DICE hints at Battlefield 3 beta numbers

By Robert Purchese Published 4 October, 2011

Six-times bigger than Bad Company 2.

The Battlefield 3 beta has attracted more than six times the number of simultaneous players than the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta did.

Exactly how many concurrent players the Bad Company 2 beta had was never disclosed. The full Bad Company 2 game had, weeks after launch, a peak of 230,000 simultaneous players. Multiplied by six, that number is 1.38 million.

At that point, however, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 had sold 2.3 million copies. The Bad Company 2 demo/beta was downloaded more than 3.5 million times in the month it was available. Potentially, then, more people than 230,000 could have been playing simultaneously. That, in turn, suggests the Battlefield 3 beta has been played by upwards of 1.38 million gamers simultaneously.

Impressive stuff. And it has lead DICE general manager Karl Magnus Troedsson to make what sounded like a sales prediction.

"The fact that Battlefield 3 is clearly our biggest game launch ever by a magnitude of six makes it doubly important to test everything," he wrote on the Battlefield blog.

That prediction can be equated. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 sold 2.3 million units, according to EA internal numbers, in just under two weeks. That qualifies as "a launch" period to us. Is Troedsson, therefore, predicting that Battlefield 3 will sell six times that - 13.8 million units - in a similar time-frame?

Look out for Digital Foundry's assessment of the Battlefield 3 beta, from a technical viewpoint, later today.

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.

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Comments (64) Latest comment 8 months ago

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  • artibeus #1 8 months ago

    Bring on the hate comments from the Beta!

    fyi; I love the game. Have put more than 30 hours in to the Beta & Alpha.
    Edited by artibeus at 04/10/11 @ 15:17

  • Fightclubber #2 8 months ago

    @artibeus

    30 hours? Fucking hell that's just slightly creepy

  • bobdebob #3 8 months ago

    Too bad they probably put off a lot of potential buyers with the very buggy beta.

    Its a good game but no way it left on a good impression on many people.

  • Adamical #4 8 months ago

    That's impressive, especially since the BF3 console beta doesn't have vehicles.

  • mortiz666 #5 8 months ago

    The beta is pretty bad, not gonna hate on DICE though, I played it for free and it isn't RC code
    Edited by mortiz666 at 04/10/11 @ 15:20

  • geeza2020 #6 8 months ago

    "Look out for Digital Foundry's assessment of the Battlefield 3 beta, from a technical viewpoint, later today."

    I'll save you the trouble; its fucking broken and lots of people are very upset, even though there is a good game under all the bugs and instant deaths.

    (I personally love it though....)

  • mattk84 #7 8 months ago

    I really like it but have deliberately avoided overplaying it so that the full release will feel fresh and apart from that all stats are reset anyway..
    Do we think the vehicle heavy conquest map will be openly available before beta end? (I can't remember its name!)

  • Stifler #8 8 months ago

    My impression of the beta was that it does nothing better than BFBC2....and some things worse.

    For that reason, I'm out.

  • DefendoCroc #9 8 months ago

    I love it, but boy oh boy its buggy, and the bugs are in all areas of the game, UI, Game connections, game physics, map integrity.
    Im still going to buy it but i really hope the shit is sorted in the final release.

    And they seriously better have enough servers ready at launch, non of the usual EA bullshit "so the performance is shit .. we were caught off guard by how many of you bought the game blah blah blah" ..... NO EA , you know fuk loads of people are going to buy it.
    Edited by DefendoCroc at 04/10/11 @ 15:26

  • Fightclubber #10 8 months ago

    Just get rid of the 2 hit kills DICE, sort that out and id be all over it more than the cheapest whore in town.

    Just want that BFBC2 vibe back
    Edited by Fightclubber at 04/10/11 @ 15:23

  • LR100 #11 8 months ago

    Like every other BF and BC game, spawning straight into an invisible snipers sights reduces my enjoyment by 100%

  • Beano #12 8 months ago

    Another BF2 beta number : 25%

    ...the amount of tearing!

