While many gamers are already looking forward to the launches of some high profile 2015 titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Batman: Arkham Knight, several previously-released titles are in the thick of their DLC campaigns. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, for example, is only halfway through its DLC release schedule, offering players a total of 8 multiplayer maps so far.

Not to be outdone, Call of Duty’s biggest competitor, Battlefield Hardline, is ramping up for its DLC campaign, which is set to kick off with the launch of the Criminal Activity pack later this month. We don’t know too much about the pack just yet, but developers from Visceral Games – the new team handling Battlefield Hardline’s development – have shared a few early details.

As expected, Battlefield Hardline’s DLC pack will include four multiplayer maps, two of which will be set at night. While playing through the main content in Battlefield Hardline we did note a definite lack of diversity as far as multiplayer locales are concerned, so perhaps Criminal Activity will help inject some variety. All we know for sure, is that the maps will feature urban environments, and they will take place in California and Florida – two of the main settings in Battlefield Hardline’s singleplayer campaign.

To the variety point, Visceral Games’ multiplayer producer Zach Mumbach assures Battlefield Hardline players that these new maps will feature “a little more destructibility” than was seen in the main game. Battlefield has built a strong reputation on the back of its Frostbite engine, specifically it’s ability to create intractable environments, so fans will certainly be happy to hear this. Then again, a little destructibility does not sound like Battlefield Hardline is getting a “Levolution” type upgrade wherein maps completely change over the course of battle.

One addition that Visceral is definitely not ready to make to the Battlefield Hardline experience is planes, which Mumbach confirmed are not part of Criminal Activity. In his interview with Don’tReviveMeBro, Mumbach explains that the Battlefield Hardline multiplayer experience was built to be close-quarters, so introducing planes and any larger map type vehicles would go against that approach.

Mumbach goes on to say that he’s not against the idea of planes in Battlefield Hardline, but the producer finds that in most other Battlefield games that feature planes, those aerial vehicles are simply fighting each other. He’s not necessarily wrong about that, especially where Battlefield 4 is concerned, but that doesn’t mean fans are not clamoring for the addition of aerial vehicles.

"I just don't see how to work it into the fiction of what we're doing. I'm not necessarily anti-planes, but when I play [Battlefield 4], it just feels like they're fighting each other."

Like the aforementioned destructibility, planes, jets, helicopters, tanks, etc. have become part of the franchise’s DNA. Then again, this is a spin-off franchise focused on the conflict between cops and robbers, which makes the aerial combat a little harder to justify.

Outside of that, we don’t know much about Criminal Activity, but that should change soon. Visceral Games and Electronic Arts are clearing revving up their Battlefield Hardline DLC campaign, so fans can expect more info in the coming weeks.

Source: Don’tReviveMeBro