Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 is DICE's third numerical installment in the Battlefield franchise. It features a single player and co-operative campaign, as well as an extensive multiplayer component.

Overview

Battlefield 3 is the successor to DICE's award-winning Battlefield 2. Like its predecessor, Battlefield 3 is a modern military first person shooter published by Electronic Arts, that features large scale vehicular military combat with land, sea, and air vehicles. The game has a single player campaign, a separate co-op campaign, and an extensive multiplayer component. Battlefield 3 was released on PC for Origin exclusively, not on Steam due to the service "restricting" their ability to "directly support" players.

Adding up all the DLC for the game, the multiplayer component features 29 maps with 12 different game modes to play.

Development

Battlefield 3 was confirmed to be in development by EA's chief operating officer, John Pleasants, at a Stock meeting in June, 2009.

"I have had the luxury of looking at Battlefield 3 over at DICE in Sweden and was highly impressed by the way the team is working on the product. Of course, that's not [coming out] in the fiscal year, but that is a product that is looking very good."

Battlefield 3 was officially teased on February 4th, 2011. A 30-second teaser trailer was included, as well as some basic details regarding the highly anticipated sequel. In addition, Game Informer ran an exclusive Battlefield 3 preview in its March issue. It has been stated that the PC is the "lead platform" for development; with multiplayer matches featuring up to 64-players on PC, and 24 players on the PS3 & Xbox 360.

The game was in development using the new in-house engine Frostbite 2.0 for three years. According to senior multiplayer designer Alan Kertz, the design direction, gameplay balance, and choices for Battlefield 3 were very similar to those of Battlefield 2142; a result of the senior designers' experience working primarily on that title. This is the first non- EA Sports game to utilize the ANT animation system for the character models.

47 E3 Awards Won.
47 E3 Awards Won.

According to DICE, it took them several years to create Battlefield 3 simply because they didn't have the technology and assets to create the game they wanted to create; therefore they have worked on the Frostbite 2 engine from scratch for years, experimenting with their technology in the spin-off series Bad Company (using Frostbite versions 1.0 and 1.5), until they reached the level of technology needed to create Battlefield 3.

During E3 2011, Battlefield 3 received 80 nominations for different awards, with 47 wins, including the Game Critics Awards for "Best Action Game" and "Best Multiplayer."

Single Player

Marine SSgt Henry
Marine SSgt Henry "Black" Blackburn.

Set in 2014, U.S. coalition troops are engaged by the opposition force known as the People's Liberation and Resistance (PLR) as they patrol the Iran/ Iraq border to maintain security to the area. The storyline is revealed through a series of flashbacks as Marine Staff Sergeant Henry "Black" Blackburn races to prevent an attack on New York City by the PLR.

As Blackburn recalls key events leading up to the attack, the player will take control of several characters in a variety of missions across land, sea and air in many locations around the world, including Paris, New York, Rome and Tehran, which will empower the game's theme of an all-out war and a worldwide conflict. The playable soldier characters will be from various world factions, mainly Marine SSgt Henry Blackburn (1st Recon), as well as Corporal Jonathan "Jono" Miller (1st Marine Tank Battalion) and RU Special Forces operator Dmitri "Dima" Mayakovsky among others.

Singleplayer levels

LevelDescription
Semper Fidelis
Operation SwordbreakerOperation Swordbreaker takes place during the Global War of 2014, US Marines undergo "pacification" operations in the Iran-Iraq region and try to restore stability to the region. Arriving at Sulaymaniyah to locate a missing unit, players must face the PLR and take on the countries most devastating asset.
UprisingOperation Uprising has players replay the area previously covered in Operation Swordbreaker. Sulaymaniyah has been devastated by an earthquake and the PLR have decided to use this event to push deep in to the area and take up temporary holds.
Going HuntingOperation Gone Hunting places players in the role of Lieutenant Coleby Hawkins a gunner pilot in an F/A-18F Shark. After the events in Sulaymaniyah, the US has sent 50,000 marines to Iran and is launching air raids on high value PLR targets. Players are after PLR top dog Faruh Al-Bashir, launching an airstrike on Mehrabad International Airport.
Operation GuillotineOperation Guillotine takes place at night, with the player assaulting from the surrounding hills and making their way into the inner city of Tehran.
ComradesPlaying as Dmitri Makayovsky, or 'Dima' as he is known, a specialist Russian team attacks the stock exchange to prevent a nuclear attack being carried out by Solomon's forces.
Thunder Run
Fear No Evil
Night Shift
Rock And A Hard Place
KaffarovKaffarov is the final mission of Blackburn's military career, and takes place during an assault upon the mysterious arms dealer's house. Kaffarov has funded and supplied the PLR. This is also the mission in which Dima and Blackburn meet each other face-to-face.
The Great DestroyerPlaying as Blackburn, the game prologue is finally explained. Solomon is aboard a train, intending to deliver an explosive payload in the city of New York. The continuation of this mission is also seen, and it provides the finale for the overall story.

Co-op Mode

2-player co-op.
2-player co-op.

Battlefield 3 features a co-operative mode campaign.

The co-op campaign consists of 6 long missions, featuring a full range of Battlefield gameplay, including land and air vehicle missions as well as tight urban warfare. The missions are separate from the single player campaign but will tie in to its story. This mode supports 2 players only, unlike Bad Company 2's co-op "Onslaught" which featured up to 4.

Co-op Missions

MissionDescription
Operation ExodusA number of high valued POWs are being detained at a US camp. A recent earthquake has weakened the camp's defensive perimeter and made it vulnerable to PLR attacks. An evacuate order of camp has been given. Players and a handful of marines are assigned to defend the camp until all personnel have pulled out.
Fire From The SkyAn American convoy escorting a general privy to classified intel has been ambushed on their way back to base. The general is being held captive in a remote mountain village. Players will be providing close air support for a strike team sent in to rescue him.
ExfiltrationThanks to extensive intelligence work, we’ve been able to locate El Zakir. He was not expected to give himself up, but when local agents located and captured his immediate family, he agreed to negotiate his surrender. El Zakir is awaiting extraction in an apartment complex in the outskirts of Baghdad. Players need to secure him and bring him back to the Green Zone.
Hit and RunThe company El Zakir referenced is Levin Cooperative. It’s located in central Paris. Players need to go in and retrieve everything they can from their offices. A private security team has been alerted and players need to secure and extract whatever evidence there may be.
Drop 'Em Like LiquidA hostage situation has developed in Paris. It’s confirmed that Abu Muhammad is on site orchestrating the operation. French police have requested our help. Players need to provide sniper support, free the hostages, and neutralize Abu Muhammad.
The Eleventh HourThe attack has started. We’re confident this is the main attack referred to by El Zakir. Witnesses claim bomb like devices have been left in the metro and the Paris Stock Exchange. If Abdul Rahman is behind this attack, we expect it to be similar to the one that took place in London several years ago. Players will be assisting the French police to locate and disarm the bombs and neutralize Rahman if the opportunity presents itself.

There are also seven weapons which can be unlocked for multiplayer kits by earning co-op points (points needed to unlock weapons were significantly reduced following a patch):

KitWeaponPoints (after patch)Points (pre-patch)
AssaultKH200217,000126,000
AssaultG3A3160,000441,000
EngineerSG553120,000378,000
ReconM39 EMR58,000252,000
ALL93R86,000315,000
ALLMP734,000189,000
ALLMP412 REX5,00063,000

Multiplayer

Operation Metro screenshot.
Operation Metro screenshot.

