Battlefield 4

China Rising, Second Assault, Naval Strike, Dragon's Teeth and Final Stand are all free to download for all platforms until 19th September (this coming Monday).

The promotion also includes new themed Community Missions to go along with each expansion. There are details on each on the Battlefield website.

Battlefield 4 just got a huge makeover on console

Recommendation and improved squad features part of big overhaul.

Hooray! After three years Battlefield 4 is finally out of Early Access!

Battlefield is going to be a TV series

Company behind True Detective involved!

Battlefield, a series famed for its multiplayer battles and not its ropey stories, will be turned into a television show. Anonymous Content, the company responsible for hit TV series True Detective, will be in charge, collaborating with Paramount and EA to make it happen.

Battlefield 4 is getting a fresh lick of paint

Log of war.

Coming up to three years after its release, DICE continues to tweak and fine-tune Battlefield 4, with an all-new user interface that will make it easier for players to partner up in squads and to find maps and modes.

FeatureDespite its problems, Battlefield 4 remains one of this generation's best shooters

Four to the flaw.

SgtLewis247, we've never properly met. But I think I love you.

Battlefield 4 Final Stand DLC free for a week

Go! Go! Go!

EA's giving away Battlefield 4 DLC for free.

Star Wars: Battlefront has shipped over 14m copies

Battlefield series had 9.4m players last quarter.

Star Wars: Battlefront has sold over 14m copies to retailers, publisher EA announced in its latest financial report.

Battlefield 4 and Hardline DLC is free to download this week

Available on all platforms. More to come.

EA is giving away free DLC for Battlefield 4 and Battlefield Hardline in the buildup to the next Battlefield title - which is planned to be revealed this Friday at 9pm UK time.

DICE signals end for new Battlefield 4 content

It's been a good run, soldier.

DICE has signalled the end of new content for first-person shooter Battlefield 4.

Xbox Live Gold members can play EA Access Vault games free this week

Battlefield! Dragon Age! FIFA! Titanfall! More!

Cool offer alert: if you're an Xbox Live Gold member and you have an Xbox One you can play all of the EA Access Vault games for free this week. The Vault games are normally locked behind EA's Ł4-a-month EA Access subscription service.

EA launches Origin Access for PC

15 games, Ł4 a month.

EA has announced - and launched - Origin Access for PC. It costs Ł3.99 a month.

Origin Access is a similar offering to EA Access on Xbox One. Subscribers can download games from EA's Vault, play EA's PC games for a limited time before they're released, and save 10 per cent on Origin purchases.

15 games are available now (unfortunately no Star Wars: Battlefront). EA will add more games over time, it said:

Battlefield 4's most cryptic Easter egg discovered

Cracking stuff!

Last year Battlefield 4 fanatic Jackfrags discovered a secret hidden megalodon hidden in DICE's multiplayer shooter, and now the dedicated sleuth has cracked what must surely be Battlefield 4's most cryptic Easter egg.

EA announces Competitive Gaming Division, led by Peter Moore

"Competition runs deep in the DNA of Electronic Arts."

EA is launching a Competitive Gaming Division (CGD) to be led by former chief operating officer Peter Moore

Moore's new title will be executive vice president and chief competition officer. "This group will enable global eSports competitions in our biggest franchises including FIFA, Madden NFL, Battlefield and more," EA stated in its announcement.

EA chief executive officer Andrew Wilson noted that the CGD will be based around the following "three core pillars":

One of Battlefield 2's best maps is coming to Battlefield 4

Boom.

DICE's good work with Battlefield 4 continues: it's just announced new free DLC for the two-year-old game.

Battlefield 4 map community helped DICE make is out tomorrow

Featuring escaped monkeys that had viruses tested on them.

The Battlefield 4 Community Operations DLC, which contains a new map the community helped DICE create, rolls out tomorrow for free on Origin, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Community Operations coincides with the release of the Fall Update for the game but is separate to it.

Free DLC pack hits Battlefield 4 this autumn

Community-driven Operation Outbreak map a part of it.

DICE will release a free DLC pack for all Battlefield 4 players this autumn.

Battlefield 4's big summer patch out today

Night Operations map live on PC and Xbox, PlayStation next week.

Battlefield 4's big summer patch and free Night Operations map roll out today.

While the patch is available to all now, the Night Operations DLC is a separate download, and comes out on PC, Xbox One and Xbox 360 today. European PlayStation 4 and PS3 users have to wait until 8th September.

Night Operations is a new night map, called Zavod: Graveyard Shift, which is a night version of Zavod 311. It supports Conquest, Rush, Obliteration, and the infantry focused game modes Team Death Match, Domination and Gun Master.

Battlefield 4's Night Operations DLC sneaks out in September

Nearly two years after launch.

Battlefield 4 is getting a new map as part of its upcoming Night Operations DLC due this September, nearly two years after the game's October 2013 launch.

Origin sale offers big discounts on Dragon Age, FIFA 15 and more

Go nuts.

EA's running a solid sale on Origin, its PC platform.

1.34GB Battlefield 4 Winter Patch rolls out

Squad Obliteration! Better netcode! Soldier Collision!

Battlefield 4's long-awaited Winter Patch rolls out today.

Reports indicate it weighs in at 1.34GB on Xbox One.

The Winter Patch is designed to improve netcode and soldier collision, as well as tweak the Squad Obliteration game mode so it becomes the lead competitive mode in DICE's first-person shooter. The new Squad Obliteration scales down the fast-paced objective-based gameplay of the original to a 5v5 competitive environment.

DICE wants Battlefield 4 players to help build a new map

Plus, Winter Patch takes aim at netcode and soldier collision.

DICE has called on Battlefield 4 players to help it build a new map for the game.

DICE vows: Final Stand is not the end for Battlefield 4

Classic Battlefield map remakes seem likely.

Developer DICE has promised the Final Stand expansion does not mark the end of updates and new content for first-person shooter Battlefield 4.

Battlefield 4: Final Stand review

End of the road.

Given the time of year it perhaps shouldn't be a huge surprise, but I had completely forgotten that Battlefield 4 was due its fifth and final piece of DLC. After the 'big patch' finally shored up a game that has became the poster child for 'release now, fix later' (since replaced by Driveclub, Assassin's Creed Unity and Halo: The Master Chief Collection), it was all too easy to cast Battlefield 4 into the annals of history.

Price and availability

Available now for Battlefield Premium members

Battlefield 4's Final Stand DLC gets a release date

Due next week for Premium members and early December for everyone else.

Battlefield 4's concluding DLC, Final Stand, is due on 18th November for Battlefield 4 Premium members, EA has announced.

Non-members will have to wait until 2nd December.

The final expansion will feature maps set in a snowy Siberian military outpost, a submarine base, a weapons factory and a hangar.

Battlefield 4 gets week long free trial on Origin

Now that the game finally works as intended.

EA is offering players a free week-long trial of Battlefield 4 on Origin.

Frostbite gets "parts of Battlefield 4" running on iOS

"We're very happy with the results so far."

