Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 (commonly abbreviated as BF3) is a Battlefield game made by Digital Illusions CE, and is a sequel to Battlefield 2. It was released on October 25, 2011 for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Battlefield 3 was revealed on February 4, 2011 with a teaser trailer, and was the cover story of the March 2011 issue of GameInformer. It was first showcased on March 1, 2011 during GDC 2011, which revealed unedited gameplay for the first time.

48-hour beta access for Battlefield 3 was packaged with every Limited and Tier 1 Edition of Medal of Honor. DICE announced on February 3, 2011 that the release of Battlefield 1943 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2's Onslaught DLC were cancelled for the PC to concentrate all their workforce on Battlefield 3, and that they will make it their biggest Battlefield release yet, even going so far as calling it "the best Battlefield game ever." DICE also confirmed that the different versions of the game would not differ too much, but the PC version would be getting extra attention, in the sense that they would not limit themselves to the technical capabilities of consoles, and that the different versions were being developed separately.

Overview
Battlefield 3 includes both singleplayer and co-operative campaigns and will feature multiplayer gameplay similar to the classic Battlefield 2.

Jets made their return as pilotable vehicles, prone also returned as an available stance, and the PC version is able to support 64 players simultaneously in a multiplayer match. However, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are able to support up to 24 players in a multiplayer match. Nothing is known yet about the Wii U release. As seen in the Battlefield 3 gameplay trailer, it is confirmed that the player can now drag fallen soldiers and heal them from cover. However, it has also been confirmed that this gameplay feature does not carry over into the multiplayer aspects of the game. This installment uses a completely new engine, named Frostbite 2, the successor to the Frostbite Engine used in the Bad Company series.

With the help of the Frostbite 2 engine, Battlefield 3 introduces Destruction 3.0. An improvement over Bad Company 2's Destruction 2.0, version 3.0 allows for a much larger range of destructible objects alongside buildings and more realistic destruction. For example, when the player fires the AT4 into the hotel in the Fault Line, Episode II: Good Effect on Target trailer, the façade of the building shatters and falls to the ground. In the earthquake-prone city of Sulaymaniyah, players experience tremors and earthquakes that further display the capabilities of Destruction 3.0.

Audio is another focus for the game. There are audio cues that, for example, will let the player know if a tank is moving towards or away from them, or if it is having trouble climbing a slope. The developers have recorded real life sounds of vehicles and weapons from a military training exercise with their goal being to create "cleaner and brighter audio." As stated by Thomas Danko, voice over producer at DICE: "No FPS ever had this large amount of VO variations for Multi Play, not even close. Over 300 for the "Man down" event alone."

Several sources confirmed that console versions of the game would get smaller multiplayer maps than the PC version, though there would be little to no change in the graphics of the different versions.

Lead weapon designer for Battlefield 3 Alan Kertz stated in an EA PWNED interview (see video section):
 * "We're going for a really authentic feel in Battlefield 3. So the big thing that we're looking at is what guns are actually being used by armies, and obviously we have the Marines in Battlefield, so first thing we did is go in and look for the Marine weapons, but we also want that little bit extra special, because fun is still something really important in Battlefield. So, we went ahead and looked at other forces and said: "What sticks out? What looks cool? What is unique? What fills a role that we don't have?" And we went and we picked those guns and brought those into Battlefield, as well."

A fact sheet released by EA listed all of the game's weapons, weapon accessories, vehicles, specializations and noted there would be nine multiplayer maps upon release.

Singleplayer
A single-player mission was probably first hinted at in Game Informer.

The only confirmed playable faction are the US Marines, where the player assumes the role of at least one Marine, Staff Sergeant Henry "Black" Blackburn, of 1st Recon. The campaign, set in the year 2014, takes the player around the world in a war being waged in Tehran (Iran), Paris (France), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Dasht-e Kavir desert (Iran) and New York (U.S.A.). Currently, the only confirmed enemies in the game are a fictional group known as the People's Liberation and Resistance, or PLR, which the player will first engage in said city, in an earthquake prone area, as the player will witness.

An article on the Battlefield blog states that the single player storyline is revealed by flashbacks as Henry "Black" Blackburn races to prevent an attack on New York by the PLR, as Blackburn recalls Key events leading up to the attack, the blog also states that players take control of several characters in heart-pounding missions across land, sea and air.

DICE stated that the single player levels are a mix of sandbox and linear levels.

An unconfirmed location is the Al Basrah region in Iraq, which appears to be the label on the map in "Fault Line Series - Episode 1: Bad Part of Town."

As Battlefield 3 is not a sequel to Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Marlowe, Sweetwater, Haggard and Redford will not make an appearance in the game.