  • bobfish09 #13 8 months ago

    @Flightclubber

    Seen someone with a rank in the high forties, doesn't surprise me that people are putting in the long hours, some people are addicts.

  • jetsetwillie #14 8 months ago

    waahhhh waaahhhh!!!! its not exactly as i expected it too be waahhhh!!! waaahhh!!!! there are a few thing wrong with the beta waaahhh!! wahhh!!!!

    that IS the correct response for the BF3 beta yeah?

  • jtodroc #15 8 months ago

    Do people not realise the difference between a beta & a demo of the final product? Its a beta, there's bound to be bugs, the point of the beta is to test the servers and to test the game for bugs/balancing issues before the full game is released!

  • cianchristopher #16 8 months ago

    I've put over 200 hours into the beta, since it started 220 hours ago.

  • jtodroc #17 8 months ago

    @bobfish09

    I was playing against a bloke ranked 44 on Friday last week! He obviously had the beta since Tuesday but must've put a serious amount of hours in to be ranked so high after a couple of days.
    Edited by jtodroc at 04/10/11 @ 15:34

  • BillMurray #18 8 months ago

    It's a beta

  • artibeus #19 8 months ago

    @Fightclubber 30 isn't that much.. the Alpha ran for over a week and I had early access to the beta.

    @jtodroc Use PDW weapons. Medals = 20,000 XP for getting 4 kills with a PDW in a game, 40 times. You can get about 5 of those in a game. The other medals require 7 kills 50 times. PDWs are fast XP.

    I hope they make the medals worth less in the final build.

  • inutaihanyou #20 8 months ago

    The fact that its a beta has no actual bearing on if people enjoyed it or not. If people didn't enjoy playing the beta, so that's how it is.

  • LR100 #21 8 months ago

    If it's to test for bugs and test the servers, they have less than a month to fix all the bugs and such, go gold, get the discs printed and to distributors. This is a demo, formed from what you'd hope is an old beta from a few months ago and they've already sorted the problems. If not, expect day 1 patches and a lot of crap bugs in the final release.
    Edited by LR100 at 04/10/11 @ 15:44

  • Spekingur #22 8 months ago

    Gameplay is fine. Beta map is... hectic. Lots of buggy stuff in this beta build (like shooting through solid ground, soldiers looking like they are dead even when they aren't, etc). I wonder if that'll all be fixed in the final product (which has very likely gone to disc printing by now).
    Battlelog is fine but it would have been better if they had included an in-game interface for it - or allow you to change game settings through the game manager plug-in.

    Also, some players seem to not understand that the game is about destroying the damn MCOM stations. F**k the stats, I just want to win.

  • mortiz666 #23 8 months ago

    @Spekingur

    Unfortunately as soon as you add in performance based rewards (like ranks that unlock weapons, abilities etc) and globally accessible stats then teamwork goes out the window, it's all about the best K/D ratio.

  • DisneyJon #24 8 months ago

    Having played the PS3 singleplayer and multiplayer, its disappointing as to how bad the 360 one compares.

    I know the Neg-ratings will be out in force for that comment, but no one who has both consoles can look at the two versions and not notice the PS3 visually edges it by some way. Online in terms of function - though largely down to the features of XBL itself than EA - its going to be better, but graphically? *yuck*

    The most shocking thing is that its hard to see what they fixed between alpha and beta other than by removing stuff.

    For me, given the proximity to MW3, and given that I just want a game to play online shooting stuff for a few hours, then it's meant not bothering with BF3 and upgrading my preorder of MW3 to hardened.

    So not saying that the beta is total crap, but for me personally its not doing anything I like, especially on the 360.

