Battlefield 4, EA's latest instalment in the franchise which in some ways defines the Modern Military Shooter genre, is set to release on October 29th on PC, XBOX 360 and PS3. However if you're keen to get stuck into the title before the full release date you may be interested to hear that EA are setting up an Open Beta period, set to go live at the beginning of next month.
The Open Beta will consist mainly of Conquest mode on the Siege of Shanghai map, allowing users to come to terms with game mechanics and provide feedback to the developers on balance, bugs and other potential improvements. It will also give you some indication of the performance of the game on your system, allowing you to assess whether an upgrade may be necessary before you buy the game proper.
An Exclusive Battlefield 4 Beta - be available to those who have pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe version of the game, are Battlefield 3 Premium members or have purchased the Medal of Honour Warfighter Limited Edition/DDE - remains M.I.A. Battlefield 3's Exclusive Beta began 48 hours before the Open Beta; however Battlefield 4's is also due to go live in early October according to the FAQ. Today's announcement makes it difficult imagine it being a timed exclusive Beta, perhaps suggesting a partitioned player base, or more likely the Exclusive Beta also including additional features.
Coinciding with the announcement is the news that Battlefield 4 will be a launch release title for XBOX One and Playstation 4, with the opportunity to purchase the title for a reduced price if you have already bought the game on the previous generation console platforms. Advancements you make in-game will carry over to the upgraded console version as an when you upgrade, so you won't lose out on the time you spend in the intervening period.
Battlefield 4 is currently available to pre-order from Origin.com and online retailers for between £30.90 and £44.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition, with additional features including the China rising expansion pack, is £54.99. We suggest you shop around for the best prices.
Source: EA Blog