Frostbite has been trying to port Battlefield 4 to iOS as a tech demo to prove what it's capable of, and so far the engine developer seems pleased with its progress.

EA execs off the hook in Battlefield 4 'you lied to inflate share price' lawsuit

Can't do much about "opinion", "corporate optimism" and "puffery".

Battlefield 4 didn't work, everybody noticed and we even wrote a Disaster Report about the whole thing. And then we moved on.

FeatureBattlefield 4: The redefinition of Early Access

One year on - how the new patch impacts DICE's troubled shooter.

Battlefield 4 might be the strangest high profile video game release I've ever come across. An odd state of affairs, considering it's about nothing more leftfield than shooting people, blowing stuff up and working out what attachment to slap onto your newest, shiniest gun, but Battlefield 4 is strange for reasons that go beyond its premise. A year after its release, it has finally exited its own Early Access period.

Battlefield 4 Premium Edition out later this month

Has all the DLC plus priority position in server queues.

Now that Battlefield Hardline has been delayed to 2015, there's no new Battlefield game out this year. So, publisher EA has put together a Battlefield 4 Premium Edition, set for release this month.

Battlefield 4's most important patch rolls out today

Big changes to everything from weapons to character movement.

It's been nearly a year since EA released first-person shooter Battlefield 4. The game launched in a terrible state that left many unable to play, and since then developer DICE has fought to improve matters with a raft of patches. But none are as important as the one due out today.

The hotly-anticipated Battlefield 4 "fall patch" contains a huge list of fixes, gameplay improvements and balance tweaks that were inspired by feedback to the Community Test Environment.

According to some players, the patch will do for Battlefield 4 what the Reaper of Souls expansion did for Diablo 3, in that we'll finally get the game Battlefield 4 should have been at launch.

Battlefield 4's Final Stand DLC maps are available now on PC

With the full expansion to follow in the coming weeks.

Battlefield 4's final DLC, Final Stand, will bring drones, hover tanks, snowmobiles, a rail gun and more to EA's popular shooter in the weeks ahead, but in the meantime developer DICE is letting folks playtest its four new maps on PC as Community Test Environments.

Battlefield 4's next big update cleans up HUD, tweaks soldier movement

And there's more to come.

DICE has outlined what to expect from Battlefield 4's next big update, due out in September.

The developer is using the Battlefield 4 Community Test Environment to get feedback on how to improve the game, live producer David Sirland wrote on the Battlefield blog.

Chief among the tweaks is a change to soldier movement so that it closely matches the one in Battlefield 3, but without compromising the visual fidelity. This change also makes it easier to get away from undesirable firefights, Sirland added.

EA offers free 168-hour Battlefield 4 trial on Origin

But you need to download it this week.

Battlefield 4 is free to play for a week if you download it on Origin.

Battlefield 4: Dragon's Teeth review

A song of fire and DICE.

Battlefield 4. It hasn't been pretty. Given the nearly weekly meltdowns DICE's game has endured since its launch, it's easy to forget those who forked out for a Premium subscription. Money paid up front for a promise of regular content drops seemed insignificant when the game just did not work.

Mercifully, right now, Battlefield 4 on PS4 is in a pretty decent place. While everyone's experience is different, and there will be issues until Battlefield 4 is dead in the ground, it's safe to say that it's now in a comfortably playable state. And, despite the obvious failings of DICE and EA over the course of the last 9 months, those who did pay for that Premium pass have actually been treated rather well.

When arguments rage daily about preorder DLC, season passes and cut content, Battlefield once again leads the way with high quality, regularly-spaced add on packs that not only deliver chunks of fresh turf on which to to wage war, but also offer new ways to play.

Battlefield 4: Dragon's Teeth DLC release date confirmed

New patch adds VOIP for Xbox One Commander Mode.

The Dragon's Teeth expansion for Battlefield 4 will be deployed as soon as next week, developer DICE has announced.

Premium members will be able to download the pack from 15th July, while non-Premium members can get access from 29th July, a new blog post has confirmed.

Those dates tally with a hastily-deleted message posted to and then pulled from the official EA Origin Twitter account last week.

Looks like we have a Battlefield 4 Dragon's Teeth release date

EA Origin Twitter account spills the beans.

EA tweeted to say Dragon's Teeth, the next expansion for first-person shooter Battlefield 4, would launch on 15th July 2014 for Premium subscribers - then deleted it.

A tweet from the official Origin Twitter account told followers of a 20 per cent off promotion for Battlefield 4 Premium, before mentioning you could use that to play Dragon's Teeth early on 15th July.

It then deleted the tweet and republished a new tweet without the date, but not before MP1st caught EA in the act.

EA details Battlefield 4 Dragon's Teeth expansion

Four new maps, five new weapons and more.

EA has detailed the Battlefield 4 Dragon's Teeth expansion, due out this summer.

It includes four new multiplayer maps set in dense Asian Pacific cities, and revolves around urban warfare.

The maps are Lumphini Garden, Pearl Market, Propaganda and Sunken Dragon.

EA addresses "unacceptable" Battlefield 4 launch

DICE changes the way it makes games ahead of Battlefield Hardline.

EA has addressed what the boss of the company has described as the "unacceptable" launch of Battlefield 4 - and detailed the new processes it has put in place to prevent it from happening again.

In detailed interviews with Eurogamer, EA CEO Andrew Wilson and DICE general manager Karl-Magnus Troedsson said the development teams behind the Battlefield series had learned their lesson the tough way after Battlefield 4 launched in a state many players labelled broken.

Battlefield 4 released late last year for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, with a target of 60 frames per second and 64-player multiplayer on next-gen consoles.

First community-tested Battlefield 4 patch rolls out

Back of the netcode.

A month ago, EA and DICE launched something called a Community Test Environment for Battlefield 3. Here "passionate fans" could help DICE test new features and give feedback.

The fruits of that labour have now begun to appear, as a netcode patch - making the game work better online - has rolled out on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. It's coming later this week on PS4 and Xbox One.

This is the first update developed in conjunction with the Community Test Environment, and would have been "difficult to pull off" (ooh err) without you.

DICE vows to continue to support Battlefield 4

As Visceral reveals Battlefield Hardline video is six months old.

Principle Battlefield developer DICE has vowed to continue to support Battlefield 4 despite the announcement of Battlefield Hardline, set for launch later this year.

You can now buy Battlefield 4 Battlepacks

New microtransactions cause a stir.

DICE has announced that you can now buy Battlefield 4 Battlepacks with real world cash.

Police-themed Battlefield Hardline details leaked via Battlelog update

Someone's been Havana close look.

Details of the next Battlefield game, apparently titled Battlefield Hardline, have been spotted online following a new Battlelog update.

Internally code-named Havana and in development at Dead Space studio Visceral Games, the police and thieves-themed spin-off has been rumoured for some time.

A logo and artwork for Battlefield Hardline were spotted lying on EA's server today, along with a set of "BFH" icons for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One (thanks, GetBlog). "BFH+" icons, presumably for those with Battlefield Premium, are also present.