  • Bennyjj81 #25 8 months ago

    It's a shame then that it's at least 6 times worse than Bad Company 2! I'm with the haters on this one I'm afraid. I ADORE Bad Company 2, Vietnam in particular, and I'd have given both bollocks to get hold of this game early but the beta has left a nasty taste in my mouth. I can't help feeling that DICE are taking the money and running with BF3. The beta is just horrible in comparison to BC2 when you'd expect at least a minor improvement. Yes I know it's a beta before you all start jumping in and explaining that and I'm well aware what that means. I nearly cancelled my pre-order but was keeping the faith till I read on CVG earlier that it's a build from only a month ago! That means DICE have only given themselves 7-8 weeks to go from that buggy crap to what we are all hoping is going to be a BF masterpiece! No chance. Sorry DICE, I'll continue with BC2 as it was the pinnacle of what you've created as it seems it's downhill from here. I'll save my money for something else.

  • Nephirion #26 8 months ago

    30 hours across two maps you must be bored :p

  • arcam #27 8 months ago

    I had some initial bad impressions too, mainly down to bugs and UI issues. But after a few hours play, you forget about all that and concentrate on the gameplay - which is awesome, and I love it :)

    Metro in a nutshell - http://i.imgur.com/La9YG.jpg

  • rob_of_the_robots #28 8 months ago

    More from Troedsson:

    "The Battlefield 3 Open Beta is based on software that is more than one month old. We need to test the new back end dedicated server structure we've built. Not only have we built a new game engine, but an entirely new back end system so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of dedicated servers on all platforms. Just like normal procedure when releasing a game, the Open Beta has had long lead times due to testing, certification, and setting up."

  • Dyason #29 8 months ago

    I've really enjoyed it. The problems I have with the game are nothing to do with the game itself and more to do with EA.

    Origin is absolutely horrible on so many levels. The web interface is a nice idea, and if it wasn't for how awful origin was I'd quite like it. Adding friends was also weird as I had to add them twice, to EA and Origin. Very strange. Lets hope either Origin pulls its act together, or DICE realise they're tying themselves to an awful service and do something about it.

  • Timotei #30 8 months ago

    @BillMurray

    "It's a beta" is no excuse. It's a beta 4 weeks from release. You can't seriously call that a true beta. From what I've played they're going to need a damn sight more than 3/4 weeks to take it back to anywhere near approaching the sublime game play of Bad Company 2.

  • arcam #31 8 months ago

    I have already put half as many hours into the single map of the BF3 beta (7), as I have in the entire BF:BC2 game (15).

  • rudedudejude #32 8 months ago

    I hope the buggy beta keeps the CoDtards away tbh.

    Less tards = better game for meeeeeeeeeeeeee

  • rottingyoda #33 8 months ago

    Personally liking the Beta quite a lot (PC). Sure it has alot of bugs but has alot of promise too. At first I didn't like the 'squad battle' style of the map but it has grown on me. For those it hasn't, reserve judgemeant for a vehicular orientated map.

    The bugs will be sorted out. It's too big a title and theres too much on the line for EA to not address the obvious bugs at this stage.

    Can't wait for the final release.

  • Timotei #34 8 months ago

    @arcam

    You sir, are a very odd individual.

  • arcam #35 8 months ago

    I know. Actually, playing BF3 has made me think I should have given Bad Company 2 more of a chance. It didn't really feel much like a proper Battlefield, but then neither does Operation Metro. Maybe it's because I know there are proper BF maps on the way.

  • captainrentboy #36 8 months ago

    I had my first go on the 360 beta today. My favourite part is when I got sniped, a lot, by level 30 players no less. (Players that were occasionally sat inside hills and embankments)
    Yet I'm quite willing to accept that me being shite at online shooters probably had a lot to do with my continuous deaths too:-) I'll still be buying it for the rather sexy looking single player campaign.

  • evilrobot #37 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 22:12:53 08-05-2012

  • roquey Verified Lead Quality Assurance Tester and Compliance Specialist, Universally Speaking #38 8 months ago

    As a tester i just love how people moan about all the bugs in a BETA. get over it, betas are there to iron out bugs. except poeple just go 'oh its buggy' without telling the devs or properly saying what the bugs are.

  • LR100 #39 8 months ago

    @Adam_T
    So you'd rather have a buggy mess to enjoy if it meant no COD fans were playing? That makes no logical sense at all.