Battlefield 3 features the franchise's trademark all-out-war vehicular warfare multiplayer experience that the series is known for. The game features a similar persistent multiplayer model seen in recent Battlefield games, while bringing back the overall essence and gameplay aspects of the older games of the franchise. The multiplayer's persistence system consists of gaining experience points by killing enemies, performing supporting actions for the team and accomplishing objectives. As the player gains more XP, they go up in rank (top rank is 145), earn ribbons and medals that award them for specific actions on the battlefield, as well as unlocking better weaponry for the various kits and unlocking several weapon attachments, player gadgets/tools, performance-enhancing perks and vehicle specializations.

The multiplayer component features 9 maps on the disc, and five different game modes for each map (with different pacing, objectives and player count for each mode). DLC adds even more maps and game modes.

Health regeneration has been significantly tweaked. In Battlefield 3, where after taking damage, health regeneration is delayed for up to 20 seconds before it kicks in, and it takes a good while before reaching 100%. Furthermore, when the player is under enemy suppression, health regeneration is paused. The ability to go prone also makes a return, but is balanced by making the action a slow process, and also slowing the movement in prone position.

DICE's executive producer Patrick Bach stated in an interview that they slowed down the pace of leveling up after the studio underestimated the popularity of Bad Company 2. Unlike BC2, the top ranks become an incentive and carry bonuses.

Game Modes

The game modes from previous Battlefield games return, including classic Conquest and Rush and Squad Deathmatch which were introduced in the Bad Company series, with additional modes and options to choose from. Hardcore Mode returns from Bad Company 2, which is an alternative version to the "normal mode" of regular servers. Any game mode can be toggled to be Hardcore Mode, which removes a lot of the HUD elements and raises bullet damage, and any map can be selected to be infantry-only, with no attack vehicles (transport vehicles will still spawn in):

  • Conquest (Maximum of 32 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - The classic Battlefield game mode in which two teams scramble to maintain control of flags scattered around parts of the map. Killing enemies depletes the enemy ticket count, and controlling a majority of the flags on the map causes the enemy team to bleed tickets over time. Teams win by depleting the enemy team's ticket count.
  • Conquest Large (Maximum of 64 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - Conquest mode with "Large" variants of maps, built with more flags and for more players in mind.
  • Rush (Maximum of 32 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - An attack and defend game mode in which one team must defend three sets of two M-COM crates from being destroyed by the attacking team. As each set of M-COM is destroyed, the defending team is pushed further back into the map. Attacks win when all M-COMs are destroyed, and defenders win when the attacking team's ticket amount is depleted.
  • Squad Rush (8 players) - A variant of Rush in which there is only one M-COM crate per map phase, and significantly less tickets, encouraging more careful gameplay and shots that count.
  • Team Deathmatch (Maximum of 32 players on PC, 24 on consoles) - Standard deathmatch mode in which two teams fight to reach a specified kill count.
  • Squad Deathmatch (Maximum of 16 players across all platforms) - Up to four teams of four go against each other to see who can reach the maximum kill count first. An Infantry Fighting Vehicle will spawn at random intervals during the match to shake up the battle.

Classes

Battlefield 3 has four player classes (kits) to choose from in the multiplayer, which are similar to those found in Battlefield 2142. Each class gets its own exclusive special equipment and gear, which consist of the Commander mode's assets from Battlefield 2 (i.e. UAV, artillery), in addition to brand new equipment to the franchise.

Class Lineup
Class Lineup
  • Assault - The normal Battlefield assault class (carrying assault rifles) has been combined with the medic class and is able to heal & revive teammates with medic kits & defibrillators. Should the player choose to play as assault, they can replace the med-pack with an underslung grenade launcher on their assault rifle. According to senior multiplayer designer Lars Gustavsson,

"The reason for this class fusion is because the assault class serves at the frontlines, so it only makes sense to give those frontline players the ability to revive downed teammates".

  • Engineer - This class carries carbines & anti-vehicle rocket launchers. They are able to repair vehicles with a repair torch, or can remotely arm and disarm MCOMs with a Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot (EOD bot). Anti-tank mines can replace the repair torch.
  • Support - This class carries light machine guns (LMG), and has the ability to mount their LMG using the bipod on the front of the gun for better accuracy. They have the ability to throw out ammo packs to resupply teammates, and also have access to explosives such as C4, Claymores, and mortars. An effective support player can help drive the Assault players forward with more ammunition and mortar fire to suppress the enemy.
  • Recon - This class is equipped with long range sniper rifles, in addition to other reconnaissance equipment such as motion sensors and Micro Air Vehicles (MAV). Rifle sway has been added to the game, forcing snipers to actively hold their breath before taking a shot for the best accuracy, and can be augmented with bipods. Quick scoping will be much more inaccurate. An addition to this class is a radio beacon that the player can drop and acts as an additional spawn point for their squadmates to use. In order to counter snipers who lay down in the grass (prone position), a new feature has been added where if the player lays in the grass for too long, a glint will appear on their sniper rifle scope (sun reflection), giving away their position. This forces them to not camp but rather stay on the move.

Squads

Though DICE decided to remove the chain of command from the game's multiplayer (used in Battlefield 2- A commander and squad leaders), in order to achieve their new design philosophy "Lowering the threshold, making the game easy to play, hard to master", the squad leader position has returned to the game. Every squad consists of four players max (as seen in Bad Company 2), one of whom is the squad leader (the person who created the squad). All squad members can spawn on each other. The squad leader has a star by his name and over his head in-game, indicating that he's a squad leader. Squad leaders are able to set attack/defend orders on objectives which give bonus points to squad members who follow these orders.

Dog Tags

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Dog Tags return in BF3, though their usage has changed slightly. The tags are collectable by stabbing another player, but can be customized with a variety of different pieces of information, such as a player's total number of kills with assault rifles and so on. Some collectables are also limited in their availability, due to pre-order offers or other promotional items. Certain tags were limited only to certain retailers, such as Amazon, and some tags are given only to those who have registered on the Battlefield Veteran program and verified they have played previous games in the series.

New Additions

Suppressive Fire

Battlefield 3 features a new multiplayer combat mechanic called Suppressive Fire. When someone takes heavy fire, their vision will become blurred and their accuracy will decrease. A single shot from a sniper rifle will instantly suppress an enemy as it whizzes by their head due to its size and power.

Using Suppressive Fire, players can earn "Suppression Assists" worth 50 points which are gained when an enemy they suppressed is killed by a teammate. LMGs are particularly effective at earning Suppression Assists due to their firepower.

Bipods

Another new mechanic in Battlefield 3 is the ability to use bipods on weapons. This provides added stability for the gun, decreasing kick and recoil, and increasing accuracy. Deploying a sniper rifle on a bipod eliminates scope sway. Bipods can be deployed anywhere while the player is prone or when in front of certain objects, such as a window sill or cement barricade. The Bipod is available for all weapons except for PDWs and shotguns.

Battlelog

The game launched with a social networking website called Battlelog, which will serve as the game's only menu and server browser, featuring extensive stat tracking, instant messaging, and an activity feed. Everything players do on the battlefield is shared on their wall amongst friends. Like most current social network apps; players can "like", comment, and post messages.

Game Servers

Much like past Battlefield titles, Battlefield 3 has strong dedicated server support, where anyone can rent and operate their own server. According to KM Troedsson, Battlefield 3 did not ship with LAN support for security reasons.

Battlefield 3 supports both ranked and unranked servers. Renting a ranked server gives players the restricted freedom to set the game map/mode etc. since Ranked servers will track player progression EAs master servers (much like in past Battlefield games). Whereas renting an unranked server gives the owners/administrators a lot more freedom to do as they will with their servers, allowing them to select specific things such as which weapons are available to players etc. The unranked server option is suited for tournaments because everyone has a level playing field (no ranks/unlocks). Players cannot rank up or unlock new weapons on unranked servers.