EA launches Battlefield 4 Community Test Environment

So "passionate fans" can help improve the game.

EA will work with fans to improve Battlefield 4 via a new Community Test Environment, a sort of ongoing beta server that will help test new features.

First up on the list of fixes is the game's troubled netcode - the technical framework that runs basic functions like damage registration.

The Community Test Environment's arrival follows a seemingly-continuous set of problems that have plagued the game across multiple platforms since its launch last year.

Battlefield 4 gets long-awaited Squad Join feature on console

"This is something we know our fans have been asking for..."

The long-awaited Squad Join feature has been added to the console versions of first-person shooter Battlefield 4.

Battlefield 4 console rent-a-server costs revealed

Soft launch fails to take off on Xbox One.

You can now rent a Battlefield 4 server on console - but not on Xbox One.

Probably the best fan-made Battlefield 4 video ever

Through My Eyes: I will show you war.

A couple of Battlefield 4 players have released a new fan-made movie that may be the best yet.

DICE deploys new hardware to combat Battlefield 4 rubber-banding

Apologises for the delay.

Developer DICE reckons it's sorted the rubber-banding issue that has affected shooter Battlefield 4.

$499 Virtuix Omni VR treadmill shipping September

UPDATE: Shipping in July, actually.

UPDATE 4PM: Virtuix has been in touch to clarify that Omni treadmills will actually begin shipping in July. The September date is for people who pre-order one now. So, if you're an early adopter, you could be getting yours as soon as this summer. Can I come round and try it out?

Battlefield 4's biggest Easter egg discovered

We're going to need a bigger boat.

For months Battlefield 4 developer DICE has hinted that its latest first-person shooter may contain a Megalodon (i.e. giant shark) Easter egg. This prompted thousands of fans - including the Captain Ahab-like YouTuber Jackfrags - to sail its seas in search of the elusive beast.

DICE promises to tackle Battlefield 4 rubber-banding

"We're unhappy with our server performance."

Developer DICE has promised to fix the rubber-banding issue that has affected first-person shooter Battlefield 4 since it launched last year.

Battlefield 4 Naval Strike DLC delayed on PC

UPDATE: Out for all non-Battlefield Premium members 15th April.

UPDATE 03/04/14: The Naval Strike DLC releases for all non-Battlefield Premium members on 15th April, DICE has announced.

This is what Battlefield 4 Naval Strike gameplay looks like

Out 25th March for Premium members.

DICE has released a gameplay video of Battlefield 4 expansion Naval Strike.

The video, below, shows off the sea-to-sea warfare Naval Strike contains, as well as the new amphibious hovercraft vehicle and the four new maps all set in the South China Sea.

We also have release dates: 25th March for Battlefield Premium members and 8th April for everyone else.

DICE: Battlefield 2142 veterans will feel "right at home" with BF4 Carrier Assault

And this is how it works.

DICE has explained how Carrier Assault, the new mode due out for Battlefield 4 later this month that pays homage to Battlefield 2142's much-loved Titan mode, works.

DICE explains state of Battlefield 4 "netcode issues"

Instant death while sprinting, no registered damage...

It's been four months and still EA and DICE are fixing the multiplayer experience of Battlefield 4. And they want you to know they're committed to that.

Battlefield 4 Naval Strike DLC adds new mode Carrier Assault

A reimagining of Battlefield 2142's Titan Mode.

Remember Battlefield 2142, the 2006 Battlefield spin-off set in the future? It had a mode called Titan that a lot of players remember fondly. Now, developer DICE is reimagining it for release as DLC for Battlefield 4.

Battlefield 4 Second Assault release dates announced

Third expansion Naval Strike out late March.

The Battlefield 4 Second Assault expansion that launched as a timed Xbox One exclusive in November releases on 18th February for Battlefield 4 Premium members on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, DICE has announced.

It goes live for all Battlefield 4 players two weeks later on 4th March.

Second Assault includes four maps from Battlefield 3 updated with the Frostbite 3 graphics engine and with Battlefield 4 gameplay. The maps are Operation Metro, Caspian Border, Gulf of Oman and Operation Firestorm.

FeatureBattlefield 4: disaster report

Charting the collateral damage of EA and DICE's catastrophic launch.

29th October 2013 A day that should have been one of pride for all at Electronic Arts and DICE, but one that has to surely go down in infamy. The day Battlefield 4 hit shelves, and set in motion a series of events that has shaken the company and its prized development studio, and punctured waning public faith.

Will Titanfall have problems like Battlefield 4 did?

EA attempts to answer concerns.

The launch of Battlefield 4 on consoles new and old was marred by technical difficulties.

Battlefield 4 launches Player Appreciation Month in February

Awards players bonus Battlepacks, weapons and XP.

Battlefield 4 developer DICE is launching a "Player Appreciation Month" running from 1st February to 6th March to give thanks to the hard working veterans who valiantly fought through Battlefield 4's buggy launch.

As such, Battlefield 4 players will receive such perks as a new Battlepack for every day they log in. These contain perks like bonus XP and soldier camos. Weekdays will net players bronze Battlepacks, while weekends come with niftier silver ones. Gold Battlepacks will be granted to those who fulfill Community Missions, like collecting a certain number of dog tags in a specified time. More details about these will follow on the official Battlefield Blog.

The February celebration will also include complementary shortcut bundles, offering all grenades and handguns from the base game to be used by new players. Premium users will receive additional weapon shortcuts on DMR's and shotguns.

DICE continues to patch Battlefield 4

UPDATE: Xbox 360 update brings up the rear.

UPDATE 2: And now the update for the Xbox 360 version has been released.

Patch notes, courtesy of Battlelog, are below.

Various fixes for improving general stability

Is this the patch to fix Battlefield 4 on PS4?

UPDATE: Out now for Xbox One.

UPDATE: DICE has released a patch for the Xbox One version of troubled shooter Battlefield 4.

Like the recently-released PS4 patch, the Xbox One patch focuses on improving stability and fixing crashes.

Patch notes are below:

Refunds available for Xbox One Battlefield 4 Premium customers

Microsoft giving Ł39.99 back.

Some people are successfully requesting refunds from Microsoft for Battlefield 4 Premium on Xbox One.

Pachter: Criterion making military shooter, possibly 2014 Battlefield spin-off

UPDATE: Pachter now says it's Dead Space dev Visceral.

UPDATE: Analyst Michael Pachter has told Eurogamer he now believes it is Dead Space developer Visceral making the shooter.

The fixing begins: DICE issues Battlefield 4 updates

UPDATE: Xbox 360 patch released.

UPDATE: DICE has released a new patch for the Xbox 360 version of Battlefield 4.

You'll need to manually download the multiplayer update 3 from Xbox Live Marketplace, DICE warned. You won't be automatically prompted to do so.

The patch focuses on improving game stability and preventing crashes. "Accumulated, these fixes should help increase stability overall in the game," DICE said.

