#E32017 Next Battlefield 1 expansion arriving September, try DLC maps for free!
The next expansion pack that will be coming to Battlefield 1 and will of course be included in the Battlefield 1 Premium has been announced with In the Name of the Tsar, and it will be arriving this coming September for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
The news was announced at EA’s E3 press conference (EA Play) and they described In the Name of the Tsar as the “biggest front in the most extensive Battlefield expansion so far.” The expansion will introduce the Russian army to multiplayer, including the Woman’s Battalion of Death to the Scout Class.
In the Name of the Tsar will also bring six new multiplayer maps to the experience with Lupkow Pass, Albion, Galicia and Brusilov Keep, with two further maps being revealed at a later date. Speaking of additional maps, Battlefield 1 Premium Pass owners or those that own the They Shall Not Pass DLC individually will be granted two additional maps; Nivelle Nights this June and Prise de Tahure in July.
In the Name of the Tsar will also bring new weapons, vehicles, as well as new and improved game modes such as Supply Drop in which “you’ll join a fast-paced fight for supplies on the Eastern Front as planes airdrop everything needed to outgun and outscore your opponents.”
While DLC announcements can feel as generic as they come at times, there was one piece of news that took me by surprise and that is that you’ll be able to sample some of the new DLC maps for free with a system called Premium Trials. The name pretty much speaks for itself, as you’ll be able to sample maps on a temporary basis. Also, if you have a friend that owns Battlefield 1 Premium, they’ll be able to invite you to join their game via Premium Friends and that means playing the maps that they have access too, even if you don’t own Premium. Premium Friends will be available until Gamescom which begins August 22nd.
That pretty much covers the key factors from the Battlefield 1 announcements at E3, but you can read up on any additional details via the official press release below. You can also read our review of Battlefield 1 here.
Fight on Six All-New Maps
• Lupkow Pass:Fight in the snow-covered ravines of the treacherous Lupkow Pass. Against this dramatic backdrop, the vertical fights are as bitter as the cold.• Albion: Partake in the skirmishes of the Albion assault in a freezing archipelago. In this massive invasion of the Baltic peninsula, the German Empire attacks with infantry, dreadnoughts, and aircraft against the heavy coastal gun batteries of the Russian forces.
• Galicia: In the midst of the epic Brusilov Offensive, the Russian Empire is fighting to push back the Austro-Hungarian forces in the Russian countryside. Take on an open map focused on infantry, cavalry, and light vehicles.
• Brusilov Keep: The Russians have pushed their enemy into a small mountain town, but the Austro-Hungarians are making a strong stand. Experience close-quarter fights by the Carpathians on an infantry-focused map.
History has more in store for the Russian Army. Stay tuned for info on two extra maps coming to the most extensive Battlefield 1 expansion pack yet.
New Weapons and Vehicles
Expand your arsenal with 11 new, Russian-themed weapons including the Mosin-Nagant M91, together with new melee weapons, and the Russian Standard 1912 grenade. Pilot the massive Ilya-Muromets Heavy Bomber, wield the amped-up firepower of the Putilov-Garford Heavy Armoured Car, and spawn strategically on the Y-Lighter Landing Craft. You’ll also be able to defend your positions with a new stationary weapon: the powerful coastal gun batteries.
In Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar, you can also ride with the legendary Hussar cavalry and charge into battle with new tactical possibilities. Master the all-new lance and evolved horse move set.
New and Improved Game Modes
Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar has a new game mode called Supply Drop, where you’ll join a fast-paced fight for supplies on the Eastern Front as planes airdrop everything needed to outgun and outscore your opponents. We’re also adding new, epic Operations including Brusilov Offensive – one of the most lethal offensives of the war.
A Revolution is Coming to Battlefield 1
At EA Play, we revealed a slew of Battlefield 1 news.
• Later in June, owners of Battlefield 1 Premium Pass or Battlefield 1 They Shall Not Pass will get access to the Nivelle Nights map, followed by the Prise de Tahure map in July.
• On the back of the release of Prise de Tahure, we’ll begin Premium Trials. When active, Premium Trials will give all players access to maps exclusive to Battlefield 1 Premium Pass owners. Furthermore, Premium Friends will be available until Gamescom. Premium Friends lets Premium Pass owners bring their friends in to play on the new maps their friends normally can’t access.
• Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar – the most extensive Battlefield expansion pack so far – will release in September.
• The third expansion pack, Turning Tides, will be released in December 2017, followed by Apocalypse in early 2018.
• We’re very excited to bring a competitive experience to the 20 million players of Battlefield 1 and can’t wait to share more with you, our community, at Gamescom in August.
• The CTE (Community Test Environment) will be available on consoles soon. The CTE is a Battlefield 1 environment where involved players can help us test new features, improved/changed content, and experiments that aren’t yet (and may never be) ready for public release.