According to DICE's Mikael Kalms, renting servers is not be available in every country in the world, because the servers will be provided by select Ranked Server Providers (RSPs) around the world. Since Battlefield 3 requires more processor power per player than Bad Company 2, the pricing for server rental is higher for Battlefield 3. Unlike Battlefield 2, players aren't able to create their own servers running on their own machines.

Battlefield Premium

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As of early June 2012, Battlefield Premium has become available for purchase for all owners of Battlefield 3. For a single one-time fee, players gain access to all of the existing and scheduled-to-launch DLC expansions with a 2 week early access period. In addition, Premium members gain access to exclusive cosmetic in-game items such as unique dogtags, gun and soldier camouflages, and a new type of knife. DICE also announced additional perks for Premium players, such as exclusive strategy guides, videos and Battlefield-themed events such as Double XP Weekends.

Multiplayer Maps

Battlefield 3 launched with 9 multiplayer maps, taken from settings in the single player campaign, which are set in France and Iran. All of the game modes are playable on all of the maps.

Map NameDescriptionImage
Operation MétroOperation Metro is set in downtown Paris. The battlefields range from spacious parks to the Paris metro station, finally moving up to the streets of Paris.
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Seine CrossingSeine Crossing is a fairly large map with open roads and tight spaces in between buildings.
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Caspian BorderCaspian Border is a large map littered with plains, hills, and small towns. This map features all the vehicles in Battlefield 3. Caspian Border appeared in the PC beta of the game but was not available on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 version at the time. The map is presumably set in Iran, with four points to capture in Conquest.
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Operation FirestormOperation Firestorm is a large map taking place at an oil refinery. Fairly open spaces allow for tank battles with warehouses providing cover for infantry.
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Grand BazaarGrand Bazaar is set in one city block of an Iranian city. Periphery roads allow for infantry fight vehicles and jeeps to traverse. The middle of the map consists of narrow alleyways creating choke points.
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Tehran HighwayTehran Highway is the only night map in the core game, taking place along a stretch of the highway in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The map focuses on blending infantry and vehicular combat. The map is well known due to the relatively easy nature of 'spawn trapping' in Conquest, since the linearity of points A and C to their initial spawns make player movements highly predictable.
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Kharg IslandKharg Island takes place in and around a seaport. Being a vehicular-based map, tanks and air support will make many appearances. Infantry can take refuge in the few buildings or behind many shipping containers around the objectives.
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Damavand PeakDamavand Peak takes place in and around a mining operation near an Iranian mountain range. The conquest map is centred around the narrow tunnel creating a choke point. The rush map has one team pushing down the mountain towards the mining area and the tunnel from the conquest map.
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Noshahr CanalsNoshahr Canal begins with the American team on an aircraft carrier, and the Russian team at a gas station during Conquest. Each area of the map is varied in its design, with the teams having to make their way to each of the different points using a variety of vehicles. Jets appear on this map along with the AA gun on the aircraft carrier supposedly only spawning on the PC version of the game. An area of shipping containers makes a shotgun's paradise, with enemies rushing to the next flag becoming prime targets in the urban jungle of the crates.
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Weapons, Items, and Customization

Weapons

In Battlefield 3, the weapons are divided into 5 groups:

  • Class & team exclusive weapons: Weapon exclusivity for the default primary in each class is only fixed until a certain amount of XP is earned using that class. When that amount is earned the other team's initial primary for that class will be available.
  • Class-bound weapons: The unlockable primary weapons of each kit can be used for said kit on both teams, and only those.
  • Universal weapons: The sidearms in the game, as well as a number of unlockable primary weapons, can be used by any team and any kit.
  • DICE Dev weapons: These are weapons using attachments not available to other players
  • DLC weapons: These weapons can only be unlocked through purchasing the corresponding DLC for that weapon and completing the assignment associated with that weapon.
WeaponClassTeamDescription
M16A3AssaultUSMCDefault - Primary
M16A4AssaultUSMCUnlockable - Primary
AK-74MAssaultRUSDefault - Primary
G3A3AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M416AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AN94AssaultUniversalUnlockable- Primary
KH2002AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AEK-971AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
F2000AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M27 IARSupportUSMCDefault - Primary
RPK-74MSupportRUSDefault - Primary
M249SupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M240BSupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
Type 88SupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
PKP PechenegSupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M60E4SupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M4A1EngineerUSMCDefault - Primary
AKS-74uEngineerRUSDefault - Primary
G36CEngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
Scar-HEngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
A-91EngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
SG553EngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
MK11 MOD 0ReconUSMCDefault - Primary
SVDReconRUSDefault - Primary
SV98ReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M98BReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M40A5ReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M82A3 - Single-player onlyReconN/AN/A
M39 EMRReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
SKSReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M9 (Includes variants with a suppressor or tactical light)UniversalUSMCSidearm
M1911 (Includes variants with a suppressor or tactical light) - Unlocked via EA Gun Club, Battlefield Veteranship or Physical WarfareUniversalUniversalSidearm
.44 MagnumUniversalUniversalSidearm
.44 ScopedUniversalUniversalSidearm
MP412 REXUniversalUniversalSidearm
G18 (Variant is equipped with a suppressor)UniversalUniversalSidearm
93RUniversalUniversalSidearm
G17C (equipped with laser sight, variant adds a suppressor)UniversalUniversalSidearm
MP443 (Includes variants with a suppressor or tactical light)UniversalRUSSidearm
M1014UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
870MCSUniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
USAS-12UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
Saiga 20kUniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
DAO-12UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
MP7UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AS VALUniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
P90UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
UMP .45UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
PP2000UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
EngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
EngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
SupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
SupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
ReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
ReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
AssaultUniversalUnlockable - Primary
ACW-REngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
MTAR-21EngineerUniversalUnlockable - Primary
L86A2SupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
LSATSupportUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M417ReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
JNG-90ReconUniversalUnlockable - Primary
SPAS-12UniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
M5KUniversalUniversalUnlockable - Primary
Aftermath
Crossbow (Also has a scoped variant, can fire standard bolts, scan bolts, explosive bolts, and balanced bolts)UniversalUniversalEquipment
End Game
M1911 S-TAC (Previously Dev-Only weapon)UniversalUniversalSidearm

Weapon Accessories

Every primary weapon of every class gets 3 different unlockable add-on slots: Optics, Primary (grip or bipods), Secondary (barrel). After getting a sufficient number of kills with a gun it becomes possible to mount the other team sights upon it. For example, the Russian Kobra Red Dot Sight can be mounted on an American M16A3 rifle and so on.