  • chessboxer #40 8 months ago

    I am enjoying the beta, moreso on the PS3 than the PC which was a shock. I was going to double dip like I did with Bad Company 2 but now I will just stick with the PS3 version.

    I remember taking part in the BFBC2 beta on the PS3 and it was far from being a rosey experience, but the final product turned out ok.

  • lordofthedunce #41 8 months ago

    As a mother i just love how people moan about all the bugs in a BETA. get over it, betas are there to iron out bugs. except poeple just go 'oh its buggy' without telling the devs or properly saying what the bugs are.

    fixed

  • rudedudejude #42 8 months ago

    No dudes, the point is it's a fucking test beta. The more tards that think:

    'OMFG!!! LOOK THIS FINAL RELEASELOL HAHA! COD 4TW!!"

    and leave the better.

  • marmaduke #43 8 months ago

    On PC it's a pretty unpleasant experience. It's hard to stay connected on many servers, there are random crashes, sometimes playing for more than 15 minutes causes unbearable lag... and sometimes it doesn't, and regardless of whether it's a beta or not it's still only four weeks from release.

    Oh, and the Battlelog thing is offensive. Technically since it's a beta I am playing a free to play game, but that doesn't mean it has to have the interface from one. On top of that, it looks like it's here to stay- there's a big button that says 'Campaign'.

    This does not bode well.

  • marmaduke #44 8 months ago

    On PC it's a pretty unpleasant experience. It's hard to stay connected on many servers, there are random crashes, sometimes playing for more than 15 minutes causes unbearable lag... and sometimes it doesn't, and regardless of whether it's a beta or not it's still only four weeks from release.

    Oh, and the Battlelog thing is offensive. Technically since it's a beta I am playing a free to play game, but that doesn't mean it has to have the interface from one. On top of that, it looks like it's here to stay- there's a big button that says 'Campaign'.

    This does not bode well.

  • tejo.hr #45 8 months ago

    Interesting how in article about BF3 where we can watch a BF3 video we still get a BF3 ad. :p

  • TheEarlOfZinger #46 8 months ago

    This is why I don't participate in betas.

  • slickster #47 8 months ago

    I must of played beta for about 2 or 3 hours. Just cant see the point in ranking up to like lvl 30 or so because it gets wiped on the 10th october. I just wait for the game to come out end of the month.

  • Iain815 #48 8 months ago

    "Just want that BFBC2 vibe back"

    No. Just no.

    I liked BFBC2, but if BF3 is going to copy a vibe off any game, it's going to be BF2. Don't like it, tough. This is what Battlefield is meant to be.

  • Ahskay #49 8 months ago

    Getting tired of the ridiculous "It's a beta" remarks.

    Other games that are in Beta are much more polished and BF3 just seems rushed to try and beat CoD. I didn't have any problems with other Beta's last couple of years till BF3 popped up and all the fanboys screaming; It's a Beta!

  • Bravestinsane #50 8 months ago

    @arcam

    that picture is so true,

    Im the Victory Crawl guy

  • whome #51 8 months ago

    that many all lying down or hiding in a bush, impressive.

  • neems #52 8 months ago

    Arcam + 1 million points. That picture is genius, absolutely spot on.

    I must confess that I am one of the bush people, to the extent that I will place a mobile spawn point in there.

  • Doncommie #53 8 months ago

    Can this be right? It is on three platforms at once but a million at once is a ton.

    To serve 1.38 million players at once they would need 43125 32 player servers (and the console servers are 24 players).

    The peak number of players of Call Of Duty on Steam has been around 80,000 players. BF3 beta is free but the two consoles would still need to provide a total of a million to make that number.

  • ajaxpliskin #54 8 months ago

    I got the beta for PC and also 360. It's virtually unplayable on 360 in comparison to PC.