DICE has halted "future projects" while it fixes Battlefield 4

Guess that means Star Wars: Battlefront is on hold.

Battlefield 4 developer DICE has placed all of its expansions and "future projects" on the backburner while it puts all hands on deck to focus on the mess that is Battlefield 4's launch. Yes, that includes the Star Wars: Battlefront reboot it's been brewing up.

Battlefield 4 China Rising launch adds fresh problems

Did update fix one-hit kill bug? "Yes and no," says DICE.

Developer DICE continues to struggle with Battlefield 4 performance issues.

Yesterday EA released expansion China Rising to Battlefield Premium customers, and players struggled to join servers across multiple platforms.

When they did, some reported server crashes, booting them out of the game.

Battlefield 4: China Rising review

T'Pauwerful.

In my review of Battlefield 4's Second Assault map pack, I described its online service as patchy, but fighting its way back to full health. Well, in the interim, two consoles have launched globally and it seems like DICE's game has experienced an entirely different kind of levolution: its servers crumbling into dust under the mortar fire of people actually trying to play the thing.

Yes, despite multiple patches and updates, Battlefield 4 is a mess on every platform - a litany of crashes, misfires and save bugs. So will its map pack China Rising, free to those who pre-ordered the game and available to Premium players today, be enough to sate those who've spent hours screaming at black screens and menu locks in futile rage?

Three of the four included maps are genuinely new, with only Dragon Pass a remake - in this case of the Battlefield 2 classic, Dragon Valley. And what better place to start? Imposing mountains, golden-hued skies and lush greenery surround Dragon Pass. It looks like you're waging war on the fourth disc of Shenmue 2. Those mountains don't actually have an impact on the action, which is largely fought on and around a long, twisting road that naturally undulates through the valley, allowing just enough cover for infantry combat without the whole affair turning into a massacre.

Microsoft "investigating" reports Battlefield 4 DLC unavailable on Xbox One

EA "aware" of the issue.

EA and Microsoft are probing reports that Battlefield 4's Second Assault DLC is unavailable for Xbox One users who have bought Battlefield Premium.

Digital FoundryNext-Gen Face-Off: Battlefield 4

Retail hardware, final code - the complete analysis.

After running our preview comparison of Battlefield 4 exactly one month ago, it was startling to see how great the advantage proved for one platform in particular; a shocking signifier of the form all future next-gen comparisons might take. The PS4 had the higher internal resolution, a considerable performance lead in motion, and the addition of extra effects such as horizon-based ambient occlusion entirely missing on Xbox One. But now, with the retail releases out in the wild, we can see to what extent this disparity is set in stone, and whether DICE's implication of further tweaks to the Xbox One release actually makes up any ground.

For the sake of absolute thoroughness, we can confirm any such change doesn't extend to the resolution issue. If you're buying the PS4 version, you're getting a 1600x900 image scaled to whichever output you'd prefer, while the Xbox One trots behind with a 1280x720 framebuffer that, to be blunt, has an impact on overall visibility on some of the game's bigger multiplayer maps.

In motion, it's the Xbox One version that suffers from the greater temporal aliasing - a flicker artefact on thin geometry and power-lines while panning - but also a general muddying of enemy outlines on the horizon. A post-process anti-aliasing method is in place for both versions, but it's simply not enough to pull the Microsoft release out of the muggy mire as far as image quality goes - it stands as a real shame.

A new generation: a new price-point for games

"The market will determine what's appropriate over time."

As it stands, Sony's games are more expensive on PlayStation 4 than Microsoft's are on Xbox One.

EA PS4 games cost an eye-watering Ł63 from PlayStation Store

UPDATE: EA cuts PS4 game prices by Ł3, but they're still Ł5 more than on Xbox One.

UPDATE: Overnight EA cut the price of its PlayStation 4 games by Ł3 on the PlayStation Store.

Xbox One outsells Xbox 360 two-to-one in UK launch

UPDATE: Sold around 150,000, report claims.

UPDATE: Xbox One sold around 150,000 in the UK during its launch, according to a report by MCV.

The Xbox 360 sold 70,000 units during its launch eight years ago.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Xbox One outsold the Xbox 360 two-to-one in the UK when you compare both console's launch periods.

Battlefield 4 to offer double XP for a week

To apologise for buggy launch.

Dice's super-popular multiplayer shooter Battlefield 4 launched with more than its share of online issues, causing many a game to crash. Now, to make up for this botched launch, the developer is going to offer double XP for any multiplayer match played between 28th November and 5th December.

Battlefield 4: Second Assault review

Metro: last fight.

After a launch that can only be described as patchy - in every sense - Battlefield 4's online service is slowly starting to find its feet. There's inexplicably still no way to play Conquest on PS4 in the US, and you still can't party up before entering a match (something Halo 2 managed to figure out back in the 1500s), but DICE's levolutionary online battleground is steadying itself for a headlong rush into the next-gen.

And that's exactly where EA showed off the first of two downloadable add-ons appearing before the end of this year: in a room full of quietly humming Xbox Ones, on 16 vs 16 matches between members of the traditional gaming press and the altogether more 'enthusiastic' YouTube community. This first pack of four maps, Second Assault - available only on Xbox One for now - will be very familiar to anyone who has toiled away on the crumbling terrain of Battlefield 3. It's a greatest hits of sorts, a four-strong collection of BF3's most popular maps, remixed and lightly resprayed for Battlefield 4.

So here we have Operation Metro, Caspian Border, Gulf Of Oman and Operation Firestorm, all with a little less Battlefield 3 blue and a smattering of BF4-style levolution (it's a horrendous word, but it's sadly the easiest way to describe the map-altering 'events' that BF4 pins its maps around).

'Should Battlefield be an annualised series?' mulls EA

"You've got to be careful..."

Call of Duty made bonkers bucks this generation by being an annualised series developed alternately by two studios: Treyarch and Infinity Ward (and later Sledgehammer with Raven helping out).

One in three PS4 games sold is made by EA

But will continue to make PS3/360 games for "many years to come".

One game in every three sold for PS4 is made by EA, neighed the EA horse itself.

DICE struggles against DDOS attacks and severe crashes in Battlefield 4

UPDATE: PS4 patch now released.

UPDATE #2: Battlefield 4's PS4 patch is now live, DICE has announced, and includes fixes for the game's single and multiplayer modes.

Activision dodges Xbox One resolution concern

"They've taken different approaches to the design of the hardware."

Call of Duty publisher Activision has dodged questions around the resolution of next-generation games and power comparisons between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Battlefield 4 Second Assault redesigns four maps from Battlefield 3

Timed Xbox One exclusive out 22nd November.

DICE has unveiled the Second Assault expansion pack for shooter Battlefield 4.

DICE acknowledges Battlefield 4 "issues affecting large number of players"

UPDATE: Latest server fixes now live, more crash bugs sorted.

UPDATE: A new server update for Battlefield 4 has rolled out more fixes across PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game.

UK chart: Assassin's Creed 4 beats Battlefield 4

But neither sell as strongly as their predecessors.