AttachmentSlotInitial Team
ACOG (4x)#1 OpticsUSMC
PKA-S (Holo)#1 OpticsRUS
M145 (3.4x)#1 OpticsUSMC
PKS-07 (7x)#1 OpticsRUS
PSO-1 (4x)#1 OpticsRUS
Ballistic (12x)#1 OpticsBoth
Reflex (RDS)#1 OpticsRUS
Kobra (RDS)#1 OpticsRUS
Holographic (Holo)#1 OpticsUSMC
PK-A (3.4x)#1 OpticsRUS
IRNV (IR 1x)#1 OpticsBoth
Rifle Scope (6x)#1 OpticsUSMC
Rifle Scope (8x)#1 OpticsBoth
Underslung Rail#2 PrimaryBoth
Foregrip#2 PrimaryBoth
Bipod#2 PrimaryBoth
Heavy Barrel#3 SecondaryBoth
Target Pointer#3 SecondaryBoth
Extended Mag#3 SecondaryBoth
Flash Suppressor#3 SecondaryBoth
Tactical Light#3 SecondaryBoth
Straight Pull Bolt#3 SecondaryBoth
Suppressor#3 SecondaryBoth

Gadgets

Gadgets are the soldier equipment (secondary weapons and/or tools that each class carries)

ClassGadgetsDescription
UniversalCombat KnifeUsed for either head-on slashing attacks or from-behind stealth takedowns
UniversalM67 Hand GrenadeThrown hand grenade
N/AM18 Smoke Grenade (single-player only)Thrown smoke grenade
AssaultM320Underslung grenade launcher
AssaultM320 BUCKFires buck shot
AssaultM320 SMOKEFires 40mm smoke grenade
AssaultM320 LVGFires live grenade
AssaultDefibrillatorUsed to revive teammates
AssaultMedic KitHeals teammates standing in radius
SupportAmmo BoxReplenishes ammo of teammates in radius
SupportC4 ExplosiveRemote triggered explosives
SupportM18 ClaymoreA motion-triggered anti-infantry land mine
SupportM224 MortarDeployable 60mm mortar cannon, also fires smoke rounds
EngineerSMAWFree fire anti-tank rocket launcher
EngineerRPG-7V2Free fire anti-tank rocket launcher
EngineerFGM-148 JavelinLock-on rocket launcher
EngineerFIM-92 StingerLock-on anti-air rocket launcher
EngineerSA-18 IGLALock-on anti-air rocket launcher
EngineerRepair ToolTool used to repair friendly vehicles or damage enemy ones
EngineerM15 AT MineAnti-tank mine which explodes when ran over by enemy vehicles
EngineerEOD BotRemote-controlled robot with a mounted repair tool, can also arm/disarm M-COM stations
ReconT-UGSDeployable motion sensor
ReconSOFLAMLaser target designator
ReconRadio BeaconDeployable squad spawn point
ReconMAVRemote controlled flying survaillance device

Player Specialization

Player specializations are performance-enhancing perks a player can equip. Players can equip one specialization at a time (no multiple perks equipped at the same time). Each specialization has a Squad variant unlocked at later ranks in which the effects from the specialization applies to both players and their squad.

SpecializationDescription
Sprint (SPRNT)Increases sprint speed
[Unlocked at Rank 2, Squad unlock at Rank 23]
Extra Ammo (AMMO)Increases the total amount of spare clips
[Unlocked at Rank 5, Squad unlock at Rank 26]
Flak Vest (FLAK)Reduces splash damage taken from explosives
[Unlocked at Rank 8, Squad unlock at Rank 29]
Extra Explosives (EXPL)Increases the total number of explosives carried
[Unlocked at Rank 11, Squad unlock at Rank 31]
Suppression Reduction (COVR)Reduces the effect of incoming suppression (Cancels against SUPR)
[Unlocked at Rank 14, Squad unlock at Rank 33]
Suppression (SUPR)Increases the suppressive effect of the player's weapons (Cancels against COVR)
[Unlocked at Rank 17, Squad unlock at Rank 35]
Extra Grenades (FRAG)Increases the total number of grenades carried
[Unlocked at Rank 20, Squad unlock at Rank 37]

Vehicles

Vehicle customization screen.
Vehicle customization screen.

Battlefield 3 features a large variety of usable vehicles, from tanks to buggies and helicopters to jets. Damage to vehicles has changed; this time the point of impact can decide what passenger(s) has been killed. Vehicle health has also been changed; they can now be immobilized with turrets intact.

This new "vehicle disablement" feature delays the explosion of vehicles, allowing passengers to exit the vehicle and have a chance to fight back. When a vehicle is disabled, it catches fire and its speed is dramatically reduced. The vehicle can still be repaired by an Engineer at this point.

Vehicle perks and points are based on the new vehicles classes. Vehicles will have secondary weapon slots, gadget slots, and upgrade slots. The player can use the vehicle specializations to customize the vehicle to their specifications.

Tanks

VehicleFactionClass Type
M1 AbramsU.S.Main Battle Tank
T-90RussianMain Battle Tank

IFV

VehicleFactionClass Type
LAV 25U.S.Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)
BMP-2MRussianInfantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Transport

VehicleFactionClass Type
M1114 HMMWVU.S.Light Armored Transport
GAZ-3937 VodnikRussianLight Armored Transport
Growler ITVU.S.Light Utility Transport
VDV BuggyRussianLight Utility Transport

Mobile Anti-Air

VehicleFactionClass Type
LAV-ADU.S.Mobile Anti-Air (AA)
Tunguska 9K22RussianMobile Anti-Air (AA)

Helicopters

Helicopters in the game will not have auto-stabilization like those in Bad Company 2 (hover mode that disallows manoeuvres and agile piloting).

VehicleFactionClass Type
AH-6J Little BirdU.S.Light Observation Helicopter
Z-11WRussianLight Observation Helicopter
AH-1Z ViperU.S.Attack Helicopter
Mi-28 HavocRussianAttack Helicopter
UH-1Y VenomU.S.Transport/Utility Helicopter
Ka-60 KasatkaRussianTransport/Utility Helicopter

Jets

Jets have returned to Battlefield 3 after being taken out in the Bad Company series.

VehicleFactionClass Type
F/A-18E Super HornetU.S.Fighter Jet
Su-35BM Flanker-ERussianFighter Jet
A-10 ThunderboltU.S.Close Air Support
Su-25TM FrogfootRussianClose Air Support

Boats

VehicleFactionClass Type
Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB)UniversalAmphibious Personnel Carrier
AAV-7A1 AMTRACUniversalAmphibious Armored Personnel Carrier

Vehicle Specializations

The game features 80 unlockable vehicle customizations, where players unlock customizations based on the vehicle class they play. Players can have 3 active vehicle perks.

Scout Helicopters

NameDescription
IR FlaresLaunches flares that deter incoming missiles.
Heat SeekersHeatseeking missiles that lock onto enemy aircraft.
StealthPassively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration.
Belt SpeedDecreases time between bursts of the main weapon.
Proximity ScanShows nearby enemies on the minimap.
Air RadarIncreases minimap size and shows all aircraft.
ExtinguisherExtinguishes fires, saving the vehicle from destruction/disablement.
MaintenanceImproves vehicle self repair time.
Guided MissileA missile that locks onto land vehicles.
Below RadarHides the aircraft from enemy anti-air and radar when flying at low altitudes.
Laser PainterAutomatically laser designates targets in line of sight.
ECM JammerTemporarily protects the aircraft from being locked onto.

Attack Helicopters

NameDescription
IR FlaresLaunches flares that deter incoming missiles.
Heat SeekersHeatseeking missiles that lock onto enemy aircraft.
StealthPassively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration.
Belt SpeedDecreases time between bursts of the main weapon.
Zoom OpticsAdds zoom capability.
Proximity ScanShows nearby enemies on the minimap.
Air RadarIncreases minimap size and shows all aircraft.
Guided MissileA missile that locks onto land vehicles.
ExtinguisherExtinguishes fires, saving the vehicle from destruction/disablement.
MaintenanceImproves vehicle self repair time.
Thermal OpticsAdds thermal view capability.
Laser PainterAutomatically laser designates targets in line of sight.
Below RadarHides the aircraft from enemy anti-air and radar when flying at low altitudes.
ECM JammerTemporarily protects the aircraft from being locked onto.
Guided RocketIncreases accuracy and range of the pilot's missiles.
TV MissileAdds a missile which, once fired, must be player controlled.

