Deagle is OP? Fixed. Movement was better in BF3? Fixed. Something about netcode? Fixed. The latest patch for Battlefield 4 lists almost 200 fixes and tweaks, including some of the biggest complaints that have come from players in the past year.
Battlefield 4 has had an abundance of problems since it was launched last year, and DICE, the game's developer, has been working on stabilizing the game ever since. In May, they announced the Community Test Environment, which allowed fans to play on servers running versions of the game with experimental fixes. The game's latest patch has fixed and tweaked a ton of bugs and game options, including issues raised by the community.
This isn't the first patch since the CTE was announced, but it looks like it makes the biggest changes that players have been asking for. It includes changes to the game's 'netcode', player movement, and even a new game mode:
Core Changes
Here are some of the tweaks and changes we've made to BF4 with this update. We'll continue to listen to your feedback to see how we can further improve the BF4 experience so keep that feedback coming.
- Player movement has been improved to more closely match that of Battlefield 3, while still maintaining the animation fidelity of Battlefield 4.
- The High Frequency Network Update has now been added to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and is set to default. This makes the server update the client on what is happening with greater frequency, resulting in a smoother, more "correct" player experience.
- Reduced visual recoil of guns. This includes all medium and close range sights (except iron sights, IRNV and FLIR).
- The BF4 "netcode" has seen several tweaks and is now the fastest in the franchise's history, counting client-to-client values. The delay is now lower than ever, and we're also looking to improve hit detection.
Classic Mode
By popular demand, the Fall Update introduces a new preset called "Classic Mode". Rules on these servers hone back to Battlefield 2/3 and are designed for skilled players looking for more of a challenge and seeking stricter rules.
For instance, you are able to spawn on only the squad leader in Classic Mode, increasing the challenge and need for greater tactical thinking as a squad leader.
The full list of changes is available here and it includes issues big and small. Here are a few notable points:
- Desert Eagle: Bullet velocity and minimum damage reduced.
This may be the most welcome change, as shown by clips like the Deagle Shark. My only regret is that I never unlocked it myself. :(
- MBT LAW: This underwent a big change based on community suggestion. You will need to aim slightly more accurately to engage the tracking. It is much harder to have it track a random vehicle between you and your target. It will no longer lock on targets behind cover. It has been slowed down slightly. It now begins tracking at 100m instead of 15, this gives the target slightly longer to react to the lock warning.
- SLAMs: Damage and blast radius reduced slightly. Three Slams will no longer take out a MBT on their own. The disabled MBT will need a single rocket to be finished off.
- Obliteration fix for an issue where the round would end while the bomb is armed due to the timer running out.
- Reduced initial capacity of RGO and v40 Minis by one.
Aside from all the general changes, medics are getting a very welcome new feature:
- Revive timer has been added. It will show timers on teammates so that the player can choose who to revive.
- Added a sound when defibrillators are 100% charged (giving the revived player 100% health back).
I recall originally seeing this first suggestion on Reddit, and it's great to see that they put it in. If you're running around as a medic, it's really hard to know who to save when you walk into a room with three downed soldiers. Now the timer shows up to see who still has a chance to be saved.
The patch should be live now on all platforms, check out the post here or the full changelog here.