Digital conflict is a business, and right now business is booming. With the next generation of home consoles slated to appear on retail racks later this year, all-out virtual warfare is already guaranteed for 2013. Like GTA 5's Merriweather mercs, Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts aren't so much concerned with picking sides in the upcoming scuffle as they are with decimating all opposition, including each other.
Long-serving Battlefield developers DICE will firmly believe that their advantage lies in the multiplayer arena. Shoring up their flagship series' online suite are 7 new-and-improved multiplayer modes announced ahead of the game's open beta testing period, which begins on October 4th 2013 (BF4 Deluxe Edition, BF3 Premium & MOH: Warfighter Special Edition owners receive exclusive early access to the Beta on October 1st).
All modes are set to make use of the same 10 maps, with many also receiving a default time limit, (with overtime being employed to decide tied games). The modes include:
Conquest (Included in the Battlefield 4 Beta tests)
- The vanilla Battlefield experience. Utilize all manner of vehicles, or roll out on foot in order to achieve total control.
- Killing enemies depletes their respawn numbers, capturing flags further reduces their stock of return-to-play 'tickets'
- 24 players on current-gen
- 64 players on next-gen
- Optional Commander Mode play
Domination (Included in the Battlefield 4 Beta tests)
- Battlefield 3's addition to the mix: an infantry-only variant on Conquest, with more closely-packed control points for tighter pacing
- Fewer tickets, faster flag capture
- 20 players on all platforms
- No Commander Mode play
Obliteration (New to Battlefield)
- Battlefield's latest take on 'Bomb the base,' players pursue a randomly dropped bomb and attempt to plant it in each of their opposition's 3 strongholds, while defending their own.
- Frenetic, furiously-shifting action likened to a game of gridiron by DICE
- 24 players on current-gen
- 32 players on next-gen
- Optional Commander Mode play
Defuse (New to Battlefield)
- Single life, single revival 'hardcore mode,' designed with the Battlefield elite in mind
- Destroy all enemies or arm a military objective to win
- 10 players on all platforms
- No Commander Mode play
Team Deathmatch
- Classic killfest mode. First to reach a set number of enemy fatalities wins
- 20 players on all platforms
- No Commander Mode play
Rush
- Classic Battlefield Offence vs. Defence variant
- Attackers must dislodge defenders from 6 sites (2 at a time) before their respawn 'tickets' run out
- 24 players on current-gen
- 32 players on next-gen
- Optional Commander Mode play
Squad Deathmatch
- Four squads of five battle it out to claim the most kills
- 20 players on all platforms
- No Commander Mode play
While fans of the franchise will certainly appreciate the plethora of improved game types on offer, no one mode in particular sticks out as being all that conceptually interesting or unique. What will likely set the game's multiplayer suite apart is the interplay of other bolder elements; features such as the Commander Mode & enhanced customization options being overlaid onto an already top-notch fragfest.
Which Battlefield 4 multiplayer mode are you the most excited to play? Will the series rule the next-gen shooter roost, or take up second spot behind Call of Duty? Where will the franchise head next: back to the future, the past or remain right here in the present? Have your say in the comments below and be sure to check out Game Rant's rundown of all of the latest Battlefield 4 news right here.
Battlefield 4 arrives on October 29th 2013 for PC, PS3 & Xbox 360 platforms. PlayStation 4 & Xbox One versions will launch just prior to their respective consoles later this year.
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