Jets

NameDescription
IR FlaresLaunches flares that deter incoming missiles.
Heat SeekersHeatseeking missiles that lock onto enemy aircraft.
StealthPassively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration.
Belt SpeedDecreases time between bursts of the main weapon.
Proximity ScanShows nearby enemies on the minimap.
Rocket PodsAdds rockets.
Air RadarIncreases minimap size and shows all aircraft.
ExtinguisherExtinguishes fires, saving the vehicle from destruction/disablement.
Below RadarHides the aircraft from enemy anti-air and radar when flying at low altitudes.
MaintenanceImproves vehicle self repair time.
Guided MissileA missile that locks onto land vehicles.
Beam ScanningLock on now happens faster when using heatseeker or guided missiles.
ECM JammerTemporarily protects the aircraft from being locked onto.

Anti-Air

NameDescription
IR SmokeLaunches a smoke screen that removes locks and spots.
Anti-Air MissileAdds anti-air missiles.
Belt SpeedDecreases time between bursts of the main weapon.
Zoom OpticsAdds zoom capability.
Proximity ScanShows nearby enemies on the minimap.
Thermal OpticsAdds thermal view capability.
Air RadarIncreases minimap size and shows all aircraft.
MaintenanceImproves vehicle self repair time.
Thermal CamoPassively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration.
Reactive ArmorAdds special armor which decreases damage taken once.

Tanks

NameDescription
IR SmokeLaunches a smoke screen that removes locks and spots.
Coaxial LMGAdds a light machine gun.
Auto-loaderDecreases time between main weapon shots.
Zoom OpticsAdds zoom capability.
MaintenanceImproves vehicle self repair time.
Coaxial HMGAdds a heavy machine gun.
Proximity ScanShows nearby enemies on the minimap.
Guided ShellTank shells now lock onto targets.
Thermal OpticsAdds thermal view capability.
Thermal CamoPassively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration.
Canister ShellMain cannon now fires thousands of pellets rather than one shell.
Reactive ArmorAdds special armor which decreases damage taken once.
CITV StationAdds a 3rd position to the tank which laser designates and proximity scans.

Infantry Vehicles

NameDescription
IR SmokeLaunches a smoke screen that removes locks and spots.
ATGM LauncherAdds guided anti-tank missiles.
Belt SpeedDecreases time between bursts of the main weapon.
Coaxial LMGAdds a light machine gun.
Thermal OpticsAdds thermal view capability.
Proximity ScanShows nearby enemies on the minimap.
Zoom OpticsAdds zoom capability.
MaintenanceImproves vehicle self repair time.
APFSDS-T ShellArmor piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (with tracer) shell deals direct damage with no explosion.
Thermal CamoPassively increases locking times and reduces spotting duration.
Guided MissileA missile that locks onto land vehicles.
Reactive ArmorAdds special armor which decreases damage taken once.

Player Awards

Ribbons & Medals.
Ribbons & Medals.

Real military ranks, ribbons and medals returned from Battlefield 2.

As players progress in the game and unlock new weapons and customization items, they also rank up, receive ribbons rewarding them for the different tasks a soldier performs on the battlefield (both weapon usage/combat performance, and helping/supporting their team with teamwork actions), and also giving prestigious medals to the best achievers.

Ranks

The game features a large amount of military ranks, achieved by players as they progress in the game by gaining XP for teamwork and kills, and unlocking weapons and gadgets.

InsigniaRankUnlocksPoints RequiredTotal Points Required
0RecruitN/A00
1Private First Class870MCS1,0001,000
2Private First Class 1 StarSprint Specialization7,0008,000
3Private First Class 2 StarWoodland Pattern Camouflage10,00018,000
4Private First Class 3 StarG17C11,00029,000
5Lance CorporalAmmo Specialization12,00041,000
6Lance Corporal 1 StarRanger Camouflage13,00054,000
7Lance Corporal 2 StarPP-200013,00067,000
8Lance Corporal 3 StarFlak Specialization14,00081,000
9CorporalArmy Green Camouflage15,00096,000
10Corporal 1 StarM9 Tactical15,000111,000
11Corporal 2 StarExplosives Specialization19,000130,000
12Corporal 3 StarExpeditionary Force Camouflage20,000150,000
13SergeantMP433 Tactical20,000170,000
14Sergeant 1 StarCover Specialization20,000190,000
15Sergeant 2 StarParatrooper Camouflage30,000220,000
16Sergeant 3 StarUMP-4530,000250,000
17Staff SergeantSuppressive Specialization30,000280,000
18Staff Sergeant 1 StarNavy Blue Camouflage30,000310,000
19Staff Sergeant 2 StarG17C Suppressed30,000340,000
20Gunnery SergeantFrag Specialization30,000370,000
21Gunnery Sergeant 1 StarJungle Pattern Camouflage30,000400,000
22Gunnery Sergeant 2 StarM101430,000430,000
23Master SergeantSquad Sprint Specialization40,000470,000
24Master Sergeant 1 StarDesert Khaki Camouflage40,000510,000
25Master Sergeant 2 StarM9 Suppressed40,000550,000
26First SergeantSquad Ammo Specialization40,000590,000
27First Sergeant 1 StarUrban Pattern Camouflage40,000630,000
28First Sergeant 2 StarMP-443 Suppressed40,000670,000
29Master Gunnery SergeantSquad Flak Specialization40,000710,000
30Master Gunnery Sergeant 1 StarG1850,000760,000
31Master Gunnery Sergeant 2 StarSquad Explosive Specialization50,000810,000
32Sergeant MajorPDW-R50,000860,000
33Sergeant Major 1 StarSquad Suppressive Specialization50,000910,000
34Sergeant Major 2 StarSAIGA 12K50,000960,000
35Warrant Officer 1Squad Cover Specialization50,0001,010,000
36Chief Warrant Officer 2.44 Magnum50,0001,060,000
37Chief Warrant Officer 3Squad Frag Specialization50,0001,110,000
38Chief Warrant Officer 4DAO-1255,0001,165,000
39Chief Warrant Officer 5Veteran Package Camouflage55,0001,220,000
40Second LieutenantP9060,0001,289,000
41First LieutenantG18 Suppressed60,0001,340,000
42CaptainSpec Ops Black Camouflage60,0001,400,000
43MajorUSAS-1260,0001,460,000
44Lt. Colonel.44 Magnum Scoped60,0001,520,000
45ColonelAS VAL80,0001,600,000

