# Battlefield 4
**Battlefield 4** is a first-person shooter developed by EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE) and published by [Electronic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/electronic-arts), released on October 29, 2013 for PC, Xbox 360, and [PlayStation 3](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-3), with [Xbox One](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-one) and PlayStation 4 versions arriving in mid-November alongside those consoles' launches[1](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2013/10/1/801186.pdf). It was the first title built on the Frostbite 3 engine[2](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/las-claves-del-fracaso-de-anthem-la-arriesgada-apuesta-de-bioware-que-deja-de-ser-jugable-tras-el-cierre-de-sus-servidores-f202601-n/), and it pairs a single-player campaign with large-scale multiplayer warfare across land, air, and sea[1](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2013/10/1/801186.pdf).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | October 29, 2013 (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3); Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in mid-November 2013[1](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2013/10/1/801186.pdf) |
| Developer / publisher | DICE / Electronic Arts[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3W4FbsAqIY) |
| Engine | Frostbite 3, its first shipped title[2](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/las-claves-del-fracaso-de-anthem-la-arriesgada-apuesta-de-bioware-que-deja-de-ser-jugable-tras-el-cierre-de-sus-servidores-f202601-n/) |
| Signature feature | Levolution, in which huge parts of each map are drastically changed by weather and player activity[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-battlefield-games/) |
| Critical reception | Metacritic score of 81; Battlefield 3 and 4 are often discussed by fans and developers as pinnacle entries in the series[5](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6-metacritic-score-is-the-best-dice-has-had-in-years-but-still-cant-match-the-likes-of-battlefield-3/) |
| Launch problems | A bug-ridden release that disappointed in sales and triggered a shareholder lawsuit against EA in late 2013[6](https://time.com/3616882/electronic-arts-ea/) |
| Premium content | Five expansion packs: China Rising, Second Assault, Naval Strike, Dragon's Teeth, and Final Stand[7](https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-4) |
| Current status | Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions sunset; still available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4[8](https://forums.ea.com/discussions/battlefield-franchise-discussion-en/battlefield-4---sunsetting-announcement-for-xbox-360--playstation-3-/6639115) |
## Development and reveal
DICE debuted Battlefield 4 in March 2013 with a 17-minute demo titled *Fishing in Baku*, which drew attention for its advanced physics and graphics, and the studio showed more at E3 that year[9](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_financials/2013/q4/Q4_FY13_Script_FINAL.pdf). Frostbite 3, engineered at DICE, was one of the two development engines EA built for its next generation of games[9](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_financials/2013/q4/Q4_FY13_Script_FINAL.pdf). Soon after the game's debut, EA announced it was moving away from a fragmented development system in which studios used different toolsets, and would standardize on its proprietary [Frostbite](https://www.edgepedia.org/frostbite) engine instead[10](https://www.engadget.com/2013-11-19-electronic-arts-frostbite-battlefield-mass-effect.html).
## Multiplayer and Levolution
Multiplayer is the game's centerpiece. PlayStation and Xbox owners could for the first time play 64-player matches on console, and the Levolution system lets huge parts of each map be drastically changed by weather and player activity, a feature later assessments still describe as impressive[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-battlefield-games/). EA's marketing describes dynamic destructible environments and epic vehicular combat as the core of the experience[7](https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-4). Progression is tied to play style: regularly using a certain vehicle unlocks attachments and accessories for that vehicle type[11](https://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/manuals/GAME-BF4/b4-pc-en.pdf).
**Netcode problems and fixes.** After launch, DICE published a detailed account of the multiplayer issues players called "netcode" problems, ranging from faulty latency compensation to glitches in the gameplay simulation[12](https://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/news/view/addressing-netcode-in-bf4/). The studio fixed several latency-compensation issues that had created impressions of "one hit kills", made server optimizations that decreased rubber banding, and investigated a bug in which players fired at opponents without doing damage[12](https://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/news/view/addressing-netcode-in-bf4/). It also added HUD icons for high latency and packet loss to help players troubleshoot their connections[12](https://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/news/view/addressing-netcode-in-bf4/).
## Single-player campaign
The campaign starts with the evacuation of American VIPs from Shanghai and follows the player's squad as it struggles to find its way home[7](https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-4). Critics were unenthusiastic: [PC Gamer](https://www.edgepedia.org/pc-gamer) called it a better appetizer than [Battlefield 3](https://www.edgepedia.org/battlefield-3)'s campaign but still a single-player-by-numbers execution[13](https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-4-pc-review/), and The Guardian wrote that the series is loved for its multiplayer rather than its campaigns[14](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/nov/08/battlefield-4-review-ea-video-game). [Game Informer](https://www.edgepedia.org/game-informer) described the package as another strong dose of large-scale multiplayer alongside a forgettable story campaign[15](https://www.gameinformer.com/games/battlefield_4/b/pc/archive/2013/10/28/holding-the-line.aspx). A later retrospective judged the campaign's writing a mixed bag with a lack of real-world grounding, while noting that the setting of the United States, Russia, and China locked in tense conflict gives the online matches an extra layer of worldbuilding[16](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ive-played-1-500-hours-of-battlefield-heres-why-battlefield-4-is-still-the-most-essential-entry-in-the-series).
