Tides of War is a free live service for Battlefield V to introduce new content to the game. It replaces the Premium Pass of past instalments, with monetisation of new content now coming in the form of cosmetic items for The Company that are purchasable with Battlefield Currency. The system sees the release of periodic events that tell an overarching narrative of the events of World War II. This is done through the release of new maps, game modes, weapons, vehicles, Combined Arms missions, and customization items.
Overview
Each Tides of War chapter takes place between set dates, usually lasting between 2-3 months. Typically, a chapter will start with an update that implements some new features and the chapter rank rewards. Over the course of the chapter, new content is added either in the form of weekly challenge unlockables or universal additions of maps and game modes. After a Tides of War chapter ends, there may be a short break of one or two weeks before the next chapter begins.
Weekly Challenges
Tides of War chapters are split up by weeks, with a new week starting on each Thursday.
During each week, players can complete weekly challenges to obtain that week's reward as well as chapter XP. Each week is comprised of separate challenges known as "Story Nodes" which are linked together such that players must complete challenges sequentially to unlock other nodes, eventually progressing towards the final reward node. The rewards are time limited - once the chapter progresses to the new week, players cannot go back to complete previous weeks' challenges.
The weeks have specific titles and descriptions, and may revolve around a particular theme such as vehicle combat, reflected in the criteria for the weekly challenges. They may also be promoting new features that week, with challenges encouraging players to play on a specific map, or game modes that are time-limited or, in the case of Firestorm and Combined Arms, receiving map and mission updates, respectively.
Chapter Rank
Obtaining XP during this period by playing the game, completing story nodes of weekly challenges or special assignments, will contribute to a player's Tides of War chapter ranking. Reaching ranks will unlock new customisation items as well as other rewards such as assignments, melee weapons and Company Coin. Players have until the end of the chapter to obtain the rewards, as their rank resets each chapter.
Players may pay real money to increase their chapter rank, either by using an XP boost contained any purchased Premium Starter Pack, or by directly paying to skip chapter ranks for 150
each.
Weekly challenge nodes and chapter special assignments will award differing amounts of XP based on their difficultly or position in the challenge tree. Chapter XP gain for each round is generally capped to around 8,000 XP, plus any bonus XP resulting from XP boosts.
Limited Time Gamemodes
Specific weeks may be themed around game modes that are introduced for a limited amount of time, with Rush, Grind and Outpost being examples.
Chapters
Chapter One: Overture
- Main article: Battlefield V: Overture
Overture is the first chapter of the Tides of War service. It serves as an introduction to both the overall system and its features.[1] It was released on December 5th, 2018 and included:
- The Last Tiger - Singleplayer war story following a disillusioned Tiger tank crew in the final months of World War II.
- Panzerstorm - A multiplayer map set in Belgium, focused on armored warfare.
- Practice Range - Based on the Hamada map, this training environment contains trials to improve shooting, driving and flying.
- Vehicle Customization - Including tank and plane skins also nose art decals[2]
Chapter Two: Lightning Strikes
- Main article: Battlefield V: Lightning Strikes
Lightning Strikes expands on multiplayer game modes available, as well as reintroducing Co-op, not seen since Battlefield 3. It was released on January 17th, 2019 and includes:
- Combined Arms - Initial introduction of the co-op game mode
- Rush - Return of Rush multiplayer game mode. This mode will only be available during this chapter.
- Squad Conquest - Introduction of 16 player multiplayer version of Conquest.
- Battle of Hannut - New Grand Operations set in Panzerstorm and Arras.
Chapter Three: Trial By Fire
- Main article: Battlefield V: Trial By Fire
Trial By Fire revolves around the introduction of the Firestorm Battle Royal gamemode, taking place on the largest map in the franchise to date, Halvøy. It was released on March 28th, 2019 and includes:
- Firestorm - Battlefield's anticipated take on Battle Royale
- Mercury - New multiplayer map set on the Greek island of Crete based on Operation Mercury.
- Outpost - New gamemode coming in June 2019.
- More Combined Arms mission - Two Combined Arms based on Fjell 652 and other improvements.
Chapter Four: Defying The Odds
- Main article: Battlefield V: Defying The Odds
Defying The Odds revolves around the introduction of new multiplayer maps across different regions of the Western Front. It was released on June 27th, 2019 and will include:
- Al Sundan - A multiplayer map that is a conversion of Butcher and Bolt singleplayer level from Under No Flag.
- Marita - New multiplayer map set on Greece during late 1940.
- Provence - A 5v5 multiplayer map set in Provence, France during the mid-1940s.
- Lofoten Islands - A 5v5 multiplayer map set in the Lofoten Islands, Norway and based on Operation Claymore.
- Operation Underground - A multiplayer map reimagined from Operation Métro taking place in Vienna Austria.
Chapter Five
- Main article: Battlefield V: Chapter 5
Chapter 5 will see the introduction of the United States and Japanese factions to Battlefield V and will take place in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It will be released in Fall 2019.
Gallery
Trivia
- The "Fall of Europe" was originally intended to be the first chapter of Tides of War. This was changed, however, due to the release date delay for base game which affected the post-launch content plan.[3] This cut chapter's assignment roadmap and names for each week (from October 22nd to November 12th) were seen in the Tides of War Dev Talk video.
- Overture was originally slated for release on December 4th, 2018. Due to an unforeseen bug, however, it was delayed to December 5th.[4]