As the autumn heavyweights enter the ring it's Ubisoft setting the pace, as Assassin's Creed 4 leaps to the top of the UK charts, leaving EA and Battlefield 4 with a cut eyebrow in second.

Digital FoundryFace-Off: Battlefield 4

Xbox 360, PS3 and PC under the microscope.

Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

Digital FoundryNext-Gen Now: watch Battlefield 4 at 1080p60

Full HD, full frame-rate captures that run on your PS3 or PC.

Wouldn't it be great if you could get a pre-launch taste of the next-gen visual experience using nothing more than your PlayStation 3 or PC? That's exactly what we aim to achieve with this new Digital Foundry series, Next-Gen Now. As 1080p60 captures finally start to roll in, we aim to deliver a selection of them to you in h.264 MP4 format, using an encoding profile designed to balance bandwidth with quality, allowing for smooth, high-quality playback of next-gen gameplay on a range of devices.

Digital FoundryXbox One Resolutiongate: the 720p fallout

How Call of Duty and Battlefield changed the console war.

"The biggest thing in terms of the number of compute units, that's been something that's been very easy to focus on. It's like, hey, let's count up the number of CUs, count up the gigaflops and declare the winner based on that. My take on it is that when you buy a graphics card, do you go by the specs or do you actually run some benchmarks? Firstly though, we don't have any games out. You can't see the games. When you see the games you'll be saying, 'What is the performance difference between them?' The games are the benchmarks." - Microsoft technical fellow, Andrew Goossen.

VideoWatch us play Battlefield 4 from 3pm BST

Both current gen versions being played through this afternoon.

Battlefield 4's out - well, it is if you're in America, anyway - and it's kind of good. The multiplayer's excellent, while the single player's kind of weak - who knew? - plus the PC version is easily the best looking of the lot. Seriously, put that surprised face away.

FeatureThe Maps of Battlefield 4

Heavy ordnance survey.

The Battlefield series has always been a cartographer's dream. Whereas other shooter franchises are content with densely packed arenas in which players can scurry about like well-armed lab rats, head-shotting each other over each piece of cheese, Battlefield maps have always felt like, well, like maps. Actual places, theatres of war, where terrain and elevation can play a tangible role in victory - or defeat.

EA bullish on PS4 and Xbox One launch sales

"Pricing can come down pretty aggressively over the next few years."

With the next generation of consoles nearly upon us, EA, one of the biggest game publishers in the world, has had its say on what it expects from the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Sony has gone on the record to say it will shift five million PlayStation 4 consoles before the financial year's end - 31st March 2014.

Microsoft has yet to gaze into its own crystal ball and predict Xbox One numbers, but in a financial call overnight, EA executives predicted a similar number for the console.

DICE "strongly advises" you download Battlefield 4 119.21MB day one update

Improves multiplayer. You have been warned.

Battlefield 4 comes with a meaty day one update.

The "Battlefield 4 Multiplayer Update 1" is available to download now from the Xbox Marketplace, where it weighs in at 119.21 MB.

DICE is yet to explain exactly what the update does (we've asked EA for more information), but it relates to the shooter's multiplayer, and is important enough for the developer to recommend players download it.

Digital FoundryFace-Off Preview: Battlefield 4 next-gen vs. PC

Shots fired.

Update 29/11/13: This article is based on near-final code we tested at an EA press event. The retail game has now been analysed in-house, so please refer to that article for a deeper understanding of the game.

Update 29/10/13: We've produced a short Q+A answering some of the questions about this article, specifically the accuracy of our captures.

The wait is, at last, finally over. Having followed a year-long trail of technical titbits on the Xbox One and PS4's silicon and circuitry, the debate over which platform "should in theory" come out top can now be met with some concrete results from actual software. This is courtesy of an exhaustive three-day bout of capturing both next-gen versions of Battlefield 4 - plus PC for good measure - in DICE's home city of Stockholm. Through this, an early triple-format Face Off preview of this year's most ambitious multi-platform FPS is now finally possible, with a set of initial results that may (or may not) surprise.

Battlefield 4 review

Generations at war.

"You don't want people to feel alienated by crazy features and crazy changes." So said Battlefield's executive producer, Patrick Bach, just over a week ago. Few will have been surprised by his words, what with the military shooter genre not being known for its radical reinventions, but it's interesting that he felt he had to address the issue at all.

Battlefield 4 is, of course, pretty much exactly the game you expect. A rather thin single-player campaign hangs on the tail of a much more interesting and robust multiplayer offering in which players skirmish across vast maps, throwing everything from quad bikes to state-of-the-art jet fighters at each other in an attempt to gain that precious additional XP, that must-have weapon unlock, that next slot up on the leaderboard. It's Battlefield, and the fundamentals are no more likely to change than Manchester United is likely to field an ostrich in goal, just to be different.

As with many franchises that have endured throughout this hardware generation and beyond, what we're looking at is less a case of ongoing evolution and more a question of custodianship. The numbers on the end of each game's title suggest an escalating sequence, but that's an old model that is rapidly becoming obsolete. Like most online games, it helps to view Battlefield 4 as an update to an ongoing service rather than a distinct product in and of itself, where the aim is not to reinvent but to refresh and to sustain.

Injustice joins Sony's PS3 to PS4 digital upgrade programme

And this is how the programme works.

Fighting game Injustice: Gods Among us has joined Sony's PlayStation 3 to PlayStation 4 digital upgrade programme.

Rousing Battlefield 4 single-player campaign trailer

Let's hope the story is better than Battlefield 3's.

It's the 'our multiplayer game has a gritty story too' moment, as EA serves up a rousing video teasing Battlefield 4's single-player story campaign.

There's swearing, there's punching, there's shooting, there's this line: "I don't have a problem with women, I got a problem with LIARS!"

There's a ship breaking in half, there's shooting mounted guns on the back of speed boats, there's slow motion, there's "nobody gets left behind!", and there are steep odds:

DICE promises improvements after Battlefield 4 beta

"Elevators were never designed to act as a catapult or teleporter."

Battlefield 4's final version will boast a long list of improvements from the game's recent beta, developer DICE has announced.

PC players will be pleased to hear that DICE is working on the beta's sometimes low frame rate and stuttering issues, as well as its high CPU usage for dual, quad and six-core processors.

Console owners will get more controller layouts in the final game, including a "Legacy" layout similar to Battlefield 3. A fix to better find populated servers will also be included.

14GB Battlefield 4 install needed for optimal Xbox 360 performance

DICE "highly recommends" it.

The Xbox 360 version of Battlefield 4 will include a 14GB install option for optimal performance, and developer DICE reccomends you use it.

Digital FoundryDigital Foundry vs. the Battlefield 4 beta

Current-gen vs. next-gen?