Ribbons

CategoryDescription
Assault Rifle RibbonWeaponsKill 7 Enemies with Assault Rifles in a Round
Shotgun RibbonWeaponsKill 5 Enemies with Shotguns in a Round
Sniper Rifle RibbonWeaponsKill 7 Enemies with Sniper Rifles in a Round
Machine Gun RibbonWeaponsKill 7 Enemies with Light Machine Guns (LMG) in a Round
Carbine RibbonWeaponsKill 7 Enemies with Carbines in a Round
Handgun RibbonWeaponsKill 4 Enemies with Handguns in a Round
Melee RibbonWeaponsKill 4 Melee Kills in a Round
PDW RibbonWeaponsKill 4 Enemies with Personal Defense Weapons in a Round
Combat Efficiency RibbonCombatPerform 3 Streak Bonuses in a Round
Nemesis RibbonCombatPerform 2 Nemesis Kills in a Round
Avenger RibbonCombatPerform 3 Avenger Kills in a Round
Marksman RibbonCombatPerform 5 Headshots in a Round
Disable Vehicle RibbonCombatDisable 4 Enemy Vehicles in a Round
Air Warfare RibbonCombatKill 6 Enemies with Air Vehicles in a Round
Anti Vehicle RibbonCombatDestroy 3 Enemy Vehicles in a Round
Stationary Emplacement RibbonCombatKill 3 Enemies with Emplaced Guns
Ground Warfare RibbonCombatKill 7 Enemies with Land Vehicles in a Round
Anti Explosives RibbonCombatDestroy 2 Enemy Explosives in a Round
Squad Wipe RibbonCombatPerform 2 Squad Wipe Bonuses in a Round
Resupply Efficiency RibbonSupporting ActionsPerform 7 Resupplies in a Round
Medical Efficiency RibbonSupporting ActionsPerform 5 Revives in a Round
Maintainence Efficiency RibbonSupporting ActionsPerform 7 Repairs in a Round
Transport Warfare RibbonSupporting ActionsKill 5 Enemies with Transport Vehicles in a Round
Surveillance Efficiency RibbonSupporting ActionsPerform 5 UAV Spot Assists
Suppression RibbonSupporting ActionsPerform 3 Suppressions
Squad Spawn RibbonTeamworkPerform 2 Squad Spawn Bonuses in a Round
Ace Squad RibbonTeamworkBe part of the Best Squad in a Round
Savior RibbonTeamworkPerform 2 Savior Kills in a Round
Flag Defender RibbonObjectivesDefend 4 Flags in a Round
Flag Attacker RibbonObjectivesCapture 4 Flags in a Round
M-COM Defender RibbonObjectivesDefend 4 M-COM Stations in a Round
M-COM Attacker RibbonObjectivesBlow Up 3 M-COM Stations in a Round
Rush RibbonObjectivesFinish a Rush Round
Rush Winner RibbonObjectivesWin a Rush Round
Squad Deathmatch RibbonObjectivesFinish a Squad Deathmatch Round
Squad Deathmatch Winner RibbonObjectivesWin a Squad Deathmatch Round
Squad Rush RibbonObjectivesFinish a Squad Rush Round
Squad Rush Winner RibbonObjectivesWin a Squad Rush Round
Team Deathmatch RibbonObjectivesFinish a Team Deathmatch Round
Team Deathmatch Winner RibbonObjectivesWin a Team Deathmatch Round
Conquest RibbonObjectivesFinish a Conquest Round
Conquest Winner RibbonObjectivesWin a Conquest Round
MVP RibbonPerformanceBe the Best Player in a Round
MVP 2 RibbonPerformanceBe the 2nd Best Player in a Round
MVP 3 RibbonPerformanceBe the 3rd Best Player in a Round

Medals

MedalCategoryDescription
Assault Rifle MedalWeaponsObtain the Assault Rifle Ribbon 50 times
Light Machine Gun MedalWeaponsObtain the Light Machine Gun (LMG) Ribbon 50 times
Sniper Rifle MedalWeaponsObtain the Sniper Rifle Ribbon 30 times
Shotgun MedalWeaponsObtain the Shotgun Ribbon 50 times
Carbine MedalWeaponsObtain the Carbine Ribbon 50 times
PDW MedalWeaponsObtain the Personal Defense Ribbon 30 times
Handgun MedalWeaponsObtain the Handgun Ribbon 30 times
Melee MedalWeaponsObtain the Melee Ribbon 30 times
Claymore MedalWeaponsKill 150 Enemies with the Claymore
Laser Designator MedalWeaponsObtain 150 damage assists with the Laser Designator
Combat Efficiency MedalCombatObtain the Combat Efficiency Ribbon 30 times
Stationary Emplacement MedalCombatObtain the Stationary Ribbon 10 times
Stationary Service MedalCombatSpend 1 hour in Stationary Weapons
Avenger MedalCombatObtain the Avenger Ribbon 50 times
Nemesis MedalCombatObtain the Nemesis Ribbon 50 times
Mortar MedalCombatKill 150 Enemies with the Mortar
Tank Service MedalCombatSpend 10 hours in Tanks
Marksman MedalCombatObtain the Marksmen Ribbon 50 times
Ground Warfare MedalCombatObtain the Armor Warfare Ribbon 30 times
Helicopter Service MedalCombatSpend 10 hours in Helicopters
Jet Service MedalCombatSpend 10 hours in Jets
Air Warfare MedalCombatObtain the Air Warfare Ribbon 20 times
Assault Service MedalClassesSpend 50 hours as Assault
Support Service MedalClassesSpend 50 hours as Support
Engineer Service MedalClassesSpend 50 hours as Engineer
Recon Service MedalClassesSpend 50 hours as Recon
Resupply MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Resupply Ribbon 50 times
Medical MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Medical Ribbon 50 times
Maintainence MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Maintenance Ribbon 30 times
Surveilance MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Surveillance Ribbon 50 times
Savior MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Savior Ribbon 50 times
Transport Warfare MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Transport Warfare Ribbon 10 times
Radio Beacon MedalSupporting ActionsObtain 100 spawns on the player's own Radio Beacon
Suppression MedalSupporting ActionsObtain the Suppression Ribbon 50 times
Flag Defender MedalObjectivesObtain the Flag Defender Ribbon 50 times
Flag Attacker MedalObjectivesObtain the Flag Attacker Ribbon 50 times
M-COM Defender MedalObjectivesObtain the M-COM Defender Ribbon 50 times
M-COM Attacker MedalObjectivesObtain the M-COM Attacker Ribbon 10 times
Rush MedalObjectivesObtain the Rush Ribbon 50 times
Squad Rush MedalObjectivesObtain the Squad Rush Ribbon 20 times
Squad Deathmatch MedalObjectivesObtain the Squad Deathmatch Ribbon 20 times
Team Deathmatch MedalObjectivesObtain the Team Deathmatch Ribbon 30 times
Conquest MedalObjectivesObtain the Conquest Ribbon 50 times
Ace Squad MedalPerformanceObtain the Ace Squad Ribbon 50 times
US Army Service MedalPerformanceSpend 100 hours in the USMC
RU Army Service MedalPerformanceSpend 100 hours in the Russians
MVP MedalPerformanceObtain the MVP Ribbon 30 times
2nd MVP MedalPerformanceObtain the 2nd MVP Ribbon 30 times
3rd MVP MedalPerformanceObtain the 3rd MVP Ribbon 30 times

Multiplayer Point System

NameDescriptionPoints
Avenger BonusKill an enemy shortly after they have killed a team-mate.10
Headshot BonusShoot someone in the head. Simple.10
Enemy Squad EliminatedWipe out an enemy squad in quick succession.10
Squad Spawn on YouPlayers have someone in their squad spawn on their location.10
Spot BonusIdentify an enemy who is killed afterwards by a team-mate.10
Suppression AssistFire at an enemy who is then killed by a team-mate.10
Savior BonusSave an injured ally from an enemy who would otherwise have killed them.20
M-COM Attack KillKill someone while attacking the M-COM in Rush.20
M-COM Defense KillKill someone while defending the M-COM from the Defenders in Rush.20
RepairRepair a vehicle being used by an ally.20
Squad RepairRepair a vehicle being used by an ally in the player's squad.30
Comeback Bonus40
Double KillKill two enemies in rapid succession.40
Suppression Assist50
Destroy VehicleDestroy a vehicle occupied by, or soon after it has been vacated by an enemy.60
Nemesis Kill60
Killstreak Stopped70
Enemy Down100
M-COM Armed100
M-COM Disarmed100
Disable Enemy Vehicle100
Revive TeammateRevive a team-mate who has been killed by the enemy.100
Squad ReviveRevive a team-mate, in one's own squad, who has been killed by the enemy.120
M-COM Destroyed500
Destroy Enemy Vehicle200
Squad Driver Assist20
Squad Passenger Assist70
Kill AssistInjure an enemy while a team-mate finishes them off.Based Upon Damage Dealt
Squad Kill AssistInjure an enemy while a squad-mate finishes them off.Based Upon Damage Dealt
Marksman BonusKill an enemy from a long distance with a sniper rifle.Based on Distance

Availability

Battlefield 3 boxed version is available at retailers around the world in a variety of editions. The game is available as a digital edition on several digital distribution services, excluding Steam.

