A couple of days after the beta testing of Battlefield 4, developer DICE has shared a list of updates that will give the game its final shape. The changes that will be implemented in the game have been based on feedback from users and the results from the game's performance during the recently concluded beta testing.
The huge list that DICE has shared includes improvements made for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360's controller layouts, tweaks for the game's server filter options, weapons and gameplay balance.
Battlefield 4 will not be rolled out with the elevator catapult bug that launches players into air when they hit upon the elevator button in the Siege of Shanghai map, which was the sample given to beta players. Beta testing started on 1 October and ended on 15 October.
DICE detailed the changes it will bring in Battlefield 4, on the Battlefield blog:
Low frame rate/stuttering
Since PC gamers had trouble in making the game runt at good frame rate, DICE will be optimising the PC version for launch. Three game client updates and various game server updates were launched during beta to fix issues and gather information.
Stuck on loading screen
DICE has identified the issue of screen freezes as the game loads and has been working around the clock to decrease the instances of such occurances. While some updates were sent during beta, the issue will be minimised before launch.
High CPU usage during the Beta
DICE has identified the reasons and has released three patches (beta) which have addressed the skyrocketing of CPU usage in dual, quad and six-core processors.
Controller layouts (X360/PS3)
The devleloper has Increased controller options which is inclusive of new controller layout and multiple alternatives. Also for players preferring to use Battlefield 3 controls, DICE has provided options by going to the "Legacy" layout.
Empty server listings (X360/PS3)
Empty server listings will be populated when the filter options are changed, players can also use "Quick Match" function for quicker action.
The elevator catapult (All platforms)
Though not intended to act as a catapult, the bug has been fixed for the final version.
Gameplay balancing
Here are the changes revealed by DICE on gameplay balancing:
"We are still balancing gameplay, and in true DICE fashion will continue to do so well after the release of Battlefield 4. Below are the changes:
Infantry Changes
- Fixed how the player only receives a single local damage sound effect if he or she was the victim of a quick, clean kill. The sound and camera impact effect had too long a cool down between hits. This should improve the responsiveness of being killed and taking damage.
- Reduced the fire rate of the AK12 in burst from 1000rpm to 750rpm. The rate of fire was too high when combined with the low recoil of the weapon, making it more powerful than intended in burst mode.
- Tweaked the compensator and muzzle brake so they're properly less accurate in sustained automatic fire.
- Reduced and rebalanced full auto accuracy based on rate of fire for all automatic weapons to balance low ROF weapons. Low ROF weapons were remaining accurate long enough to get easy kills outside of their intended optimal range.
- Increased the default throw distance of the portable ammo and med packs. This makes it easier to throw these packs to teammates.
- Portable ammo packs now reload 2 magazines of bullets instantly and up a total of 4 magazines per pack over time. The player must stay on top of the ammo pack in order to benefit from all of the ammo reloading. Grenades, RPG's, and other explosive launchers do not benefit from the instant reload function of the Ammo Pack.
- Increased the muzzle flash of the 25mm and 40mm launchers to make their threat position more visible.
- Fixed an issue where the knife stab didn't align with the kill event.
- The revive time has been increased from 7s to 10s.
Vehicle Changes
- Fixed some descriptions of weapons for vehicles that incorrectly described the function of the weapon.
- Increased the damage of the Stinger and IGLA to 3 hits to kill attack choppers (was 25%, now 35%).
- Increased the speed of all TOW guided missiles to 75m/s from 50m/s so they can catch-up to fast vehicles like the Quad bike.
- Increased the sustained fire accuracy of the Coaxial LMG on armored vehicles because it was underpowered.
- Reduced the damage the 40mm and 25mm infantry weapons do to armored vehicles to highlight their anti-infantry role.
- Reduced the damage main gun on the IFVs against other armor to highlight their primarily anti-infantry role.
- Fixed an issue where the tank main gun did not correctly hit the center of the crosshair at all times.
- Multiple options are now available for controlling how your vehicles steer with a joystick on all platforms, as well as improved the responsiveness of steering while accelerating.
Locking Weapon Changes
- RPG7 and SMAW can no longer lock on to Laser Designated Targets. It was inauthentic and not balanced.
- Fixed some projectiles not warning vehicles when they were fired on a Laser Designated target. Reduced the lock on distance for RPGs, SMAW, and MBT LAW missiles to 350m from 500m. This gives the IGLA the clear long range AA role for soldiers, and keeps the team play element of Laser Designation.
- -All Laser Designated missiles now do a maximum of 90% damage to Attack and Scout helicopters (down from 100%). This was done to give helicopters a chance to use their Fire Extinguisher countermeasure even against Laser Designated weapons.
General Changes
- The kill string in the score log now appears sooner, making the UI more responsive to a kill event.
- The aim assist on X360/PS3 has been tweaked to be more consistent at all ranges.The assist was over powerful at close range, and not powerful enough at medium range. Players should now find that close combat requires much more player input and the snap to a target is far less forgiving.At medium range the player should experience a bit more assistance tracking targets, but generally still reduced aim assist effectiveness.
PC Specific Changes
- Fixed a string in On Foot PC key bindings that should have read "CROUCH (TOGGLE) / PRONE (HOLD)".
- Removed an unused "Underslung" key binding on PC, the "Select Gadget 1″ key binding now controls both of these actions as expected.