The gameplay debut of the campaign level mentioned above entitled: "Fault Line Series - Episode 1: Bad Part of Town" was released the morning of March 2, 2011; 1 day after a reveal event by EA and DICE showcasing 15 minutes of gameplay.

An article on Kotaku states that the single-player campaign was inspired by multiple war movies such as Generation Kill, Hurt Locker, Black Hawk Down and the television series 24. It is also said that there is a focus on the characters' (including the player's) personalities and dialog. Additionally, it was confirmed that the date of 2014 was chosen to not politicize the story. Another single-player mission, called "Thunder Run," showing eight minutes of gameplay, was revealed during E3 2011. This time, the player controls Corporal Jonathan "Jono" Miller of the 1st Marine Tank Battalion as they engage and destroy PLR armor in the Dasht-e Kavir desert in Iran. At the time of this mission, at least, the game is set in October 31, 2014.

Another single-player mission was confirmed, with the player controlling a Russian undercover agent called Dmitri "Dima" Mayakovsky. The player must fight his way from the Paris Stock Exchange onto the crowded city streets in an attempt to stop People's Liberation and Resistance operatives from detonating a dirty bomb in the heart of Paris.

According to a Battlelog screenshot, there are 12 or more missions and Mission 6 is called "The Longest Hour" with the difficulty setting being Normal, thus confirming the return of campaign difficulty settings.

In an article by Kotaku another singleplayer level was revealed: "Operation Guillotine", a night-based mission which is something DICE have never done before. The mission begins with a group of Marines crouching on a hilltop amidst ruined buildings, looking down at Tehran, the capital of Iran. One of the Marine whistles in awe and remarks "That is a biiiiig city". The Marines' orders are to capture an apartment complex on the other side of a nearby canal. They move quickly down a forested hillside while under bombardment and dash for cover under a large concrete overpass, but during the run in the open, a Marine is sent flying due to a shell exploding closeby. The article jumps to a point further in the mission where the Marines are setting up a mortar to provide illumination on a distant target. Shortly afterwards, the Marines scale a wall to move into the city and enter the canal. The apartment complex is breached by the Marines armed with shotguns, but as the player approaches a door, an armored enemy kicks the door open from the inside and sends the player sprawling. The scene shifts back outdoors to a corpsman applying a tourniquet to a wounded Marine while another is being dragged off. Finally, the player is ordered to mount a Humvee by Captain Brady. The player was revealed to Sgt. Blackburn from the Fault Line trailer indicating it is before the earthquake or after. Black then climbs in the passenger seat of an HMMWV, soon reaching a gas tanker blocking the road, which turns out to be an ambush.

According to GTTV it shows that Black survives the Earthquake and the city is now at night time, he retraces his step back to the LZ and that the PLR are attacking the LZ, after the fight Black and the other marines escape off to a helicopter.

Co-op Campaign
The mode supports two players online (no split screen play), spans six missions and is a standalone section, separate from the single player game (Although the first co-op mission is right after the second story mission but before the third). Players will have to work together to complete objectives. The missions will include ground and air vehicle missions, as well as tight urban arid warfare. Also, after gaining enough co-op points, weapons in the multiplayer will be unlocked.

The first co-op gameplay debuted at EA's Gamescom 2011 Conference. It featured DICE general manager Karl Magnus-Troedsson and EA Games executive vice president Patrick Soderlund demoing the mission Exfiltration. The gameplay showcased the the new thermal weapons, smarter A.I., teammate reviving, and Bad Company 2's spot mechanic.

David Spinnier, lead co-op designer stated that the levels will have randomized elements that change each time a co-op level is played, making it a different experience every time, Spinnier also said that the missions will be shorter, to aid replayability.

Operation Exodus
In Operation Exodus, both players, and a convoy of six M1114 HMMWVs, are ordered to hold a defensive line, using an overpass to get a good view of the road from whence the PLR insurgents would be attacking. Nearby, on ground level, is an arms and ammunition stash. During the first wave of insurgents, several dozen PLR infantry advance up the street towards the convoy. After two more waves of infantry, a BMP-2 begins to advance, firing at the convoy, and most likely destroying one of the vehicles. The players, using their Javelins or their anti-tank mines, destroy the BMP, only for the PLR to renew their attack by attempting to flank from an alleyway to the west of the defensive line. As the players kill the PLR infantry and RPG teams, another BMP appears. Again, the players destroy it and kill any remaining infantry, when another wave begins to advance down the main street(from the east this time), supported by a technical. During the eastern advance, there is an ammo crate in a building directly south of the road(to the right of the M1114 "Humvees." There is also an ammo crate on the roof of this building. After the east wave is defeated the players are exfiled in a helicopter in the southwest corner of the map. Mission Complete.

