Ever since the end of the Battlefield 5 Open Beta last month, DICE has been keeping fans well-informed with news and updates about the upcoming first-person shooter. The studio recently published a complete list of every weapon, vehicle, etc. which will feature in the game, and tips for how to best use the new Attrition system. Now, the studio has explained what they want to achieve with Battlefield 5 gunplay.
DICE’s Ambitions for Battlefield 5 Gunplay
DICE has talked publicly about Battlefield 5 gunplay before. Given that it is one of the game’s most important and complex features, the studio clearly wants to reassure fans how seriously they are taking the balancing of gunplay. According to DICE, the studio has two key goals for the gunplay mechanics; making it possible for players to “learn and master” the system, and making each soldier class feel clear and distinct.
When it comes to the first goal, DICE is focusing on making each gun feel as responsive as possible. According to the game’s Core Gameplay Designer, Florian le Bihan, and the Weapon Designer, Julian Schimek; “What’s key to achieving [the first goal]? Simply put, to allow the player to understand the behaviour of their weapons, be it recoil, fire power, or any other aspect. If a player can foresee this behaviour, they will learn what’s going on – and if they learn, they can improve. Overall, we want to create a more physical experience where players firing a weapon really feels like they’re in control.”
The second goal ties in to the four soldier classes in Battlefield 5; Assault, Medic, Recon, and Support. Each of those classes can pick primary weapons from 1-2 assigned weapon categories, giving each of them a different set of firearms to choose from; “They should feel distinct,” continue the developers; “but at the same time not confining. For example, Assault Rifles are great for burst-firing. Semi-Automatic Rifles should be about finding a rhythm. The Bolt-Action rifles are all about pulling off that single, important shot.”
Players won’t get another chance to experience the Battlefield 5 gunplay for themselves before the game releases in November. It seems that DICE is still tweaking the system to make it as polished as possible in time for that release date.