It's been a long console generation but the end is in sight with the release of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One set for this November. But the PS3/360 legacy lives on - the sheer size of their combined installed base means that publishers can't leave the old machines behind just yet. Hence the arrival of "cross-gen" games; titles developed for current and next generation consoles simultaneously. Battlefield 4 is, perhaps, the most anticipated of these releases, with the promise of delivering the full PC experience on both next generation consoles at 60fps. Expectations are high for the new platforms but what of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 experience? Does Frostbite 3 bring anything new to the table for these ageing consoles? How do these versions compare to Battlefield 4 running on a more powerful PC? And with the arrival of last week's beta test, can we extrapolate anything about the next-gen console versions from the PC game?

To begin with, the beta includes just one map, Siege of Shanghai, available in two variations according to the selected mode. In Domination the map is reduced in size to allow for a smaller player count while Conquest mode purportedly delivers the full experience. Unfortunately PS3 and 360 owners remain limited to a maximum of just 24 players per map. With Battlefield 4 it is more apparent than ever that this low player count simply isn't adequate for a full size Conquest map. Shanghai winds up feeling dreadfully empty with huge swathes of empty open space dividing skirmishes. The PC beta allows for a full 64 players - something DICE has also promised for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 iterations of the game.

But first, let's attempt to address a next-gen controversy surrounding the game. In the last few weeks, statements have been floating around suggesting that Battlefield 4 operates at 720p on the new consoles, or 900p on one but not the other, depending on which unsourced comment you read. With the PC beta in hand, we decided to take a look at the game running at various resolutions to determine what it might look like when operating at lower resolutions which are then upscaled back to 1080p. The PC version includes a resolution scaling option that allows you to maintain a desired output resolution (optimal for fixed pixel displays and for reducing input lag) while altering the internal rendering resolution. As it stands, BF4 is a demanding game on the PC and with the promise of 60fps, it's no surprise that compromises may have to be made. If the new consoles are able to deliver a level of detail on par with the PC version at 60fps, the drop in image quality could prove an acceptable trade-off.

Battlefield 3 shipped with "the worst set-ups ever"

"We should be slapped," says DICE.

DICE got the unlocks wrong in Battlefield 3, the developer has admitted. Speaking to VG247 at an event in Australia, creative director Lars Gustavsson accepted that the studio should be "slapped" for the way it stacked the deck against new players.

FeatureThe thrills and disappointments of the Battlefield 4 beta

Shanghaied.

I want to see the skyscraper fall down, but I just keep missing it. One moment it's there, a gleaming, glass and chrome monument to capitalism right at the centre of Battlefield 4's Siege of Shanghai map. Then, inevitably, I get bored, killed, distracted, wander off in order to capture a flag, or - if I'm feeling particularly brave - commandeer a tank, and when I get back to check in on the towering building, well, the skyscraper's already gone.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a complete failure: I caught the dust cloud once. A huge, billowing mass of debris and particles that seemed bigger than the skyscraper itself, and also intensely evocative of real-life disaster footage. But the actual moment it falls keeps eluding me. Once, I was manning a gun turret in helicopter, circling the colossal structure as it (I think) slowly started to tilt, wrenched itself off its foundations and collapsed into the waters below. Sadly, the turret I was manning was on the wrong side of chopper.

It's pretty frustrating, really. I want to see the Siege of Shanghai's centrepiece, a terrifically huge, destructible structure, fulfil its gimmicky raison d'etre. But of course, my repeated failure to see it happen also brilliantly sums up what Battlefield does so well: its jaw-dropping blend of scale and spectacle. In how many other games can an entire skyscraper fall over and yet somehow I miss it, every single time?

DICE releases Battlefield 4 beta bug list

"You may be floating if you jump on the bollards."

Yesterday saw the launch of GTA Online, but also the open beta for Battlefield 4. As expected for any multiplayer game getting its first whiff of real world interaction, there are issues and bugs cropping up and developer DICE has taken to the official forum with a list of known issues currently being investigated.

It includes important information for Xbox 360 players who are planning to jump on bollards.

Having trouble joining PC Battlefield 4 beta servers?

You're not the only one.

There are problems with the Battlefield 4 beta on PC that are making it unplayable for some people.

They seem to boil down to incompatibility issues with AMD and Nvidia graphics drivers and cards, and manifest in crashes when players try to join game servers. Well known Battlefield 4 developer Johan Andersson attempted to solve these issues by tweeting links to drivers that do work. This worked for some people.

Others had success after downloading and installing some important Microsoft software.

DICE: Battlefield 4 beta rollout times

UPDATE: Beta now available to all.

UPDATE: Today, Friday 4th October, is the day the Battlefield 4 beta becomes available to all.

The PC version is available through Origin.

Grab the PS3 version (1.6GB) from the Sony Entertainment Network Store.

All Battlefield 4 modes revealed

Seven modes all playable on 10 multiplayer maps.

DICE has announced all the modes included in upcoming shooter Battlefield 4 ahead of the start of the beta on 1st October.

EA's new boss Andrew Wilson makes a few changes

Hands EA Sports to Söderlund, Mobile to Gibeau.

EA's plucky new CEO Andrew Wilson has made some management changes.

Now Amazon offers Ł10 next-gen upgrade on BF4, FIFA 14, NFS: Rivals

It's all the rage.

Like GAME, Amazon.co.uk is offering a Ł10 next-gen upgrade promotion.

DICE looking into Kinect head tracking for Xbox One Battlefield 4

Peek and lean.

DICE is looking into adding Kinect features to the Xbox One version of shooter Battlefield 4.

Battlefield 4 open beta release date announced

UPDATE: early access 1st Oct. Everyone else, 4th Oct.

UPDATE: EA has clarified exactly when you'll be able to play the Battlefield 4 open beta.

Anyone can download and play the beta on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 from 4th October.

However, you can gain early access from 1st October if:

Battlefield 4 PC minimum and recommended specs confirmed

DICE recommends you run Windows 8.

DICE has confirmed the minimum and recommended specs for upcoming shooter Battlefield 4.

You need at least 4GB of RAM and 512MB of graphics memory to run the game. DICE recommends you have 8GB of RAM and 3GB of graphics memory.

Minimum quality graphics cards are the AMD Radeon HD 3870 or the NVIDIA Geforce 8800 GT, but DICE recommends you have the HD 7870 or the GTX 660.

GAME promises Ł40 trade-in when you upgrade COD, BF4, FIFA 14

UPDATE: Original game must have been bought from the retailer.

UPDATE: GAME has clarified a few details in the small print of its game upgrade promotion.

VideoLet's play Battlefield 4

Watch a hearty chunk of Obliteration mode in action.

Did you make it to Gamescom last week? Ah, the smells, the meat and those four hour long queues. I almost wish I was back there now.

Battlefield 4 beta launches early October

Premium detailed, includes five expansions.

Battlefield 4's beta will launch on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in early October, developer DICE has announced.

DICE boss Karl-Magnus Troedsson took to the stage at today's EA Gamescom 2013 press conference to announce details of the game and its DLC Premium service.

Battlefield 4 Premium will include the game's five planned expansion packs, all available two weeks early.

Battlefield 4 multiplayer artwork

Battlefield 4 mode Obliteration and map Paracel Storm revealed

Watch a battleship crash into an island mid-match.