Fire from the Sky
Two fireteams, callsign Warrior, are air assaulted into the village in which a high-ranking general with top-secret intel is being held captive with the intent of safely recovering him. The players serve as close-air support, offering overwhelming fire to allow the marines to move safely through the village to their destination

As the two units meet heavy resistance on their way,they disembark from their UH-1Y Venoms, and the marines come under fire from two mortar positions. The two players use their rocket(pilot) and 30mm cannon(gunner) to destroy the emplacements where the units then advance towards two bridges leading to the village. After the two mortar positions are destroyed enemy infantry (x10-15) attack the fireteams from outside the two house nearest the teams. They get pinned down by RPG(on the roofs) and small arms fire(on the roads in front of the buildings), and call upon the players to destroy the enemy infantry holding them back. Once the way is clear, the marines advance into the village over the bridges.

They are again bogged down by RPG and small arms fire. As they trade fire with the PLR insurgents, two BMP-2s are deployed from the center of the village.Once the enemy armor is destroyed, the marines work their way towards a building in which the general is being held. Meanwhile, several BMPs and mobile anti-aircraft platforms begin to advance on the complex to stop the marines from succeeding in recovering the general. By this point, the general has been recovered and is being extracted to a clearing near the complex, where the two UH-1Y Venoms will again pick them up. Players must then fly to the extraction to complete the mission.

Exfiltration
The players attempt to work their way silently through an apartment to retrieve a defector, Hamid El Zakir, who defected due to his immediate family being taken hostage.

Once he is taken, the players and Hamid head back to the convoy from where they started, and begin to move down the road, defeating several ambushes by PLR and Iranian infantry. In a courtyard, the convoy gets caught up in a crossfire, where two marines are killed. Snake 6-6 boards the HMMWVs and man the M2 machineguns that had been left vacant, and the convoy continues on its way. However, an IED destroys the lead jeep, and the convoy must turn into another courtyard to be ambushed. Players then bail from the HMMWVs, and take cover in a small room, where the players and the remaining marines hold off attacking PLR and Iranian infantry. After several minutes, an AH-6 Little Bird arrives, providing fire on several PLR insurgents who had taken up a position in a highrise opposite of the bogged down marines. Meanwhile the marines and Hamid make their way to a UH-1Y Venom for exfiltration.

Hit And Run
Tied loosely to the events of the main Battlefield 3 campaign, Hit and Run takes place in the office building of a corrupt business in Paris that is a front for terrorism. It is the players job to extract vital files from the top office floor, at the same time, survive waves after waves of heavily armed PLR, and escape.

At the start of the mission, players are given a few seconds to fortify the starting room with claymores, needing to work tegether and to look at things at a tatical approach to progress further. After descending into the lower floors of the building, players enter a quite corridor containing display cases with antique items. As the players proceed into the room, the PLR ambush them and a firefight erupts. Players must then fight their way to the parking lot below to the escape vehicle. When arriving, dozens of PLR are gathered around the vehicle and must be taken out. Players then enter the vehicle and drive out of the parking lot, on the streets of Paris above as the PLR closes in.

Drop 'Em Like Liquid
The players, two marine designated marksmen, begin amongst a Parisian police operation, where several PLR insurgents have been arrested. The two proceed into a sewer tunnel leading up to a back alley. After killing the lone guard in the sewer, the two marines make their way up to street level, where they stealthfully eliminate duos of PLR insurgents on their way to the vantage point from whence they will support yet more marines.

Once in the apartment, the players provide overwatch for the marine strike team, who will secure the hostages taken aboard a bus by the PLR. As the marines reach the buses, where they wait for the go ahead to deploy flashbangs into the buses, the eliminate the pairs of PLR guarding the hostages.

The strike team then begins to make their way towards the embassy, where even more hostages are being held. After a short melee with several PLR insurgents who had made their way up to the vantage point apartment, the players head back to street level, and from across the Seine river, and support the marine strike team via elimination of unaware insurgent patrols. After a small troupe of insurgents discover them, players then kill those fewand make their way up to a balcony outside of a cafe.

The two snipers continue to offer sniper support to the strike team until finally, the strike team makes their way up into the embassy, where they deploy flashbangs into the same room where the hostages are held. As the hostages are rescued, Abu Muhammed attempts to flee by leaping from a window on the first floor. He does not, however, get far as he is gunned down by the players.

The Eleventh Hour
The final co-op mission consists of Snake 6-6 disabling IEDs aboard a metro train in Paris, as well as attempting to capture an HVT.

