbir #54 8 months ago

    "If your trying to disarm an m-com and you get shot it instantly explodes? That's a bit harsh."

    Not harsh at all. Infact, it is pretty kind to let you continue disarming if the timer hits 0 while you're mid-way through.

  • Nephirion #55 8 months ago

    I think the game could still slip, they can't afford to cock it up and lose sales to MW3 as both games will be mainly judged on the MP aspect. As has been mentioned before nothing much has been shown of the 360 version.

  • metalangel #56 8 months ago

    That M-Com tweak sucks (yes, I've read it properly). It was very exciting to start disarming and not know if you'd finish in time.

    Still, preventing people covering a UAV with C4 and flying it into the M-COM is a good change, at least.

  • DugBriderider #57 8 months ago

    @metalangle. While I agree that the disarm gamble was exciting, you could sometimes tell by the frequency of beeps that it wasn't worth entering the M-com building.

    With the new rules it will always be worth denfenders rushing in to disarm at any stage of the countdown, the excitment will be if they can clear the room and get to the m-com in time.

    We will now be treated the classic hollywood scene of people rushing into a building only to have it instantly expolde.

  • mukki #58 8 months ago

    I mostly play team death match but might try the other modes...
    will DICE offer some kind of offline/bot mode to practice? without angering hordes of foul mouthed teenagers...

    BTW are any general differences between MW and BF players.
    I have been mostly playing MW2 and Black ops where often enough I am very happy there is a mute button