Battlefield 3 was built for the long haul according to Patrick Bach of DICE. As evidenced in the post launch patch support, DICE is committed to the games long term success, giving players above average returns for their gaming dollars spent. With Battlefield 3 due three expansions over the next year, Bach explains the company’s 12-18 month support window for the game.
“We’re very keen on listening to the community,” says DICE
This on-going support and expansion plan by DICE could give Battlefield 3 the legs necessary to carry it into the next generation. It’s pure speculation, but a Battlefield 4 release would fit in nicely with a next generation hardware release. The developer has been vocal about more powerful consoles to work with, and there’s an evident quality gap between the PC version of Battlefield 3 and its console counterparts on the Xbox 360 and PS3.
At the onset of the current generation, DICE released an Xbox and Xbox 360 version of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, with graphical upgrades and online functionalities in the next-gen version. Perhaps we’ll see a repeat, if and when the new consoles are announced.
Battlefield 3’s first expansion since “Back to Karkand” will release this June.