Multiplayer
The locations of the multiplayer maps, like the campaign, includes Europe, the Middle East, and North America. More specifically, the game  takes place in the cities of Paris, Tehran, and New York.

In the magazine GameInformer, it was also hinted of various tweaks, some of which were mentioned above, such as player count, prone, etc. There is an improved character customization system, with possibilities of limited personal soldier customization, although such a system would be limited to avoid players shooting at their own side. The "Commander" position of Battlefield 2 does not return, and it has been hinted that there will be open-access benefits for all players, as in Battlefield: Bad Company 2. The streamlined four class system and killcams of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 continues, and a Hardcore mode is present in the game, whilst a better pre-game lobby will be implemented (for squads and parties). A replay mode has been hinted at, to allow players to capture one-off moments from games, and a co-op mode will be included.

Additionally, DICE confirmed at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo that the size of multiplayer maps for the console versions of the game would be scaled down due to hardware restrictions, possibly having relation to the smaller player count. Also made known was the fact that players would be able to fly around in jets to the full extent of maps, even in otherwise "out of bounds" areas. Another detail revealed was that the melee system was going to be considerably different than the standard knife stab. Battlefield 3 will instead have a quick-time event process that allows the player to throw left or right punches at an opponent, or counter an attack.

Classes
There will be a set of four playable classes. Karl Magnus Troedsson at E3 2011 stated:
 * "Players will have a choice of four classes. For example, you have the classic Assault class, which goes in a destroys things and kills people. However, he always had to stay near his buddies. If he died, he would need to wait for a Medic to come. Now that didn't work out very well, and now, what we did is that we sort of mixed the classes together. So you can have a sort of assault medic."

The classes have also been tweaked in relation to their roles from Battlefield: Bad Company 2, whilst still utilizing the same four class system. The Medic class has been replaced by the Support class from previous Battlefield games. They are equipped with Ammunition boxes and a light machine gun, ideal to suppress opposing players with the new suppressive fire mechanic which causes them to have no health regeneration and debilitating visual effects. The Assault class takes on the role of the Medic in the team, similar to the Medic class in Battlefield 2, with an assault rifle as a primary weapon yet Medkits and Defibrillators for reviving and healing players, instead of ammunition boxes. Players can also opt for using a grenade launcher instead of some medical equipment however. The Recon has also been changed, with the speed of scoping in reduced and requiring players to hold their breath in order to fire an accurate shot Recon players are equipped with either a bolt action or semi-automatic sniper rifle and C4. The Engineer class retains its functions of Battlefield: Bad Company 2: they are able to fix friendly vehicles and are equipped with a rocket launcher, either an anti-armor or an anti-aircraft launcher, to destroy enemy vehicles. They also equip a submachine gun or carbine, which can have a Tactical flashlight to blind opponents. It has been confirmed in a tweet by Alan Kertz that shotguns and personal defense weapons will be all-kit weapons.

Game Modes
In terms of game modes, there are five confirmed and all of the game modes are available in all nine multiplayer maps.

Rush

 * Players: 64 (PC), 24 (Consoles)
 * Focus: Objective-based all-out Warfare.
 * Goal: Attack/defend M-COM stations
 * Victory conditions:
 * Attackers - Destroy all M-COM stations
 * Defenders - Deplete the attackers' respawn tickets
 * Description - The Rush game-mode was confirmed at E3, where the Operation Métro trailer/map was revealed. The main essence of the game-mode has changed very little, with attackers trying to destroy M-COM stations and defenders trying to kill the attackers. However, in Battlefield 3 there are three main changes to the game-mode - only the M-COM charge can destroy the station, instead of the charge and explosives; if the attackers run out of tickets while the M-COM charge is still active, the game will continue until the charge is disarmed or the M-COM destroyed; and if the timer on an armed M-COM charge runs out when a defender is disarming the charge, the charge will continue until the defender disarms it or is killed. As an all-out warfare mode, Rush features a large variety of vehicle setups tuned specifically to that map’s landscape and features. Players can find all types of vehicles on Rush maps, including transport vehicles, armored vehicles, helicopters, and of course, jets. Rush offers a compelling objective based all-out warfare game mode for Battlefield veterans.

Squad Rush

 * Players: 8 (4 vs 4)
 * Focus: Squad-based Infantry Combat
 * Goal: Attack/defend M-COM stations
 * Victory Conditions:
 * Attackers - Destroy all M-COM stations
 * Defenders - Deplete the attackers tickets
 * Description: Returning from Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Squad Rush is a test to show which of two squads is the superior unit. Squad Rush is an extremely tight duel between two squads that borrows the main rules from the normal Rush mode, but in a much more confined setting. In Squad Rush there are only 2 bases with 1 M-COM station per base, meaning that every M-COM taken or defended in Squad Rush is vital to the victory or defeat of the game. There are no vehicles in Squad Rush, making the game-mode more about infantry skills and tactics rather than brute force and firepower.