DICE has unveiled a new game mode and map for Battlefield 4.

Microsoft's Xbox 360-One Season Pass Guarantee

Most carry across. But there's a catch...

Good news*! Companies signing up to Microsoft's Season Pass Guarantee - and the big names apparently are - will give you automatic access to Season Passes for Xbox One games that you've bought on Xbox 360.

Live: EA Gamescom Conference

The latest on BF4, FIFA 14 and the unveiling of The Sims 4. Watch it back and read our live coverage.

Battlefield 4 stats will carry over to next gen consoles

War never changes.

Progress made ranking a character in Battlefield 4 on Xbox 360 and PS3 will carry over onto Xbox One and PS4, publisher EA has announced.

DICE reveals next-gen Battlelog for Battlefield 4

Will you give it a shot?

Battlefield 4 developer DICE has shown off the next version of its social service Battlelog, which will tie deeper into the main PC and console game than before.

FeatureEA and Nintendo: the collapse of the "unprecedented relationship"

"Our job as game creators and executives is to be where the gamers are."

Just two years ago, during another typically sunny morning in Los Angeles, ex-EA boss John Riccitiello walked on stage at the Nokia Theatre to announce an “unprecedented relationship” with Nintendo.

New DICE video shows how Frostbite 3 makes Battlefield 4 better

Trees! Waves! Explosions!

DICE has released a new video showing how the Frostbite 3 engine makes Battlefield 4 better.

Battlefield 4 dev DICE on Commander Mode and the importance of 60fps

Like PC, next-gen console "getting the full Battlefield experience".

Buy the next-generation version of Battlefield 4 and you'll get the "full Battlefield experience", developer DICE has told Eurogamer.

FeatureAfter Xbox One U-turn pre-owned is back on the table - but at what cost?

Mixed opinions on the complex issue of second-hand sales.

Microsoft's stunning U-turn on its controversial Xbox One policies has delighted gamers and retailers - but are developers and publishers just as happy?

FeatureMicrosoft makes the case for Xbox One's 300,000 server cloud, but what do developers think?

Respawn, Ubisoft and DICE on the "power of the cloud".

At E3 last week, in a behind closed doors presentation called Xbox 101, Microsoft engineering manager Jeff Henshaw - not a member of the PR team, he points out - tells a small gathering of journalists that Xbox One's 300,000 server cloud gives the next-generation console a unique advantage.

Battlefield 4 Microsoft Conference gallery

Digital FoundryBattlefield 4: Xbox One trailer at 720p60

60fps action from the Microsoft E3 2013 conference. We recommend Google Chrome for watching this video on PC.

Digital FoundryBattlefield 4: Xbox One trailer at 60fps

60fps action from the Microsoft E3 2013 conference. We recommend Google Chrome for watching this video on PC.

EA: "We don't have a problem with second-hand sales as they are today"

UPDATE: EA's strategy will focus on a "gamer-first" perspective.

UPDATE: EA has said it is still deciding on a used-games strategy based on what Microsoft and Sony have announced.

"We are formulating our strategy based on the information they released," EA Labels president Frank Gibeau said during an investor call today.

"In general, we'll definitely be looking at a gamer-first [perspective] so we can continue to have a relationship with used game users that is a positive experience."

Battlefield 4 reintroduces top down "Commander Mode"

Now featuring destructible skyscrapers.

DICE showed off the Battlefield 4 multiplayer for the first time during EA's E3 press conference moments ago.

60 alleged Battlefield 4 alpha multiplayer screenshots appear

No Camaros by the looks of things.

A large pile of screenshots allegedly from the Battlefield 4 alpha multiplayer test have appeared online.

Battlefield: Bad Company series not in "active development"

DICE: "Battlefield 4 is our main focus for the year."

Just in case you thought a team at DICE was secretly working on a new Battlefield: Bad Company game - it's not.

Battlefield 4 release date, Xbox One version announced

UPDATE: UK release date confirmed.

UPDATE: EA has contacted Eurogamer to say the UK release date for Battlefield 4 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC is 1st November 2013.

"Battlefield 4 will also be available for the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4," a spokesperson said, suggesting the next-gen versions may release after the current-gen versions.

ORIGINAL STORY: Battlefield 4 launches on 29th October 2013, EA has announced.

EA to discontinue Online Passes

“We've listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.”

EA is going to discontinue its Online Pass requirement to access certain features in its future releases.

EA registers domains for Battlefields 13-20

But doesn't own Battlefields 10-12.

In a case of comically long-term planning, EA has secured the rights to domains for www.battlefield13.com to www.battlefield20.com.

EA refuses to licence guns and war paraphernalia in its action games this year

"A book doesn't pay for saying the word Colt."

EA won't pay arms manufacturers for licensed digital replicas of their guns and war paraphernalia in its action games - Battlefield 4 - this year. But it will use them anyway.

Madden NFL 25 the latest EA game to skip Wii U - what now for FIFA 14?

UPDATE: EA confirms no FIFA 14 for Wii U following "disappointing" FIFA 13 sales.

UPDATE: EA has confirmed to Eurogamer that FIFA 14 will not release on Wii U.

Business as usual at Respawn as EA layoffs hit hard

"These are hard but essential changes."

Respawn Entertainment, the studio founded by the creators of the Call of Duty franchise, has insisted it is business as usual amid widespread layoffs at publisher EA.

Battlefield 4: more evidence of Commander Mode, Battlelog 2.0, release date

Plus, Drone Strike expansion.

A shop poster has added to the growing evidence that Battlefield 4 will see the return of Commander Mode.

The poster, revealed by BF4Central, is from Australian shop EB Games. It mentions the "brand new Commander Mode" - heavily rumoured to be a part of the game.

It also mentions Battlelog 2.0. "The next version of the state of the art gaming portal," the poster reads. "Track every shot, every opponent, ever detail of your online Battlefield career."

Battlefield 4 promo material reveals return of Commander Mode, three playable factions

US, China and Russia.

Battlefield 4 will see the return of the series' much-loved Commander Mode, promotional material has revealed.

Digital FoundryTech Analysis: Battlefield 4: Fishing in Baku

Blown away.

At long last, we have a clear visual on the next major Battlefield title, with developer DICE unleashing a full wave of Battlefield 4 details last week in its whopping 17-minute Fishing in Baku trailer. Visually, this extended cut of in-game footage succeeds in its mission to dazzle like few other games can, and crucially it shows us what results the latest Frostbite 3 engine can achieve on both high-end PCs and, presumably, next-gen consoles. This isn't just about first-person shooters, however: with Bioware also keen to chip in that this technology forms the basis of follow-ups to its Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, its advances represent much more as we look to the future.

Digital FoundryWatch the Battlefield 4 trailer at 60FPS

The full-fat experience.

Last week's GDC Battlefield 4 demo looked pretty spectacular, even when viewed via heavily compressed streaming video, so when we acquired a high-bitrate 1080p version of the trailer running at the full 60 frames per second, we knew we had to share it with you. The only problem: actually getting the footage to run smoothly on a webpage.

