DICE Prepares to Push Battlefield 4 Patch on "Multiple Platforms" This Month

[Alex Co]

DICE Prepares to Push Battlefield 4 Patch on "Multiple Platforms" This Month

Battlefield 4 will get a title update later this month on "multiple platforms," DICE announces.

Over on Battlelog [http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065219584248915/], DICE developer "trydling" has posted an update stating that the studio is finalizing the next patch for Battlefield 4, and is set to hit "multiple platforms" later this month.


Just a short note that we are finalizing the next game update for multiple platforms, aiming to release them later this month. Stay tuned for the full details here in the Battlefield 4 Control Room. You can always reach the Control Room via battlefield.com/bf4controlroom


Unfortunately, that's all we know so far. So, there's a chance this next update could help in the game's stability, tweak some of the weapons in the game or both. Given EA is already facing a lawsuit over the shooter's technical hiccups [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/130664-Law-Firm-Files-Class-Action-Suit-Against-EA-Over-Battlefield-4], let's hope that DICE finally stomps out all of the bugs for every platform BF4 is released on.

In other BF4 news, DICE producer Patrick Bach claims that BF4 is one of the best looking next-gen games due to Frostbite 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/131096-DICE-Claims-Frostbite-3-Truly-Takes-Advantage-of-Next-Gen-Machines], and that the engine "truly takes advantage" of next-gen consoles.

What fixes are you hoping this patch brings to the table and is BF4 still crashing for you?

Source: Battlelog [http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065219584248915/]

Permalink

 

[Yuuki]

BF4 is no longer crashing for me, either that or it's becoming so rare that it doesn't affect me. Using an Intel CPU + latest nVidia drivers for those who are interested.

Now that they've at least dealt with that (mostly), the next biggest issue is smoothing out the netcode / hit-registration. Every now and then I get 1-shot insta-killed by a gun that is not supposed to do that, not getting hitmarkers when I should be, and other inexcusable shit. Even after they supposedly fixed the headshot bug, so maybe there's something else causing it.

This video sums it up:


Our standards for netcode have dropped so low thanks to this goddamn franchise, idiots defend it saying "netcode is very good now" (comparing it to BF3 maybe?) never having experienced the kind of excellent netcode that some other shooters have, e.g. Planetside 2 or Counter Strike: Global Offensive. I won't even bring up older stuff like Quake, Unreal Tournament or CS1.6 because those were near perfect and we've only gone backwards since then.
DICE is one company that simply can't grasp how to create good netcode it seems, which is baffling because they have had 11 fucking years to master this shit since Battlefield 1942.

After that they can FINALLY move onto balancing weapons and vehicles (making DMR's viable, balancing MAA, etc), a lot of stuff is really unbalanced. Ideally this should've been done right after the game launched...but thanks to the game being launched in an utterly incomplete state, I can't even remotely predict when the hell balancing patches will start coming out.

Instead of building a solid foundation and adding on top of it, DICE/EA seem intent to keep digging a huge crater, then trying to fill that crater.

 

[Thatnorwegian]

Tried the single player for a few hours, returned to find the entire progress wiped. Then I tried the multiplayer before everything froze up. So yeah, count me amongst the forlorn masses looking forward to a bug-killing patch.

 

[Terminate421]

The L82 is the best assault rifle in that game ever.

PLEASE DON'T NERF IT DICE.

 

[Church185]

The L82 is the best assault rifle in that game ever.

PLEASE DON'T NERF IT DICE.

I like the Scar-H myself, though I'm a high bullet damage, low rate of fire kind of guy. I do hope they bring back the AN-94 though...

 

[rasputin0009]

Most of my issues are the netcode now. Crashes aren't very common anymore. Game balancing would be nice, but emphasis on netcode is much more important. The game actually is decently balanced compared to previous Battlefield launches. Nothing is too over powered anyways (well maybe the tank's staff shell combo). DMR'S are weak as fuck though. I've only been bested by someone with a DMR for a whole round by one person, and that's because he or she was amazing. Totally out of my league and I'm pretty good. I'm pretty sure they were handicapping themselves on purpose by using a DMR, too. And goddamn are the transport copter's miniguns are useless. A slight accuracy boost would make them viable.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Stability wise BF4 is pretty much fine now, credit to DICE they did actually fix something whilst in full on panic mode. Also of worth note is than the Second Assault weapons have appeared on my Battlelog page, which is interesting.