Conquest

 * Players: 24/32/64 (PC), 24 (Consoles)
 * Focus: Objective-based all-out warfare.
 * Goal: Capture and hold flags.
 * Victory Conditions: Deplete the opposing team's ticket.
 * Description: Conquest is the most classic of Battlefield game modes. Introduced in Battlefield 1942, Conquest has been as staple of the entire Battlefield series throughout it's entirety. Set over a series of large-scale maps, Conquest is the game mode best suited for the experience of all-out vehicle warfare. In Conquest, two teams fight for control of a number of flags by being the dominant force in the vicinity of each base. Capture and keep control of a majority of the flags and the enemy team will bleed tickets. Killing enemies will also reduce their ticket count, and the first team to run out of tickets loses. Conquest is a strategic and tactical game that often asks players to make important decisions on whether to attack an enemy base or defend one of your own. The limited forces available to each side will rarely be enough to hold each and every flag in the map, so in-game communication and quick thinking is necessary to be victorious.

Squad Deathmatch

 * Players: 16 (4 squads of 4)
 * Squad-based Infantry Combat
 * Goal: Eliminate a set number of enemy combatants
 * Victory Conditions: The squad that reaches the designated number of kills first wins.
 * Infantry Fighting Vehicle is an advantage for team who acquires it.
 * Description: Squad Deathmatch is a larger and more dynamic variety of deathmatch that also features the inclusion of an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The IFV can help break any stalemate in the game, as long as a squad keep it alive. The 4 squad setup means that there is a constant battle throughout the game to gain and maintain the lead. Sticking together, keeping squad members healed up, supplied, and vehicles repaired are the keys to victory. The squad that can combine the potent Battlefield mix of team play and combat prowess will be proven the winner.

Team Deathmatch

 * Players (PC and Consoles): 24
 * Focus: Team-based Infantry combat
 * Goal: Eliminate a set number of enemy combatants
 * Victory Conditions: The team that reaches the designated number of kills first is declared winner.
 * Description: Team Deathmatch is of the true classics when it comes to multiplayer game modes, and a game mode that makes its first appearance in the Battlefield series. In Team Deathmatch, two teams of 12 players fight it out on tight knit maps with a distinct infantry focus – there are no vehicles available in Team Deathmatch. For that quick instant action fix, this is the perfect game mode. For players new to Battlefield, this is a good place to start. Once players get the hang of the infantry gameplay, they can move on to deeper modes that include the signature vehicle warfare for which Battlefield is known and loved.

Attack and fighter jets will be available in Rush as well as in Conquest. DICE plans to have all maps available for all modes at launch. At launch, there will be no "Air Superiority" (jets-only) mode, though it may be added at a later date. Also hardcore and infantry-only options are present.

Note: The infantry-only option only removes all classes of vehicles except transports, such as the HMMWV, RIB, etc.

Factions
As of now, there are two confirmed playable factions in multiplayer, these being the Russian Spetsnaz and the United States Marine Corps, both have faction-specific weapons. However, maxing out a particular class unlocks all faction weapons for that class.



New Features
Battlefield 3 includes a number of new and/or improved multiplayer features:


 * Destruction 3.0: With Frostbite 2.0 comes the Destruction 3.0 engine. This engine allows debris that can injure/kill players and micro-destruction, as well.
 * Suppressive Fire: Firing at an enemy with the shots going near them, the enemy's health regeneration stops and resets, their accuracy drops, and the edges of their screen become blurred. While suppression is most effective with the Support class and their LMG's, any weapon is capable of suppressing an enemy.
 * Disable Vehicles: Vehicles can now be disabled before they are destroyed. This makes land vehicles immobile (but turrets are still operable), while air vehicles become extremely difficult to control. When a vehicle is disabled, it can be repaired, but will also slowly bleed health.
 * Vehicle Health Regeneration: Vehicles now slowly regenerate health when damaged. Repairs from an Engineer are still far more effective, and regen is canceled if the vehicle is disabled. Vehicles will start regenerating when it is under 75% health (server option).
 * Console Server Browser: At Gamescom 2011, DICE confirmed that all consoles will have a server browser option.
 * Immense Customization System: DICE claims that there will be years worth of unlocks and specializations to use in multiplayer.
 * Each kit (all weapons, gadgets, attachments, etc.) will take roughly 100 hours to unlock
 * Over 80 vehicle specializations (one secondary weapon slot, one gadget slot, and one upgrade slot)
 * Pistol variations available
 * Weapon Fire Modes: Returning from Battlefield 2, the player now has the option of choosing what fire-mode some weapons can fire in, instead of a single fixed mode.
 * Prone: The ability to go prone returns from Battlefield 2. The player is also able to dive, though there is a delay in the ability to fire as the player does so.
 * Scope Glare: If a player is using a high power scope (6x and above ) and is aimed in the direction of another player, a visible glare/glint shines off of the scope. This was added to balance the addition of the prone position.
 * Commo-Rose: Also returning from Battlefield 2 is the Commo rose, or communication rose.
 * BattleRecorder:A feature to record gameplay and screenshots.