Premium Edition

Released on September 11, 2012, this edition of the game includes membership in Battlefield Premium, which grants access to all 5 expansions. It also includes a "Multiplayer Head Start Kit" which gives players 15 advanced weapons plus additional gadgets, vehicle upgrades, and more.

Limited Edition

Limited Edition
Limited Edition

Includes the full game as well as free access to the Back to Karkand DLC when it released in December 2011. In addition to the Back to Karkand DLC, the Limited Edition pre-order also includes bonus item packages. Those packages were available at select retailers all over the world (each retailer had their own package to offer).

A list of all Limited Edition pre-order bonus packages:

  • SPECACT Kit Upgrade: A set of 8 multiplayer skins, one for each class and side in Battlefield 3.
  • Dog Tag Pack: A set of 5 unique in-game dog tags to choose from (for more information about Dog Tags, read above).
  • Avatar Battlefield 3 Gear: Battlefield 3 gear for Xbox 360 avatars.
  • Shotgun and Beret for Battlefield Play4Free: An 870S shotgun and a beret for in-game use in the play-for-free title Battlefield Play4Free. This pack could only be acquired by pre-ordering Battlefield 3 Limited Edition from Origin (ODM).

Limited Edition: Physical Warfare Pack

Physical Warfare Pack
Physical Warfare Pack

Includes the Physical Warfare Pack (PWP), which consists of a set of three time-based exclusive items and one early weapon unlock for Battlefield 3. The items: The Type 88 LMG, a Flash Suppressor for the SKS sniper rifle, Flechette Ammo and an early unlock of the DAO-12 shotgun (returning from Battlefield 2). The pack was available at select retailers all over the world. It was available on day 1 for pre-orders, and 30 days later (November 25th) at no extra charge for non pre-orders.

Steelbook Edition

Steelbook Edition
Steelbook Edition

The Steelbook edition was originally only announced within Sweden, though this was changed and it was released worldwide. The game comes with all the bonuses of the aforementioned Limited Editions, but with a steelbook case.

Standard Edition

Standard Edition
Standard Edition

Includes the full game only, without any multiplayer bonuses or free DLC.

Downloadable Content

There are a total of 5 downloadable content packs for the multiplayer portion of the game. Each is available individually for purchase at $15, or all included in a bundle if a player signs up for Battlefield Premium ($50).

Back To Karkand

No Caption Provided

The Limited Edition of Battlefield 3 included a code for the "Back to Karkand" expansion pack at no extra charge. The expansion pack became available in December 2011 for Limited Edition owners, and became available for purchase one month later for all other players. It is also included for all Premium members as well. The expansion pack features classic weapons, vehicles, and 4 updated maps from Battlefield 2.

New Game Mode

  • Conquest Assault - Exclusive to Back To Karkand maps, this variant of Conquest brought back from the original Battlefield games has one team that starts with no flags and the other team begins with all of them, which is balanced by having the team with no flags start with significantly more tickets than their opponents.

New Maps

NameDescription
Wake IslandA remake of the classic Battlefield 1942 map. Attackers can come from the air, or by sea. Once on the island, the multiple roads and different attack options will keep the defenders on their toes.
Strike at KarkandStrike at Karkand is a large map built for close quarter combat, and tank battles taking place on the main streets.
Gulf of OmanGulf of Oman is a desert map, with open areas for vehicle combat and urban districts for infantry fighting.
Sharqi PeninsulaAnother map that has a dense urban environment, with tight quarters and multiple firing vantage points.

Close Quarters

No Caption Provided

The second DLC Pack, called Close Quarters, was released in June 2012. It focuses on infantry-only combat featuring 4 new maps, ten new guns, ten new assignments, five new dogtags and two new game modes.

New Game Modes

  • Conquest Domination - This game mode is very similar to traditional Conquest, with the main difference being that players cannot spawn on flags they control. Rather, they are relegated to spawning on their squadmates or at random points on the map. Also flag capture & ticket bleed rates are significantly faster.
  • Gun Master - Exclusive to Close Quarters maps, this game mod pits two teams of 8 against each other. Every player begins with a low-tier weapon, and every two kills with that weapon, said player advances to the next tier of weaponry. Upon reaching the final tier, the player must get a kill using only the knife. Knifing a player demotes them down a weapon tier.

New Maps

NameDescription
Ziba TowerZiba Tower takes place on top of a skyscraper in the middle of a city and features a central area flanked by numerous rooms with two levels.
Donya FortressDonya Fortress is a fortress that has seen better days. The map features three levels, including an underground tunnel that goes through the central plaza.
Operation 925Operation 925 is a large office building featuring many office spaces and an underground parking garage filled with vehicles ready to explode when shot.
ScrapmetalScrapmetal takes place in two industrial buildings connected by walkways and covered in pipes and concrete walls.

Armored Kill

No Caption Provided

The third DLC pack called Armored Kill provides 4 extremely large new maps that have a focus on vehicular combat. It also contains new weapons, vehicles, assignments, and a new game mode called Tank Superiority. It was released in September 2012.

New Game Mode

  • Tank Superiority - Exclusive to the Armored Kill expansion maps, this game mode is essentially Conquest, except with only one flag to attack. Also, there is no cooldown on vehicle respawns; as soon as one is destroyed another immediately appears back in the player spawn area so they can get back into the action quickly.

New Maps

MapDescription
Alborz MountainA snowy mountain range with high towers and narrow valleys.
Bandar DesertBilled as "The Largest Map in Battlefield History," this is a large open desert map.
Death ValleyA moonlit valley.
Armored ShieldSet in the outskirts of Sanoy, Russia, this is a large open grassy field.

Aftermath

No Caption Provided

The fourth piece of DLC is called aftermath, and takes place in an Iranian city immediately following a devastating earthquake that has completely destroyed the surroundings. It features 4 new maps, vehicles, assignments, and a new game mode. It also introduces the new crossbow weapon. It was first released to Premium members on PS3 November 27th, 2012, and to other platforms throughout the following weeks in December 2012.

New Game Mode

  • Scavenger - Another twist on the Conquest game mode, this time players start the game as lost & disoriented soldiers immediately following an earthquake, and start the round equipped with only a knife, a grenade, and their sidearm. Ammo is extremely scarce, and players must search the environment for more powerful weapons and take control of flags to win the game.

New Maps

MapDescription
Azadi PalaceA tourist hotspot destroyed.
EpicenterA post-earthquake city with a close urban environment.
Markaz MonolithAn under construction developing city center destroyed by earthquakes.
Talah MarketA dense market place with close quarters.

End Game

No Caption Provided

The 5th and final piece of DLC is titled End Game, and was released in March 2013. It contains 4 new maps that are designed for high speed vehicles and combat. It introduces the dirt bike, the most agile vehicle in the game, and a new "dropship," which can rapidly parachute Infantry Fighting Vehicles down into the battlefield. Players can also choose to paradrop themselves from the dropship.

New Game Modes

  • Capture The Flag - Traditional CTF mode where each team tries to capture the enemy flag and return it back to their home base. The flag can only be captured if the team's own flag is at the base as well.
  • Air Superiority - Only jet's are allowed in this conquest style mode. Team's battle over zeppelin control points in the sky.

New Maps

MapDescription
Operation RiversideAutumn-themed map with a river running through numerous electrical sub-stations
Salaban PipelineA snowy oil refinery with a large overhead pipeline.
Kiasar RailroadA logging camp and a railroad.
Nebandan FlatsA wide open prairie wind farm.

