Battlefield 3's 'Aftermath' Expansion: A Historical Direction

A few weeks ago DICE released information for their next expansion, "Aftermath".

To say that the it features new vehicles and weapons is understating what the expansion actually brings. More to the point, this new offering takes place just after the cataclysmic earthquake in the single player game and brings an entirely new aesthetic and feel to Battlfield 3. Giving it, as DICE says, a "whole style and tone.. [as] one of being down but not out."

Where DICE's previous offerings, Close Quarters and Armored Kill, played their part in expanding the core BF3 experience -and did so in two diametrically opposed ways in order to more greatly increase the BF3 palette- Aftermath does something else. It serves an entirely different meal.

Of course this is no unheard of in the Battlefield universe. 2002's Battlefield 1942 was a small step to the flood of variations that DICE would release throughout the years. And though they released nominal expansions until 2003, Battlefield: Vietnam completely changed the song in 2004 and still remains one of the most beloved entries to this day. I myself yearn for the return of helicopter and vehicle radios to the series.

The same trend continued through 2005 when Battlefield 2 was released, followed by nominal expansions throughout 2005-2006 until the aesthetics were changed yet again with the release of Battlefield 2142 in fall 2006.

Apparently DICE's preference to greatly change things up is still present, and though Aftermath doesn't represent the comprehensive changes we've seen in Vietnam and 2142, it still indicative of a developer willing to approach new territory with a history of succeeding in the process.

If you're new to the Battlefield series I implore you to pick up copies of Vietnam and 2142 if you can find them. Servers are still alive, and in seeing where DICE has gone before you might get a sense of where they're going.