According to screenshots of "Battlelog" there will be 30 or more ranks in Multiplayer and, in comparison to Battlefield: Bad Company 2 ' s multiplayer, Battlefield 3 will have 10 times the unlocks over weapons, weapon attachments, gadgets and an unlock tree for vehicles alone. In addition, unlocks will be more spread through the ranks.

A new feature in Battlefield 3 are "Service Stars." These are added to the player's weapon skill badge, kit, vehicles, and their overall rank, and allow for further promotion.

Weapons unlocks obtained from the co-op campaign will be carried over to Multiplayer.

DICE said there are over 50 weapons to unlock, and also each primary weapon will have three attachment slots ranging from foregrips to optics. Weapon accessories are unlocked per weapon unlike in Bad Company 2. Unlocking an attachment such as a Red Dot Sight while using one class still enables it for every other class that can use that weapon. However, the attachment will not be available on other weapons until it is unlocked.

DICE says that it will take over "100 hours" to unlock everything for a kit in Multiplayer. They also said that there are over 20 vehicles at the player's disposal with the vehicles split into 12 different "classes".

According to Alan Kertz, the mounted MGs won't be in Battlefield 3 as there are portable deplyable bipods on LMGs.

Open Beta
An Open Beta for Battlefield 3, announced at E3 2011, ran across the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC starting September 29, 2011 and ending October 10, 2011. The maps featured were Operation Métro and gamemode Rush (the same as in the Alpha trial), and Caspian Border in 64-player Conquest gamemode (PC only). DICE, during the announcement of the Beta, stated that there would be no level or unlock cap in the Beta, allowing players to unlock any weapon in the game.

Owners of Medal of Honor: Limited Edition and Medal of Honor: Tier 1 Edition, as well customers who preordered Battlefield 3 on EA's Origin service, got 48-hour early access to the beta. This early access was originally intended to be a closed beta for owners of the special editions of Medal of Honor, although for an unknown reason this was changed to the early access.

Glitches and Bugs
Battlefield 3's game modes contain several glitches and bugs.

Singleplayer

 * When enemies are killed they may remain in the shooting postion. This has since been fixed by patch 1.01.
 * Major A.I.s, such as Cole, that must be followed to proceed may freeze when going into cover or checkpoints causing the player to restart the entire mission to get past that point.
 * Occuring with the bug mentioned above, A.I.s, like Montes and Campes, will run to the exact same position, stop, and "phase" into each other.
 * Dead A.I.s or objects may float in the air or get stuck in other objects and vehicles.
 * Like other Battlefield games, the game may freeze up during gameplay or in the menus.

Multiplayer

 * Players may get stuck or fall through a map.
 * Like Battlefield: Bad Company 2, when exiting a vehicle too fast, the player may shoot his/her weapon.
 * Guns may not reload when pressing the reload button the first time or they reload but without the reloading animation.
 * Players will get killed for no reason with "Bad Luck" appearing.
 * When spawning on a spawning beacon, the player usually spawns hundreds of feet in the air with a parachute. This can be an advantage.
 * Lagging and disconnecting from EA servers constantly occurs.
 * Player's bodies may get stuck in walls or moving vehicles once killed.
 * Opposite to a glitch in Bad Company 2, after winning a round the music played is the losing music even though the player's team clearly won. This goes for the the other team as well.
 * A green or white screen may flash during gameplay.
 * Like other Battlefield games,the game may freeze up during gameplay or in the menus.

Co-op

 * Players may be unable to revive teammates. This glitch was experienced in "Hit and Run" before the garage.

Limited Edition
The Battlefield 3 Limited Edition was formally announced at GDC 2011. A post on the Battlefield Blog confirmed that it will include early access to Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand (see below), at no extra cost.

