Everything DICE is changing, fixing and investigating after Battlefield V beta
The Battlefield V beta ended on September 11, and developers DICE have now revealed everything they are looking at changing from beta feedback and testing, ahead of the game’s launch on November 20.
Generally, the reaction to the beta was a mixed bag. Since the initial announcement of BFV, it’s been a rollercoaster ride for DICE and Battlefield fans alike, with a shockingly bad trailer reception, but positive news about no more paid DLC and season passes.
There was even a #NotMyBattlefield hashtag going around, after a large portion of the fanbase took issue with female soldiers featuring prominently on the frontline of WWII battle, not to mention prosthetic limbs, colorful face paint, and more.
Regardless, anticipation for the beta was high, and there was a lot to like about it, as well as some very valid complaints. Most fans were satisfied with the general gameplay, although there were some accusation of DICE perhaps playing it safe – not pushing the envelope at all.
It certainly wasn’t a massive success however, and likely brought more negative feedback than positive overall, so there is a lot for DICE to digest and improve upon. There was even some rather odd issues, like the terms “White man” and “DLC” being censored in game chat.
On September 14, DICE posted a full list of things they are working on for launch.
“We learned a lot from your time in the BFV Open Beta. We’re tweaking a myriad of gameplay features and elements, but here’s a top-level view at some of the more notable items.
Squad play and Matchmaking – Several changes are already in place and additional improvements will be made to secure the best possible launch experience.
Attrition – Scarcity of ammo and health is something we want to get just right, and the Open Beta gave us a lot of info on how to balance it.
Visibility – Distance haze, lighting, general contrast and other visibility aspects are being tinkered with, letting you see your enemies better in the world.
Death Experience – We’re adjusting bleed out and spawn times to make your virtual deaths as good as virtual deaths can be.
Vehicles – Damage states, movement, and weaponry of tanks and other vehicles are being tweaked.
TTK and TTD – We’re adjusting automatic weapons to make the Time to Kill and Time to Death as fair and fun as possible.
Progression and Customization – We’re working on making the user journey one that’s smooth and personal.
Chat Profanity Filter on PC – We are evaluating the Open Beta feedback and are making many adjustments for launch.
The good news about the delayed release date is that at least it gives DICE more time to work on all of these issues plus more.
It’s not just multiplayer they need more time for though, as there is also the small matter of the battle royale mode (called ‘Firestorm‘), and there is speculation that this mode may not be ready in time for launch, even with the later than planned release date.