Battlefield 3: The Russian

Cover for The Russian.
Cover for The Russian.

Media consultant and ex-SAS Operator-turned novelist Andy McNab, who wrote books such as "Bravo Two Zero" and "Immediate Action", co-wrote a 400-page novel entitled "Battlefield 3: The Russian" with author Peter Grimsdale, and with the assistance of DICE executive producer Patrick Bach.

The book tells the story of RU Special Forces operator Dmitri "Dima" Mayakovsky, aka The Cleaner, one of the playable characters in the game, in the events taking place after the events of the game. The book paints a picture of that legendary and pragmatic soldier struggling to do whatever it takes to keep himself, and his platoon, alive.

The book was published by Orion Publishing in Europe and Grand Central Publishing in North America, and was released alongside the game on October 25th for the price of 10$. It is available for purchase on several online stores including Amazon.com.

Soundtrack

The official Battlefield 3 soundtrack was released October 24, 2011. It was composed by Johan Skugge & Jukka Rintamaki.

1.Battlefield 3 Main Theme1:56
2.Thunder Run2:51
3.The Red Wire0:32
4.Solomon's Theme2:51
5.Spark0:43
6.Frostbite0:49
7.The Death of Vladimir2:16
8.Fire From the Sky3:06
9.Kaffarov's Villa1:05
10.Operation Metro2:03
11.La Bourse0:53
12.Tremors2:03
13.Choked2:14
14.Black Gold1:23
15.The Great Destroyer2:22
16.Hunter's Point0:54
17.Brawl0:47
18.Interrogating Blackburn6:39
19.Battlefield 3 Dark Theme0:32

Multiplayer Alpha and Beta

Alpha Trial

Official ALPHA TRIAL homepage.
Official ALPHA TRIAL homepage.

On July 20th, DICE launched an Alpha Trial for players at home to download and play, in order to test and debug the game. The trial runs on the same software used for the E3 2011 showcase floor demo, and on the same map (Operation Metro 32-player Rush).

Several waves of trial invitations were sent out in the weeks that followed. In order to be eligible to receive an invitation, the player has to subscribe to the EA newsletter, Battlefield 3 newsletter and have a Battlefield Veteran Status Rank.

Many Alpha participants broke the NDA agreement by capturing footage of the game and uploading it to YouTube, resulting in YouTube channel bans, and one EA lawsuit.

PC System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 or Vista (SP1)
  • Installed: Origin
  • CPU: Quadcore @ 2.0 GHz or faster
  • RAM: 4 GB or more
  • Hard Drive: 7.25 GB free disk space
  • Video: 512 MB or greater
  • DirectX: 10 or 11 compatible card with latest drivers (AMD 11.5 or later, nVidia 275.33 or later)
  • Sound: DirectX 10 or 11 compatible card
  • Internet: broadband connection

Note that these do not necessarily represent the requirements for the final game.

Multiplayer Beta

No Caption Provided

The beta started on September 29th and ended on October 10th, and was available on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Early beta access (48 hours) was available for those who pre-ordered the limited versions of Medal of Honor. The stipulation, however, was that the invite was only valid if the beta was opened within 12 months of MOH's release. Pre-orders on Origin got the same early access.

The beta was on the same map used in the Alpha Trial, Operation Metro, on the same game mode, Rush. Late in the beta Caspian Border was unlocked.

Reception

Battlefield 3's PC version received favorable reviews at launch, as most reviewers praised the multiplayer aspect of the game, while criticizing the single player for being too linear and dull. However, critics were harsher on the console version of the game and cited multiple graphical & matchmaking bugs as deterrents to the multiplayer experience.

EA's Review Code Controversy

EA's policy of sending review codes & copies only to selective press outlets caught flak from the gaming media and was criticized for trying to tilt the game's reception at launch.

Origin Privacy Controversy

According to German radio station 1live the intrusive Origin service has once again broken federal laws by supposedly acting in many ways like spyware. Being required by EA to play the game as a countermeasure to piracy, Origin scans hard- and software and is able to log IP addresses and thereby identifying Gamers on a personal level. Because it also requires login via real names, Thomas Schwenke, entertainment lawyer, claims that EA has overstepped several German privacy laws and can be traded in with a statement of that fact. The data protection office of the state of Northrhine-Westphalia is also said to be investigating Battlefield 3's terms of use. To be safe, the author concludes, it is recommended to try playing one of the console ports instead; a poor substitute most likely.

PC System Requirements

MinimumRecommended
  • OS: Windows Vista (SP2) 32-bit
  • PROCESSOR: 2 GHz dual core (Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz OR Athlon X2 2.7 GHz)
  • MEMORY: 2 GB
  • HARD DRIVE: 20 GB
  • GRAPHICS CARD (AMD): DirectX 10.1 compatible with 512 MB RAM (ATI Radeon 3000, 4000, 5000 or 6000 series, with ATI Radeon 3870 or higher performance)
  • GRAPHICS CARD (NVIDIA): DirectX 10.0 compatible with 512 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce 8, 9, 200, 300, 400 or 500 series with Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT or higher performance)
  • SOUND CARD: DirectX compatible
  • OS: Windows 7 64-bit
  • PROCESSOR: Quad-core CPU
  • MEMORY: 4 GB
  • HARD DRIVE: 20 GB
  • GRAPHICS CARD: DirectX 11 compatible with 1024 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950)
  • SOUND CARD: DirectX compatible

Xbox 360 HDD Install Requirement

Disc 1 of Battlefield 3 requires 7.3 GB to install on the Xbox 360's HDD, and Disc 2 requires 6.7 GB. The additional "HD-Texture Pack" which can be installed from Disc 1 requires 1.5 GB.

Online Pass

An Online Pass (which comes with the game when purchased new) is required to play any multiplayer modes on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

Battlefield 3 Teaser Trailer
Here's Your First Look at Battlefield 3 in Motion
Battlefield 3: Fault Line Episode 1 Trailer
More Battlefield 3 Footage
Fawn Over Battlefield 3's Graphics Some More
The Full Battlefield 3 Demo
E3 2011: Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Trailer
E3 2011: Battlefield 3 Stage Demo
Here's Battlefield 3 And The Operation Metro Map
Ride Along on Battlefield 3's Thunder Run
Here's Some Goodies for Pre-Ordering Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3 Operation Guillotine Teaser
Here's What The 360 Version of Battlefield 3 Looks Like
Battlefield 3 Beta
Become Acquainted With Battlefield 3's Battlelog
Watch the World Crumble in Battlefield 3
Some Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Gameplay Goodness
Battlefield 3 Is Out Next Week, But The Launch Trailer Is Here Now
Battlefield 3
Thursday Night Throwdown: 10/27/11
Find Out What Makes DICE's Frostbite Engine Tick
Here's What You Can Expect in Battlefield 3's Back To Karkand DLC
Tear Karkand Apart Brick by Brick in Battlefield 3
Tour Through The Gulf of Oman in Battlefield 3's Back to Karkand DLC
Take a Gun Boat Cruise Down to Wake Island in Battlefield 3
Helicopters Swarm Sharqi Peninsula in Battlefield 3
Game of the Year 2011: Drew's Top 10
Game of the Year 2011: Day 03 Recap
Thursday Night Throwdown: 01/05/12
Battlefield 3 DLC, All Up In Your Grill
Get Intimate With the Close Quarters DLC for Battlefield 3
E3 2012: Get Up Close & Personal in Battlefield 3
Thursday Night Throwdown: 06/21/12
Here's a Look at Battlefield 3's Next DLC Update, Armored Kill
Unprofessional Fridays - 04/05/2013