Finally, after 3months since release. Second Assault is hitting all its missing formats. PS3, PS4, PC and Xbox360 Battlefield 4 gamers have all been living in the shadow of XboxOne. We have unconfirmed news that Second Assault will be released late February. Bringing Caspian Boarder, Gulf of Omar, Operation metro and Operation Firestorm to many annoyed people.

Second assault was a release day launch for XboxOne and with the problems concerning the state of the online multiplayer. DICE suspended ALL DLC until the game is in a stable state. After several patches and a looming law suit, BF4 is looking a lot more healthy now. Crashes have all but stopped, leaving only balancing and a few minor bugs to fix. 

A tweet by one of DICE's developers, states Second Assault should be out in the month of February. Microsoft, have timed exclusives to all BF4 DLC. But the amount of time its taken to get this far is a joke. It wasn't as if the maps needed work as they where ready for the XboxOne launch. Either way, all formats will have the new maps along with the new weapons, including the F2000, AS-Val, M60E4 and the DAO-12. Whether DICE will still honour the premium 2weeks, who knows. They must get fans back on their side and draw a line under all this ASAP.

CJSowry

After the BF4 Beta finished, I had a crazy thought. Why couldn't the top of the Shanghai tower be the entire Ziba Tower map? I realise they are two different buildings, but hear me out.

DICE are adamant on trying to compete with COD with Close Quarter combat and this would keep both sets of players happy. You could even go further still, have three flags to capture as per the original map and to every one outside the building it appears as a single flag colour depending on which team controls 2 or more of the three flags inside the building.

This would keep the BF fans happy, with open maps and vehicle warfare and the COD players happy with close and tight gameplay. without having to sacrifice game mode or reduced map size. This would also stop Helicopters massacring everyone at the top, with plenty of places to still play inside, away from the heli's attack.  Obviously with the tower collapsing, the top map would be gone and its back to normal.
 
Its an idea, its up to DICE to decide if its worthy or even practical.

CJSowry

Call me sad, but im really looking forward to Battlefield 4, trouble is not for current gen consoles. (PS3/XBOX360). Ive said this before BF3 struggles to play on my PS3, so how on earth will 2years more development and squeezing life out my PS3 going to improve matters.

All the E3 and Gamecon demos where on top grade PCs running with more power than the PS4 and XBOXone combined. So I wasnt expecting miracles from the beta running on PS3 and XBOX360.
 
Sadly after the first few seconds of playing I was able to witness the Skyscraper come stumbling down into the bay. And yes, it looks good and changes the map as promised. But it lacked, scope, atmosphere. "The OMG the worlds going to end" shriek as players run for their lives from it.

There is just enough to warrant the extra numerical number after the title, but barely. BF4 plays as BF3, there's no other way of putting it. Its BF3 with a fresh lick of paint with a massive dynamic effect thrown in. Added to this the change with controller buttons and the norm now becomes alien. Spot has been moved to R2, and by holding said button brings up a menu to shout for Ammo, health packs, shout for a ride, hello, sorry and how's your day soldier? only thing missing is high five and group hug. Melee has been changed to acomidate any would be COD players looking for a change of pace and driving has been altered to match Master Cheifs Warhog.

All this sound bad, why change the controls that veterans are happy with, why risk alienating them. Well speaking from a Sony point of view, there's a damn good reason why! The new PS4 controller has NO SELECT BUTTON. So DICE have had no option but to move stuff around. And lets be honest, after a few days we'll be cursing the old BF3 controls "if" and "when" we go back to it. It will take time to learn the new controls and maps as with any game, just expect the random grenade thrown if your in a lift with me and no way to escape.!

The few improvements are not bad, swimming now allows us to dive underwater, swim faster and use our pistol and the small dynamic options in-game are very useful. the lifts, closing shutters on shops and bollards to stop enemy vehicles. And yes they do work. I managed to wedge my tank with a bollard inserted into my chassis, I quietly walked away, hiding my face and name-tag from my squad mates as the thing was going NO WHERE....!

The menus and soldier customisation is a mess, not as bad as MOH Warfighter, but its certainly looks confusing. Hopefully as attachments become unlocked it will open up and make more sense. The other game mode with Conquest is Domination. This is Close Quarters DLC and COD coming together to make Battlefield franchise what it isn't. 3 flags in close proximity and all hell breaking loose with everyone running around like headless chickens, im sorry DICE. I know you want to have a place COD people can play, but it just doesn't work with this game. TDM didn't work in BF3, If we want to play COD, we'll go and play COD.

The beta is a massive disappointment. From watching videos on YouTube, trailers and demos. It sells us this fantastic game with changing weather, and BOATS...! Where's the f*****g boats on the Beta...? oh, yes with the PS4 version...! This game was designed and made for the PS4 and XBOXone. its been scaled back and ported to the PS3 and 360. If you want the experience we've been promised and sold, get it for PC or either next gen console.

Not exactly quick off the mark here, but its given me time to ponder my thoughts on the 17mintues video released my DiCE.

The video titled Fishing in Baku does a splendid job of building the tension and setting the scene of this most anticipated shooter games of this year and maybe this generation. Following the massive success of battlefield 3 two years ago and finally putting the might of Call of Duty in its place. EA tried and failed with Medal of Honor: Warfighter and have turned back to DiCE and placed faith in a hit they know will bring them back to the game.

There is no doubting the game looks better than BF3. But running on up to date, full spec PCs it will.  The destruction and sound are taken right out of BF3 and difficult to improve on from their last outing. New to the series is the ability to call airstrikes when playing. The subtle fist pump, to signal the support helicopter to provide coving fire mid thou a fire fight is not uncommon in other shooters.

The action and feel of the video looks no different to Call of Duty, or any other modern day shooter. Fire at people, dodge attack helicopters, slide down debris shooting bad guys and slow motion sections to really emphasis the situation. All to save the world from (insert doomsday divide of choice).

My fear is the single player will just be washed away and forgotten about like with so many shooters out there today. We play Call of Duty and Battlefield for one reason and one reason alone. Online Multiplayer. I wonder if by removing the single player all together, the developers can bring us the best online experience. Two reasons for my thinking, A) charge less per unit/disc, because the cost to make the game will be greatly reduced. And there fore more sales. and B) They will have the time and resources of a limited disc to cram as much options, maps, weapons, vehicles and make it the best online EVER!

I still remain convinced BF4 will be a Next gen release. The Frostbite2 engine was developed with next gen consoles in mind. My PS3 has not crashed and froze so much since playing BF3. It simply can not cope with the demand of the game. So how will BF4, with 2 years more of graphics development and extra content cope? No official news either way, but if BF4 comes to PS3 and XBOX360, don't expect the same version as the PS4 and XBOX720 version. Battlefield games are built with high end spec PCs in mind. Games are suffering because this generation consoles cant not compere with that kind of power and the games industry is suffering because of it. Hence the next gen consoles are being released "early" compared with the PS3 expected life span of 10 odd years.

This 17mintue video is good, don't get me wrong. But it hasn't made me go out a pre-order BF4 like EA want you to. I love BF3 and still play it now, but im going to wait and see what the online has to offer first. That's what I will be playing!

CJSowry