As for stuff I want to see, beside my beloved Russian death laser the DMR class of weapons needs either a big damage buff or a big stability buff, at present the level of skill required to do well with them is massive compared to the other all class weapons (shotgun/Carbine). Not sure what DICE was thinking with those, the SKS/M417 were never over powered in 3.

I like the Scar-H myself, though I'm a high bullet damage, low rate of fire kind of guy. I do hope they bring back the AN-94 though...

YES, if the An94 returns I will dance a little jig, then set about adding to my twenty four service stars from BF3.

 

[Church185]

As for stuff I want to see, beside my beloved Russian death laser the DMR class of weapons needs either a big damage buff or a big stability buff, at present the level of skill required to do well with them is massive compared to the other all class weapons (shotgun/Carbine). Not sure what DICE was thinking with those, the SKS/M417 were never over powered in 3.

Ugh, if they buff the damage/stability, they should nerf the sound. More people will be using the things, which means all I'll be able to hear is PSSH PSSH PSSH PSSH PSSH PSSH PSSH PSSH as bad players miss me a dozen times. I seriously think it is one of the loudest sounds in the game.

 

[Matthi205]

I'm having less issues with the netcode and lag compensation since I was usually having a ping of about 120ms to begin with when playing Bad Company 2 (now I have 50ms to most servers I play on), but :

1. Some statistics that actually mean something would be nice (not just random bars).
2. A "laser intensity" slider would also be nice (to play hardcore mode, for you see: you get a crosshair, but you also get seen).
3. Mantle would be nice to see finally. It could potentially raise the performance on AMD Zambezi and Vishera CPUs drastically.

 

[Thedutchjelle]

Imo most of the issues lie with the maps. I just don't find them nearly as thought-out as some of the BF3 ones.

Flood zone? Tiny, absolutely unfit for having 4 IFVs and a boat. AMTRAC is basically useless.
Operation Locker? Operation Metro 2, pretty much.
Langcan dam? The MAA can sit in the spawnzone and destroy /everything/.

The whole vehicle gameplay just feels so much worse in this one.. and as a vehicle lover that's kinda an issue

 

[octafish]

Imo most of the issues lie with the maps. I just don't find them nearly as thought-out as some of the BF3 ones.

Flood zone? Tiny, absolutely unfit for having 4 IFVs and a boat. AMTRAC is basically useless.
Operation Locker? Operation Metro 2, pretty much.
Langcan dam? The MAA can sit in the spawnzone and destroy /everything/.

The whole vehicle gameplay just feels so much worse in this one.. and as a vehicle lover that's kinda an issue

The Chinese maps help some. BF3 maps were worse than BF4 though. The urban combat is less constrained, and there are more vehicles tied to cap points rather than large motor pools at spawn. That still happens though. I can play a whole game just running up and down the creek in Zavod messing up snipers. It's great.

 

[Metalrocks]

sounds like i still have to wait before i buy it. at least the beta was working more or less fine but it was still fun to play.
also hope that the netcode part will be fixed as well because i have this same crap with BF3.

 

[Thedutchjelle]

Imo most of the issues lie with the maps. I just don't find them nearly as thought-out as some of the BF3 ones.

Flood zone? Tiny, absolutely unfit for having 4 IFVs and a boat. AMTRAC is basically useless.
Operation Locker? Operation Metro 2, pretty much.
Langcan dam? The MAA can sit in the spawnzone and destroy /everything/.

The whole vehicle gameplay just feels so much worse in this one.. and as a vehicle lover that's kinda an issue

The Chinese maps help some. BF3 maps were worse than BF4 though. The urban combat is less constrained, and there are more vehicles tied to cap points rather than large motor pools at spawn. That still happens though. I can play a whole game just running up and down the creek in Zavod messing up snipers. It's great.

But the motor pools at spawn at least make it balanced.

Right now, the mobile artillery on some maps is easier to pick for one team than the other - the M-Art on Zavod for example, is closer to the spawn of one team than it is off the other. The M-Art on Resort is always facing the same direction, making it easier to flee for one team than for the other.

The MAA on the satellite dish map and the MAA on Paracel Storm makes it so that whichever team owns (provided the MAA driver is capable )it can now rape everything from the air as hostile air can get slaughtered far to easily. I'd rather both teams have a MAA, as in the other maps.

I disagree with your statement about the bf3 < bf4 maps though. In Bf3, I enjoyed Firestorm, Seine (as a tank driver, this is closet you can get to heaven), Caspian, Kharg. In BF4 I only really enjoy Shanghai and at times Golmud.

Edit: What the fuck is up with auto playing ads with sound? How much further is the escapist going to go before I just stop visiting it altogether :\