Battlefield V game poster and cover art

Game Introduction

Game Introduction: Battlefield V



Battlefield V is a first-person shooter (FPS) video game developed by DICE (Digital Illusions CE) and published by Electronic Arts (EA). It is the sixteenth installment in the Battlefield series and a direct successor to Battlefield 1. The game was officially announced on May 23, 2018, and released worldwide on November 20, 2018 for PC (Windows), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It later became playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility, with enhanced performance patches. The PC version is available through Origin, Steam, EA app, and Epic Games Store.

Story Overview & Setting



Battlefield V returns to World War II, but instead of retreading the most familiar campaigns, it focuses on untold stories and diverse fronts. The single-player campaign is composed of multiple War Stories—self-contained, character-driven narratives that highlight individual experiences and lesser-known battles. These include:
  • "Under No Flag" – A British convict is recruited into a special operations unit for sabotage missions in North Africa.

  • "Nordlys" – A young Norwegian resistance fighter battles the German occupation and atomic bomb research.

  • "Tirailleur" – Senegalese Tirailleurs (colonial soldiers) fight for France during the invasion of southern France.

  • "The Last Tiger" – A German tank crew’s desperate last stand in the Ruhr pocket, told from a sympathetic enemy perspective.


    • There is no overarching narrative; each War Story is a standalone vignette. The multiplayer mode is set across various WWII theaters, including Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific (via later updates).

    Main Characters



  • Billy Bridger (Under No Flag) – A British criminal turned commando.

  • Solveig F. Bjørnstad (Nordlys) – A Norwegian resistance fighter.

  • Deme Cissé (Tirailleur) – A Senegalese soldier fighting for France.

  • Peter Müller (The Last Tiger) – A German tank commander confronting the futility of war.


    • Core Appeal & Target Audience



    Battlefield V appeals to fans of large-scale multiplayer warfare who enjoy team-based tactics, combined arms combat (infantry, vehicles, aircraft), and immersive destruction. Its core features—dynamic fortification building, squad revives, attrition systems (limited ammo/health), and the new Tides of War live service—attract both veteran Battlefield players and newcomers to the series. The game is rated M for Mature (17+) due to violence, blood, and language.

    Game Modes



    Multiplayer (online):
  • Conquest – Classic capture-and-hold mode with 64 players.

  • Breakthrough – Attackers push through sectors against defenders.

  • Grand Operations – Multi-day, multi-mode narrative battles (e.g., Fall of Norway, Battle of Crete).

  • Frontlines – Teams fight over a single frontline flag, pushing into enemy territory.

  • Team Deathmatch – Standard elimination mode.

  • Dominion – Small-scale capture point mode (limited-time).

  • Outpost – Build and defend radio beacons (limited-time).

  • Firestorm – Battle royale for up to 64 players (removed from updates in 2019, still playable in some regions but no longer supported).


    • Co-op:
  • Combined Arms – 1–4 players complete objectives against AI enemies, available in single-player or online co-op.


    • Single-player:
  • War Stories – Four main campaigns (listed above), plus a prologue and intro mission. Completely offline.


    • Online / Offline Support



  • Offline: Single-player War Stories and the Combined Arms solo mode (without matchmaking). No offline multiplayer.

  • Online: All multiplayer modes require an internet connection and EA account. Cross-play is not supported between consoles and PC, but PS4 and PS5 players can play together, as can Xbox One and Series X|S players within the same console family.


    • DLC & Expansion Overview



    Battlefield V abandoned the traditional premium pass model in favor of a live service called Tides of War. All major gameplay content updates were free. Post-launch chapters added:
  • Chapter 1: Overture – Introduced Panzerstorm map and vehicle customizations.

  • Chapter 2: Lightning Strikes – Added Merkur map, new weapons, and vehicles.

  • Chapter 3: Trial by Fire – Firestorm battle royale mode, Halvoy map.

  • Chapter 4: Defying the Fall – Pacific Theater content: Wake Island, Iwo Jima, Pacific Storm maps, U.S. and Japanese factions, new weapons/vehicles.

  • Chapter 5: War in the Pacific – Continued Pacific updates including a new map and weapons.

  • Chapter 6: Into the Jungle – Added Solomon Islands map, plus more cosmetics and weapons.


    • Additional maps (e.g., Al Marj Encampment, Operation Underground, Provence, Lofoten Islands, Fjell 652) were released through updates. No paid map packs were ever required. Microtransactions exist for cosmetic items (skins, weapon charms) through Battlefield Currency.

    What Makes Battlefield V Unique?



  • Fortifications System – Players can build sandbags, anti-tank obstacles, machine gun nests, and bunkers to shape the battlefield. This adds a tactical layer not seen in previous Battlefield titles.

  • Attrition System – Limited ammo and health encourages squad play; medics revive faster and can heal fully. No automatic health regeneration (except through supply stations).

  • Squad Revives – Any squad member can revive a downed teammate, reducing reliance on medics.

  • Tides of War – Free live service with narrative-driven chapters, weekly challenges, and unlockable rewards.

  • Customization – Extensive soldier and weapon cosmetics, including historically authentic and fictional outfits, earned through gameplay or purchase.

  • Physical Destruction – The Frostbite engine delivers dynamic destruction: buildings collapse, terrain craters form, and walls can be breached by explosives.

  • No Season Pass – Battlefield V was one of the first major EA shooters to offer all gameplay content for free, a response to community backlash against paid DLC fragmentation.


Overall, Battlefield V is a visually stunning, large-scale WWII shooter that emphasizes squad teamwork, player agency through fortifications, and a commitment to telling lesser-known war stories. Its refined gunplay, combined with the epic set pieces Battlefield is known for, makes it a memorable entry in the series despite a rocky launch and eventual shift in support.