  • forgoodnesssake #55 8 months ago

    Loving the PS3 beta. No connection problems, no lag, some glitches & bugs but nothing major. Only gripes I've had is with some players. Can't understand what all the moaning is about. Don't want to sound like a fanboy, but perhaps the major issues are isolated to the other platforms at this point? Not trying to start flame wars, just saying I've had no problems with ps3.

  • hulahoops #56 8 months ago

    The people who don't realise what game development is really like are the ones judging by beta.

    When you work on a game some kind of magic happens in the last couple of months. If game developers were sailors they'd say it was angels or something. But it's true. Every game ever is terrible until weeks before launch then something either something remarkable happens or... it doesn't.

  • aphex187 #57 8 months ago

    Playing the beta on PC and can 100% say it's bloody awesome!! Not seeing as many bugs as i did on release and i just wish they would release Caspian for the guys still sat on the fence!

    Again haven't been addicted to a game like this since BF2.

  • danidrums #58 8 months ago

    Bennyjj81
    I agree with this guy!

  • SpaceMonkey77 #59 8 months ago

    Tried the beta last week, when it started. Unfortunately, wasn't playing it long, because of all the bastard snipers, who just sit and take you out, before you can experience the game and enjoy it.

    DICE, you really should offer an option to omit certain weapons in BF3. Snipers serve a function, but for most are really about the lone wolf one upmanship experience. I'm sure many of us, would have gotten a better grasp of the beta without camping snipers.

    Overall, BF3 is good, but what worries me more, is that in the quest for realism, BF3 might lose its even difficulty edge, that makes it a variable pick up and play game, where everyone has a chance to shine, and team work and fun win out. BFBC2 I'll still be playing, because you seem to get a chance to recover from/ evade enemy fire. One shot type kills, do not always make for a fun game. I pray the final game is up to BFBC2 form.

    Definitely still buying BF3, though.

  • Agent_Orange #60 8 months ago

    There are bugs, but i'm sure it will be sorted on release, if not by a patch in the week after release or so. I'm happy to accept this as long as it gets fixed.

    Having said that, the beta metro map is crap. It's just call of duty; where are the vehicles, huge maps, destruction etc that makes bfbc2 good?

  • Spekingur #61 8 months ago

    Found a Found a youtube video that shows the menu in the XBox 360 apparently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx1QnzB9T5Q. This is what the PC is missing. Leaving this kind of proper menu out of the PC version just means that they are shooting themselves in the foot - with a shotgun.

    Seriously, the PC main menu is a webpage. Where you can't even access in-game options. Just a stupid stupid design decision.
    Edited by Spekingur at 05/10/11 @ 10:42

  • siallen #62 8 months ago

    DICE General Manager Karl Magnus Troedsson posted with the news, saying “the fact that Battlefield 3 is clearly our biggest game launch ever by a magnitude of 6 makes it doubly important to test everything.”

    He also mentions that the code being tested is a relatively early version, designed to stress test servers as well as highlight bugs that need fixing.

    “The Battlefield 3 Open Beta is based on software that is more than one month old.” writes Trodsson. “We need to test the new back end dedicated server structure we’ve built. Not only have we built a new game engine, but an entirely new back end system so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of dedicated servers on all platforms.

    “Just like normal procedure when releasing a game, the Open Beta has had long lead times due to testing, certification, and setting up. This means that the code you are now playing is actually quite early and not representative of the final game.

    “The final game will look, play and sound better than the Open Beta. You have helped making sure of that.”

    This is good news for anyone who’s tried to have a lie down on the opening section of the Operation Metro map, only to phase bodily through the floor into the infinite grey netherworld below. DICE only have three weeks to polish up the latest build they have tucked away at DICE HQ. Battlefield 3 is set to hit the US on October 25, and Europe on October 26.

  • Spekingur #63 8 months ago

    Old build does not explain strange design decisions though - such as launching the game from a webpage. That part has nothing to do with Origin by the way.
    Edited by Spekingur at 05/10/11 @ 12:51

  • Joco84 #64 8 months ago

    ps3 beta has been updated, not so much wall-hacking.

    personally, im loving the game, cannae wait for the final release!