It transpires that there's a pretty good reason YouTube supports pretty much every type of video format you care to mention except 60 frames per second playback - across a range of browsers the Flash renderer appears to have massive issues sustaining any kind of update north of 30FPS, even if you're using a fast desktop PC. Our usual strategy for running non-standard video - encoding the files ourselves and plugging them directly into the Eurogamer player - didn't seem to work out this time.

However, after a weekend of testing across various hardware, we found a solution: Chrome offers a substantial performance boost in video playback - the 35-40FPS we saw on a five-year-old Core 2 Duo laptop running Firefox shot up to 55-60FPS on the standard-def encode embedded below. Factoring in mind how laggy streaming video can be in general, a move over to the Google browser could in theory yield dividends across a range of sites. Alternatively, in the case of these Battlefield videos at least, iOS hardware from the iPad/iPhone 4 onwards seems to run both SD and HD versions of the trailer pretty much flawlessly.

Digital FoundryBattlefield 4: 17 Minutes at 60FPS Video (SD)

Watch the first DICE trailer at full temporal resolution.

Digital FoundryBattlefield 4: 17 Minutes at 60FPS Video (HD)

Watch the first DICE trailer at full temporal resolution.

FeatureThe big Battlefield 4 interview: DICE leaves technology behind

Frostbite 3, Wii U and why it's not just about pretty graphics.

Having just an hour earlier listened to Sony delve deep into the power of the PlayStation 4, it comes as a bit of a shock to hear Battlefield main man Patrick Bach tell me that DICE is moving on from technology during our meeting at the Game Developers Conference.

DICE explains why there's no Battlefield 4 for Wii U

Didn't want to "risk" stretching itself too thin.

DICE shooter Battlefield 4 will be released this autumn for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A next-gen console release is certain. But it won't be coming to Wii U.

EA unveils Battlefield 4, powered by Frostbite 3, with 17-minute gameplay trailer

Out this autumn.

At GDC this evening EA unveiled Battlefield 4, powered by Frostbite 3, with a 17-minute gameplay trailer.

The DICE-made shooter is due out in the autumn, EA said.

The Fishing in Baku gameplay video is lifted from Battlefield 4's campaign, which starts with the evacuation of American VIPs from Shanghai and follows your squad's struggle to find its way home.

Battlefield 4 screenshots hit the internet ahead of debut trailer

UPDATE: Now the BF4 teaser trailer has leaked.

UPDATE: The teaser trailer for Battlefield 4 has leaked online.

The video, which looks like a TV spot, popped up on YouTube about an hour ago, ahead of the full reveal of the game at GDC later tonight. The video is below.

ORIGINAL STORY: Battlefield 4 screenshots have hit the internet ahead of the release of the game's debut trailer later tonight.

EA exploring making Battlefield 4 and Dragon Age 3 engine Frostbite 2 work with Oculus Rift

Turn around.

EA is exploring the possibility of making Battlefield 4 and Dragon Age 3 engine Frostbite 2 work with the virtual reality headset Oculus Rift.

Microsoft prepping an EA partnership announcement for its next Xbox event - report

Has MS bought timed exclusivity for Battlefield 4 DLC?

EA was conspicuously absent from Sony's PlayStation 4 unveiling. Now there's speculation that it's because Microsoft has signed a new partnership deal with EA.

Before you go bananas, this is unlikely to mean games will appear on the next Xbox and not PS4. It's more likely to concern timed-exclusive DLC.

CVG got wind of the partnership from a couple of anonymous sources, but neither had any more information on what it will be.

DICE: “we don't want to become a Battlefield factory”

UPDATE: ex-DICE dev says Mirror's Edge 2 in production. EA remains quiet.

UPDATE: Ben Cousins, general manager of ngmoco Sweden and former executive producer of the Battlefield franchise, has tweeted to say Mirror's Edge 2 is indeed in development.

EA defends sequelitis, bemoans lack of "reward" for launching new IP

Working on three to five new IPs for next gen.

Mega-publisher Electronic Arts has excused its current sequel-laden line-up by saying there's a lack of "reward" for launching new game IPs this late in the console generation.

EA Labels president Frank Gibeau admitted that the drought of actual new games would continue until new hardware arrived.

"If you look at the market dynamics: as much as there's a desire for new IP, the market doesn't reward new IP this late in the cycle; they end up doing okay, but not really breaking through," Gibeau explained to GamesIndustry.biz.

DICE: People worried about Battlefield 4 announcement "for all the wrong reasons"

"We are better than ever when it comes to supporting our game."

DICE reckons fans are worried about the recent Battlefield 4 announcement "for all the wrong reasons".

Last month EA quietly announced Battlefield 4 with confirmation that you'll be able to play its beta by pre-ordering Medal of Honor: Warfighter, out this year.

With the BF4 beta scheduled for autumn 2013, the game is expected to launch October/November 2013. Some Battlefield fans complained that it will be released too soon after the release of Battlefield 3 (which launched six years after Battlefield 2) and that the announcement suggests the end for Battlefield 3 support.

Battlefield and Call of Duty: the great frames per second debate

"I'm pretty convinced Call of Duty is as popular as it is because of how fluid it can feel."

60 frames or not 60 frames? When it comes to military first-person shooters, that is the question.

EA promises to support Battlefield 3 after the release of Battlefield 4

"We are committed to providing an excellent Battlefield 3 experience well into the future."

EA has reaffirmed its commitment to Battlefield 3 amid concern sparked by the announcement of Battlefield 4.

"Exclusive" Battlefield 4 beta will not be exclusive to Medal of Honor: Warfighter

DICE responds to fan concerns over release "pacing".

Entry into Battlefield 4's "exclusive" beta will not be exclusive to those who buy Medal of Honor: Warfighter, DICE has reassured.

EA made Battlefield 4 official yesterday by confirming that beta access for the game would be granted to Warfighter conscripts.

"The exclusive Battlefield 4 beta will be available in Fall 2013," EA said. "Additional details regarding Battlefield 4 will be revealed at a later date."

DICE: Battlefield 3 story "is still just the beginning"

Confirms Medal of Honor will use Battlelog.

Battlefield developer DICE has insisted there's plenty still to come for Battlefield 3 in a statement issued to fans following the announcement of Battlefield 4.

EA announces Battlefield 4 with Medal of Honor pre-order bonus

UPDATE: beta to run autumn 2013.

UPDATE: EA has confirmed that the Battlefield 4 beta will run in the autumn of 2013, suggesting a launch October/November 2013 time.

"The exclusive Battlefield 4 beta will be available in Fall 2013," EA said. "Additional details regarding Battlefield 4 will be revealed at a later date."

EA Labels president Frank Gibeau added: "Though Battlefield and Medal of Honor Warfighter each offer players a completely unique experience, they are united by their underlying technology base - Frostbite. These are two of the hottest shooters, coming together to deliver a one-two punch of action, intensity and shooter entertainment."