Battlefield V open beta test shows DICE still nails realism in shooters

With the dueling beta tests for Battlefield V and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, we finally have a better idea of what will distinguish each of the games. Hands-down, Battlefield V wins on the realism of the experience. But Black Ops 4’s Blackout mode is very well done, making it a welcome addition to the not-so-realistic battle royale mode that all of the major shooters are beginning to embrace.

One of the big new features in Battlefield V is Grand Operations. It makes the large 64-player battles more dramatic, taking inspiration from historic events such as Germany’s invasion of Norway in World War II. In last weekend’s beta test, I played the battle at Narvik, where the British tried to hold off the Germans in 1940 at the harbor town. Narvik served as an ice-free port for iron supplies that both sides wanted, setting up a desperate battle that didn’t get much attention in the history books.