## Launch, lawsuit, and recovery
The launch was met by what court filings describe as "a deluge of customer complaints regarding game-breaking issues"[17](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/BattlefieldEAsuit.pdf). In late 2013 EA was hit by a shareholder lawsuit over the release, which disappointed in sales after the bug-ridden debut[6](https://time.com/3616882/electronic-arts-ea/).
## Reception and legacy
Battlefield 4 holds a Metacritic score of 81, and GamesRadar notes that Battlefield 3 and 4 are often discussed by fans and developers as pinnacle, aspirational entries in the series[5](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6-metacritic-score-is-the-best-dice-has-had-in-years-but-still-cant-match-the-likes-of-battlefield-3/). GamesRadar's ranking of the series places it eighth, crediting its upgraded multiplayer options and the Levolution system[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-battlefield-games/). A TechRadar retrospective calls it the quintessential Battlefield experience and the benchmark against which later entries are measured, praising its mix of arcade and tactical shooter elements[16](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ive-played-1-500-hours-of-battlefield-heres-why-battlefield-4-is-still-the-most-essential-entry-in-the-series).
The game's afterlife has been long. EA announced sunsetting for the [Xbox 360](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-360) and PlayStation 3 versions, while the game remains available on PC, Xbox One, and [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4)[8](https://forums.ea.com/discussions/battlefield-franchise-discussion-en/battlefield-4---sunsetting-announcement-for-xbox-360--playstation-3-/6639115). Its map Golmud Railway was announced for a rebuilt return in a [Battlefield 6](https://www.edgepedia.org/battlefield-6) season[19](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6-teases-new-contaminated-map-for-season-2-and-confirms-a-rebuilt-version-of-classic-battlefield-4-map-golmud-railway-is-on-the-way/), and TechRadar recommends picking the game up while its servers are still supported, noting that the spin-off Battlefield Hardline's servers shut down on 22 June with no guarantee for Battlefield 4's[16](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ive-played-1-500-hours-of-battlefield-heres-why-battlefield-4-is-still-the-most-essential-entry-in-the-series).
## References
1. [DICE Launches Battlefield 4 Today, EA press release (October 29, 2013)](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_news/2013/10/1/801186.pdf)
2. [Las claves del fracaso de Anthem, AS MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/noticias/las-claves-del-fracaso-de-anthem-la-arriesgada-apuesta-de-bioware-que-deja-de-ser-jugable-tras-el-cierre-de-sus-servidores-f202601-n/)
3. [Battlefield 4: Official Levolution Features Video, Battlefield (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3W4FbsAqIY)
4. [The 10 best Battlefield games of all-time, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/best-battlefield-games/)
5. [Battlefield 6 Metacritic score is the best the FPS series has had in years, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6-metacritic-score-is-the-best-dice-has-had-in-years-but-still-cant-match-the-likes-of-battlefield-3/)
6. [Why Electronic Arts Is Suddenly Roaring Back to Life, Time](https://time.com/3616882/electronic-arts-ea/)
7. [Buy Battlefield 4, Electronic Arts](https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-4)
8. [Battlefield 4 – Sunsetting Announcement for Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3, EA Forums](https://forums.ea.com/discussions/battlefield-franchise-discussion-en/battlefield-4---sunsetting-announcement-for-xbox-360--playstation-3-/6639115)
9. [EA Q4 FY13 earnings call script](https://s204.q4cdn.com/701424631/files/doc_financials/2013/q4/Q4_FY13_Script_FINAL.pdf)
10. [From Battlefield to Mass Effect: How one engine is shaping the future of EA Games, Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2013-11-19-electronic-arts-frostbite-battlefield-mass-effect.html)
11. [Battlefield 4 PC manual, EA](https://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/manuals/GAME-BF4/b4-pc-en.pdf)
12. [Addressing "Netcode" in Battlefield 4, Battlelog](https://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/news/view/addressing-netcode-in-bf4/)
13. [Battlefield 4 PC review, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-4-pc-review/)
14. [Battlefield 4 – review, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/nov/08/battlefield-4-review-ea-video-game)
15. [Battlefield 4 Review – Holding The Line, Game Informer](https://www.gameinformer.com/games/battlefield_4/b/pc/archive/2013/10/28/holding-the-line.aspx)
16. [I've played 1,500 hours of Battlefield – here's why Battlefield 4 is still the most essential entry in the series, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ive-played-1-500-hours-of-battlefield-heres-why-battlefield-4-is-still-the-most-essential-entry-in-the-series)
17. [Electronic Arts / Battlefield 4 shareholder suit filing, Ars Technica document](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/BattlefieldEAsuit.pdf)
18. [LaTOUNGa's Review of Battlefield 4 (Premium Edition), GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-4/user-reviews/2200-12674580/)
19. [Battlefield 6 confirms a rebuilt version of classic Battlefield 4 map Golmud Railway, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6-teases-new-contaminated-map-for-season-2-and-confirms-a-rebuilt-version-of-classic-battlefield-4-map-golmud-railway-is-on-the-way/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Franchises and series › Action, horror, and shooter franchises › Battlefield franchise*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license