People who pre-ordered via the EA Store received a unique version of the 870 Combat shotgun and an exclusive beret for use in Battlefield Play4Free, although the unique shotgun only differs aesthetically, and stats-wise is exactly the same as the normal 870 Combat available from the game's store. Also, pre-ordering from EA's Origin Digital Download or Gamestop included the Physical Warfare Pack (which includes the Type 88 LMG, DAO 12, Flechette ammo for the DAO-12 and a flash suppressor for the SKS), the Back to Karkand expansion, and pre-loading the game, which meant the game could be downloaded before release and played as soon as it is released. 48 hour early access to the Beta was granted to everybody who pre-ordered the Limited Edition from the EA Store.

It was also announced that the owners of the Limited Edition will get early access to the Mass Effect 3 demo in January 2012, another game DICE is helping to make.

Downloadable Content
Battlefield 3 featured many different pre-order bonuses in the form of DLC, available through different retailers. Players who preordered the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition from worldwide select retailers got temporary exclusive access to the Type 88 light machine gun with deployable bipod, a flash suppressor for the SKS sniper rifle and flechette ammunition for the DAO-12, as well as day-one access to the DAO-12, as part of the Physical Warfare Pack. Having sparked widespread controversy because it would deprive players that will not receive the pack of some in-game content, DICE addressed the issue and announced that it was a time-based exclusive, meaning it will be released to the general public later for free. This pack is offered at retailers including GAME in the United Kingdom and Gamestop in the United States. Other bonuses include exclusive multiplayer dog tags offered by Amazon.com, and a set of eight different character skins titled SPECACT. Best Buy's bonus is simply the SPECACT skin, but nothing else.

Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand is available to anyone who preordered the game. It is a multiplayer expansion based on Battlefield 2 content, including four classic maps, vehicles, weapons to carry on to the base game, and new achievements/ trophies, all at no extra cost. The expansion will include Strike at Karkand, Sharqi Peninsula, Gulf of Oman and Wake Island, newly enhanced with Frostbite 2, as well as ten Battlefield 2 weapons, including the MK3A1 Jackhammer shotgun and the MG36 machine gun. The Back to Karkand expansion is slated for release to the general public a month after the game's release.

A post on the Battlefield Blog hints that there will be more downloadable content to be developed following the game's release, all more or less the same size and quality as Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam. Niklas Fergraeus, lead designer of Back to Karkand, states: "Well, with Battlefield: Bad Company 2, we did a lot of experimenting with DLC, and I think that we learnt a lot along the way. The goal is that any content for Battlefield 3 will be of the same quality as Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam." Other sources state that Battlefield 3 will have three times the DLC of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

Recently, it was revealed on the Battleblog that Battlefield 1943 would not come with Battlefield 3 copies for Playstation 3 for free in the disc. This being that DICE knew that gamers had been playing 1943 for years and that not many people would want another copy. To compensate for this, DICE talked to SONY and announced that all PSN users would get a week early access to Back to Karkand.

Marketing
In a similar fashion to Battlefield: Bad Company and Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3 has been heavily marketed since it's official announcement, thanks to a marketing budget of nearly US$200 million from owner Electronic Arts. The first set of trailers after the Teaser Trailer was the introduction of the Fault Line series, starting with the Battlefield 3: Gameplay Trailer and ending with the full twelve minute Battlefield 3: Fault Line Gameplay Trailer, as well as a developer commentary by Patrick Bach and being the setting of the Battlefield 3: My Life Trailer, which has commonly been shown as a TV advert during popular TV events such as the FA Cup final in the United Kingdom. During E3 2011, the Thunder Run trailer was unveiled, alongside two gameplay trailers set on the multiplayer map Operation Métro. Following the huge success of the three trailers after E3, a new trailer, the Caspian Border gameplay trailer, was released after being shown at Gamescom 2011, showcasing jet and vehicle gameplay. In late September 2011, during the build-up to the Open Beta, a new trailer, set to the rap song "99 Problems" by artist Jay-Z, was revealed to be a new TV ad. A final three trailers for the game were released in the week before the release - a multiplayer trailer, a story trailer, and a live-action/gameplay trailer - each being well-received by the gaming community. In the live-action/gameplay trailer, a new tagline was introduced - "Is it real? Or is it Battlefield 3?"

However, despite the positive attitude towards the trailers, the marketing from certain senior EA executives and staff hasn't been met without some criticism. A number of high-level EA staff began attacking main rivals Activision and, in particular, the Call of Duty series, saying, on several occasions, that Battlefield 3 would soundly defeat the Call of Duty franchise, or words to that effect. However, Activision employees, including publishing boss Eric Hirshberg, responded negatively to these statements, saying EA's attitude was bad for the industry as a whole.

