Players who pre-ordered the Limited Edition of Battlefield 3 before it released last October had first crack at the game’s first set of additional maps, four that were based on some of the most popular environments from previous games in the series. With the Battlefield Premium service (which also includes Back to Karkand) the first new content came with Battlefield 3: Close Quarters earlier this summer.
Close Quarters also added four additional multiplayer maps, that all ran with an infantry-only Call of Duty-esque theme. As the title of the DLC suggests, the four maps were small, enclosed and didn’t include any of the series’ trademark vehicular warfare. With Battlefield 3: Armored Kill, that all changes and we are very thankful.
The Armored Kill expansion is already available for PS3 Premium players and will release for Premium PC and Xbox 360 players next week on September 11th. For non-Premium subscribers, Armored Kill will be available on September 18th for PS3/September 25th for PC & Xbox 360.
Like the previous two map packs, Armored Kill also adds four new maps, but these ones all fall on the side of super-sized. All four are outdoors, wide open and one of them earned the label of being the largest map in Battlefield franchise history (Bandar Desert).
New Battlefield 3: Armored Kill gameplay footage premiered at Gamescom 2012 a few weeks back where the Death Valley and Alborz Mountain maps were detailed and last week we got a close look at the snow-covered mountain tops of Alborz with another new gameplay trailer. Premium subscribers can check Battlelog for an exclusive members-only 5-minute video that walks through the four new locations but for a briefer yet equally exciting overview of the new content, we have the official Battlefield 3: Armored Kill launch trailer which can be viewed up top.
Reaction was mixed to the Close Quarters DLC representing the first batch of new DLC content for Premium subscribers since long-time Battlefield fans want the large, open environments and vehicle gameplay that defines the Battlefield experience. As emphasized with the video above, players will need to get behind armor, get in the air, or hide, especially in the new Tank Superiority mode.
Armored Kill adds the following to Battlefield 3:
Maps
- Bandar Desert
- Alborz Mountain
- Death Valley
- Armored Shield
Vehicles
- AC-130 Gunship
- M1128 Mobile Gun System (Tank Destroyer)
- 2S25 Sprut (Tank Destroyer)
- M142 HIMARS (Mobile Artillery)
- BM-21 (Mobile Artillery)
- 5 entirely new unlocks for base game, 20 unlocks for new vehicles.
Assignments
- Five vehicle-based assignments for Armored Kill.
- Five vehicle-based assignments for Premium members.
Not only are the maps physically bigger, they’re that much more detailed since infantry need cover in the vast expanses and most of the cover must be provided by natural surroundings in the environments. Read all about the design of Armored Kill on the official Battlefield 3 blog.
Battlefield 3: Premium Edition (and the Armored Kill DLC) will be available for all Premium subscribers in North America on September 11 and in Europe on September 13 for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. PlayStation 3 players will also receive an additional week of early access to all remaining digital expansion packs.
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I don’t see how big maps are a selling point for PS3 or XBOX players. I play some maps on PS3, and think they are two big and that I hardly find anyone. Too much unused space is no fun at all.
That’s a good point. This really is a PC game first and foremost. I have it for consoles and PC and can’t even play it on consoles (multiplayer, anyway). This is this number one game for showing the discrepancies between current-gen consoles and PC.
Big maps is what made BF so popular. Big maps aren’t selling points nor are they supposed to be. Just like Close Quarters isn’t a selling point for the pc side. All this DLC is supposed to give you an certain experience. There are maps both for pc and consoles. BF3 also is not a pc game first. It’s been dumbed down to fit the console version. If this was a pc game, we would have BF2 features that existed but because of the current gen of consoles, it’s just not possible. I personally think that BF4 will be a full even game both for consoles and pc’s because the next gen consoles will have the same number of people for each map sizes plus it will also be what BF3 supposed to be.
@pierogi
Yah, like Commander mode, 6 man squads instead of 4, and in-game VOIP…
Good call on all three of those.
Also, in-game video capture and screenshots would be nice.
I’ve been playing Armored Kill (on PS3 of course) and I have to say that the maps are too big for game modes like Conquest. However, they are very scenic and awing in their size. I’m happy for the expansion, because I can still play Team Deathmatch and Rush on those maps, so it’s easier to find enemies.
Ya, the player counts are killer. Even on PC for this expansion, I’d like the 64 doubled to 128.
@Rob
That would be fantabulous, lol. The more the merrier…
The strange part is that they actually can do it (and it’s been done), they just won’t allow it.
I still pray for the day mods are supported and we get 128-player dinosaur maps with larger squads and commanders
@Rob
I don’t understand how there isn’t a dinosaur game yet… I remember Turok, and there are mods for certain games, but seriously, there should be a big budget game pitting man versus dinosaurs, lol. Every other idea have already been abused enough…
@Ken J
It’s definitely not big budget and you may have already heard about it but if not, check out “Primal Carnage”
Its an indie game that is class based online multiplayer dinosaurs vs humans. FPS for humans, third person eater for dinosaurs haha. Not the same as bringing them to battlefield but still might be worth checking out when its released
@ Ken, I know, right?!
Seriously, if EA came out and showcased the video gameplay premiere of End Game at the end of the year and it’s last scene featured motorcycles charging a Triceratops as a Pterodactyl tackles an attack chopper, it’d be the single biggest marketing success of all-time.
No gameplay video would be shared or talked about as much. They should loosen up a bit for the DLC and do some fun, “out there” modes, much like Treyarch does zombies. Dinos > Zombies.
Contract me out for this, EA.
@SV
Actually, I think I’ve seen a video of that. But not sure if it’ll make it big enough to always have servers and players. That’s why I want something like that but by a big company that can advertise the heck out of it, lol.
@Rob
As much as I like zombies, I definitely would rather play a game with dinosaurs now than zombies simply because there are like a million other games with zombies in it, lol.
@ Rob
That is an awesome pitch! I would be stoked if End Game brought dinosaurs to BF3!
I kinda agree with you, but Battlefield games always stride for authentic warzone experiences.
Yah, I honestly don’t blame you for thinking that. The main reason why I enjoy BF3 is because of the 64 player mayhem that it brings. Not to mention I preordered the limited edition back before the game’s release for only $43… Just makes it that much sweeter…
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was made for consoles, and just was better on PC because all multiplier games are better on PC. Battlefield 3 was made for PC, and counsel owners just got the scraps. There are still people playing Bad Co. for a reason, and I am one of them.
Looks action packed, shame all players are going to be camping from a mile away.
Back when Battlefield was still Modern Combat (before Dice) the best maps were Backstab and Bridge To Far, and with good reason. They were VERY open, had TONS of replayability, and there was NO one set method for controlling the game. Battles were pitched hell, and as long as a side was willing to work as a team there was no point at which you could not stage a comeback. Even if the other side had vehicle superiority it was not a given that they won. I hope these maps bring some of that back, because NOTHING was better than coordinating a massive armored charge on multipule control points at once, and watching a full armored slugging match. It was truly epic.