14 DAY TRIAL // Battlefield 3 has just received a brand new update for its PC version, which brings not only a variety of fixes and tweaks but also plenty of new features, from different minimaps, to new communication possibilities or horns for the jeeps in the multiplayer mode.
EA and DICE released Battlefield 3 late last year and, since then, have supported the first person shooter with all sorts of patches and updates, not to mention the Back to Karkand expansion.
Now, after the PlayStation 3 edition of the game received its newest patch earlier this week, DICE has finally deployed the PC version of the update via the Origin digital distribution service.
Available for download today, the patch weighs in at around 1.6GB and brings all sorts of things, from traditional improvements and bug fixes, to a variety of new features and enhancements to existing ones.
Check out some of the major things included in Battlefield 3’s newest update below.
New and improved commo rose This update sees a number of improvements to the commo rose on PC, partially based on feedback from the community, including New global call-outs, Moved orders to commo rose, Improved mouse handling, Quicker activation, Improved readability.
Improved minimap
After listening to community feedback, we have implemented alternative new ways to display the minimap. You can now choose between Map, Satellite or Hybrid view mode.
Map mode shows the most important tactical geometries such as buildings, objects, roads and water. Satellite mode displays a top-down photograph of the level for increased terrain detail. Hybrid mode combines the Satellite view with a Map overlay, offering a mix of quick tactical awareness and terrain detail.
You can change the minimap mode on the fly by pressing [B] (this key is mappable). You can set your preferred default map mode in the Options menu, where you can also alter the opacity level for the satellite textures. See below for an example of how these map displays compare.
Beep beep! We have horns! Yes! We have added horns to all jeeps in the game! Nothing says “Get in and man the machine gun so we can take back the airfield!” like three short beeps of the horn. Just press [SPACE] to make your presence known to friendly forces. Warning: Beeping also heard by opposition. Suggest limiting beeping when in enemy territory to keep vehicle in working order. This feature is also present in the PlayStation 3 update that went live yesterday (activated by L1).
Giving all players IR flares
To balance the battlefield and give budding pilots a fighting chance from day 1, we are now giving IR flares to all players. These will be automatically available to you in all air vehicles in the game. So if you’ve had a hard time staying up in the air previously, it should be easier to dodge incoming threats from now on. We hope this small but significant change will mean more players take to the skies and mix up their play style. This feature is also present in the PlayStation 3 update that went live yesterday.
More awards for skillful heli flying
One of the balancing items we have done in this game update is to better reward skillful heli pilots. To do this, we have increased the pilot’s score for transporting passengers who make kills from the heli. The assist score for heli pilots is now 50 points/kill. In a fully loaded transport, four passengers who make 1 kill each will give the pilot a sum total of 200 points. This balancing change is also present in the PlayStation 3 update that went live yesterday.
Making the SOFLAM a passive income gadget
The Recon gadget SOFLAM (laser target painter) has been given a new feature. Now, when a Recon player places it and then leaves it, it will continue to paint targets entering its area of control, continuously giving the Recon player a passive points income. This means a Recon player can place a SOFLAM in a strategic position, then leave it to find a good sniping spot. Combined with fixing a few scoring error in the SOFLAM, it should now be a much more viable source of experience points for Recons. This balancing change is also present in the PlayStation 3 update that went live yesterday.
Suppressing is team play, too!
Another balancing change that reflects how we want every player to be able to contribute to the overall effort is the lowered threshold for achieving the Suppression Ribbon. From a previous requirement of 7, players now only need to perform 3 suppressions in a game to be rewarded the Suppression Ribbon. This means the Support Kit player can rack up scores by skillful use of his LMG. We’ve always know suppression helps – now we are more generously rewarding those team players who help disorient the enemy so we can move in for the kill. This balancing change is also present in the PlayStation 3 update that went live yesterday.
Shortcut items
Today, we are also offering 10 different shortcut items for sale for Battlefield 3 on PC. If you’re new to the game, this is the perfect way to gain some ground on the veterans online. Or if you’d love to get your hands on those AA missiles for jets instantly, this is for you.
The 10 shortcut items are available now from Origin and include: Kit Shortcut Bundle: Immediately unlocks all items unique to the four playable classes Vehicle Shortcut Bundle: Immediately unlocks all items for all vehicles The Ultimate Bundle: Immediately unlocks all items from all other available shortcut packs The update is being rolled out as we speak and will pop up the next time you start up Battlefield 3 via Origin on the PC.