Soundtrack
The sound track for Battlefield 3 has been changed somewhat from previous Battlefield games, but returns to the "classic" Battlefield theme tune that was missing from Battlefield: Bad Company 2. The entire soundtrack features a more techno-feel to the music, and can be heard throughout the game.

Trivia

 * One lighting probe from Frostbite 2's lighting system "...contain(s) more lighting information than an entire level from Bad Company 2."
 * This is the first non-EA Sports game to utilize ANT, an animation program that powers EA games like FIFA, to create realistic third person animations and smoother transitions for AI and multiplayer characters.
 * Sounds such as weapons firing will be unique in different environments, at different angles, and at different distances.
 * A dev console will be present.
 * When selected weapons are reloaded before the magazine is emptied, there will be an extra round in the weapon when reloaded. Reloads of the weapon also differ between when the changed magazine is empty or when it still has rounds in it.
 * For the first time in the Battlefield franchise, the player is able to see their body, as one can see in the gameplay trailer when the character jumps down from a ventilation shaft.
 * When Battlefield 3 got 800,000 likes on Facebook, the 12 minute, full-length trailer originally supposed to be uploaded on April 17 was released early. The producer's commentary was released on April 22.
 * According to a GamersSpot article, the dinosaur at the beginning of the E3 demo and Thunder Run trailer was placed in response to a 4chan thread in which a supposed Activision sales manager wondered why their Call of Duty game didn't sell as well on PC as it did on consoles, with several responses saying it was due to a lack of dinosaurs. Gustav Halling, a gameplay designer for Back to Karkand, tweeted about it.
 * Battlefield 3 will be the first Battlefield game released on a Nintendo system.
 * A tweet by senior gameplay designer Alan Kertz says the detail in the shell casings will be different based on US and RU weapons.
 * Confirmed in the Multiplayer of Battlefield 3, the player can actually engage in a small kill animation when attacking an enemy with his knife. If successful, the player will stab the enemy, and continue to snag his dogtag, that is hanging around the victim's neck.
 * Vaulting, and the player being able to see their own legs and arms, was inspired by Mirror's Edge, a game that was also developed by DICE
 * On September 20, 2011 DICE officially announced the Battlefield 3 Beta Date.
 * On the back of the online pass in the Battlefield 3 case, there is a possible teaser for a new Medal of Honor game that has a badge outline with a devilish smiley face and the number 1 in the middle of it's head. Another possible hint for a new game is that the rating is RP (Rating Pending).
 * Battlefield 3's version of the infamous Wake Island is much larger and "darker" than in earlier counterparts.

Trailers
Video:Battlefield 3 / Jay-Z -- |Television Ad Gameplay Teaser Trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 - Xbox 360 Operation Guillotine Gameplay Trailer|Extended version of the Op. Guillotine Trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 Guillotine Gameplay Teaser|Operation Guillotine Teaser Trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 Physical Warfare Pack Gameplay Trailer|Physical Warfare Pack DLC Trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 EA Press Briefing Gamescom 2011|Gamescom 2011 EA press briefing, featuring coop mode gameplay

Video:Battlefield 3 - Caspian Border gameplay trailer|Caspian Border gameplay trailer

Video:Battlefield 3: Paris Multiplayer Gameplay|Paris multiplayer gameplay trailer

Video:Battlefield 3: Thunder Run Gameplay Trailer|Thunder Run gameplay trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 BF3 Live From E3 2011 HD|E3 2011 Battlefield 3 conference

Video:Battlefield 3: E3 Frostbite 2 Features Trailer|E3 Frostbite 2 trailer

Video:Battlefield 3: Operation Metro Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer|Operation Métro multiplayer gameplay trailer

Video:EA PWNED - Battlefield 3 Special|EA PWNED interview with DICE, featuring information on Frostbite 2, Back to Karkand, Battlefield 3 weapons, and more

Video:Battlefield 3 Fault Line Full length and Commentary with Executive Producer|Full length Fault Line trailer with developer commentary

Video:Battlefield 3 - Full Length Fault Line trailer|Full length Fault Line trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 - "My Life"|My Life trailer

Video:Battlefield 3: Gameplay PC Ep3 |Fault Line Series - Episode III: Get that Wire Cut

Video:Fault Line Series - Episode 2 |Fault Line Series - Episode II: Good Effect On Target

Video:Fault Line Series - Episode I: Bad Part of Town| Fault Line Series - Episode I: Bad Part of Town

Video:Battlefield 3 Premiere Gameplay Trailer|Premier gameplay trailer

Video:Battlefield 3 - Teaser Trailer|Teaser Trailer