Help test Battlefield 2 1.4 patch

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 July, 2006

New map and no-vehicles mode.

EA and DICE are inviting Battlefield 2 fans to help beta-test the game's 1.4 patch.

Available from official sources, the patch (138MB for the incremental update, 522MB for the big one) will allow you to try out the new "No Vehicles" server setting on maps from Battlefield 2 and its Special Forces add-on.

You'll also be able to get your first taste of the new "Road to Jalalabad" urban warfare map.

The goal of this initial beta test phase is to ensure stability in a live environment - and to this end only a small number of servers will be used.

But, says EA, once this is out of the way the team will ratchet up the number of servers so that everybody can have a go and let the teams involved know what they make of it.

So, if you're interested in doing that, go ahead and download it, but make sure to heed the Battlefield team's word of caution:

"I would like to stress that everyone who downloads the beta files should take the time to read the included text file so that you can properly safeguard your current BF2 install."

So watch it. And if you have any issues to report, there's a forum thread for it along with one for general feedback.

According to the BF team's last update, the new patch will also allow unlocks on unranked servers, lower the number of players needed to start a ranked game, and fix a few bugs - as well as tuning the vehicle-drop feature from patch 1.3.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (11) Latest comment 6 years ago

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

  • McP #1 6 years ago

    Over a year since it was released and they're still patching it!
    No vehicles option is good though as vehicles totally unbalance games with 16 players. Hopefully they'll have a no artillery option as well.

  • bauhaus #2 6 years ago

    Interestingly, pictures of women flogging PSP's sparks off massive debate, yet I can shoot an arab in the face here and nobody quibbles

  • asphaltcowboy #3 6 years ago

    McP: the No Vehicle option removes arty as well. I find it odd that you think it's particularly special that they're still patching it. It happens with lots of games and considering the nature of this game, it's hardly surprising. I'm interested in seeing how the no vehicles thing plays out. Some people think it won't work too well (everyone will just play medic) - perhaps they could keep the jeeps and buggies?

    More info here

  • Kafeen #4 6 years ago

    The patches never work when the "final" versions are released. What chance do you have with a beta version.

  • Pike #5 6 years ago

    Well, Kafeen, the reason behind the decision to release it as a beta is that DICE wants to avoid the previous patch problems, by getting som community feedback before the official release. So what is your point?

  • asphaltcowboy #6 6 years ago

    At the moment, they may well nerf this as well! They're talking about chaning hit points and all sorts for the Infantry Only (IO) mode. All they need to do is: replace tank and aa spawns with light and heavy jeeps, take out the planes, helis (not transport ones) and arty and leave everything else exactly as it is. That way all player classes will still have a use!

  • dk_rare #7 6 years ago

    The patches need patches

  • dk_rare #8 6 years ago

    "Interestingly, pictures of women flogging PSP's sparks off massive debate, yet I can shoot an arab in the face here and nobody quibbles"

    Do you hear me complaining about shooting the Americans in the head?

  • PearOfAnguish #9 6 years ago

    I've been helping test Battlefield 2 since it was released.

  • Tiger_Walts #10 6 years ago

    Ooo, no vehicles on the GF5 city maps server might lure me back!

  • absolutezero #11 6 years ago

    Praise God my hatred of planes has been erased!!