Battlefield 5: here's a list of all changes made based on alpha and beta feedback
Between the different Battlefield 5 alpha and beta tests, the game has changed several times over, and that's very apparent in the current build.
With the launch version of Battlefield 5 now playable, DICE took a bit of time to highlight some of the biggest changes made based on alpha and beta feedback.
Almost everything from general quality of life updates to the more pressing mechanical changes to attrition, fortifications, gunplay and more has been made better.
The full list of changes is massive, over a hundred pages [PDF], in fact. You can read it all at the link, or see the general highlights below.
Weapons
DICE reduced the short-range effectiveness of assault rifles to be more in line with their intended role in the meta. SMGs should be king in those ranges, while the inverse is true for assault rifles. All weapons now start with more ammo.
Weapon Specializations have also been touched up, offering more choice in response to the beta feedback. These skill trees should now be less about providing outright benefits.
Vehicles
Several changes to vehicle characteristics were made. Things like speed, handling, durability, starting ammo, and manoeuvrability have been improved. Like weapons, vehicle Specializations too have been expanded and adjusted. There are now skills that focus on turret rotation speed.
Maps and modes
The placement of supply and health stations has been adjusted, making them available near objectives more. Map changes also touch on soldier viability, which is now more important than ever thanks to the lack of spotting. In some cases, soldiers will have rim lighting around them to make them stand out a bit more.
Frontlines, which is more often seen as the first portion of a Grand Operations round, saw one major change. DICE added a timer that should prevent defenders from camping the bomb spawn areas. There were also different bits of voice over narration added to Grand Operations, and Conquest to provide context.
Attrition
As noted above, ammo and health attrition systems have been toned down in the launch version. Players now spawn with more ammo, and one medical pouch. This also affects supply and health stations, which players can build. Thanks to new UI updates, players now know if and when they can build these stations themselves.
Sandbox
Anything that dynamically happens in the game world, whether player-created or randomised like weather and time of day, fits into the sandbox category.
Bullet penetration, terrain craters caused by explosions, civilian vehicle destruction are all improved for launch. Bullets should now go through surfaces reliably, with the highest calibre bullets able to penetrate the toughest cover. Craters now take into account soldier stance, and can be used as makeshift cover.
Vehicles scattered around the urban maps will now react to expositions and be squished if a tank passes over them.
Once again, the full log is massive, and you can check it out at the link above. If you're not yet playing Battlefield 5, get caught up on all the new changes in the sequel, and see this breakdown of the updated classes and Combat Roles.