Is Battlefield 5 Cross Platform?
Battlefield has fast become one of the most popular game series in the world. With an estimated 30,000 players a month, the Battlefield fad isn’t phasing out anytime soon.
Although the release of Battlefield 2042 has taken the spotlight away from other games in the series, Battlefield 5 remains an ever-popular installment, with thousands of players diving into its immersive single-player and multiplayer battles each month.
But is Battlefield 5 cross platform, and can you enjoy the experience with players on other consoles?
Let’s look at some of the main features of Battlefield 5 and learn more about how to enjoy this game with other players.
What Is Battlefield 5?
Battlefield 5, developed by DICE, is a first-person shooter game that’s available for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Origin for PC.
Battlefield 5 is the 11th game in the series. In each game, you can expect to go backward and forward in time to take on some seriously epic battles.
In Battlefield 5, players are transported back to WW2. However, you won’t be involved in any of the most notable battles in history. Instead, the game focuses on some of the lesser-known conflicts of the war.
Like Battlefield 1, the main campaign consists of a selection of war stories, and collectibles are available in each challenge.
As you’d expect, all characters talk in their native languages, with subtitles on the screen to help you follow the story. Let’s take a quick look at some of the key chapters in Battlefield 5:
My Country Calling
My country calling is the first single-player war story in the game. In the prologue, players are introduced to different weapons, vehicles, and aircraft, and your learning journey is separated into five sections.
You’ll play the role of several characters, including a German tank commander and the pilot, Yellow-Seven.
Under No Flag
Following the prologue is under no flag, which is slightly more immersive. Under no flag is set in North Africa, and you’ll play the role of Billy Bridger, tasked with destroying various installations and air bases throughout the region.
Nordlys
The Nordlys chapter is set in 1942, when Norway was under German occupation.
Here, you’ll be introduced to the story of a woman in the Norwegian resistance who’s on a mission to save her mother and tamper with German water production to stop their production of atomic weapons.
Tirailleur
Throughout Tirailleur, you’ll take control of the character of Deme Cisse, who’s reciting his role in the 1944 battles as an older man. You’ll revisit his past and see how he overcomes all odds.
The Last Tiger
The Last Tiger introduces you to the story of Peter Muller, a veteran tank commander, and you’ll learn how he and his crew began to question their ideology.
Is Battlefield 5 Cross Platform?
Unfortunately, Battlefield 5 isn’t a cross-platform game. This means if you have a friend playing Battlefield 5 on other devices, you won’t be able to play with them.
Although the decision seems unfair and disappointing for players who want to play cross-platform, there are a few reasons why EA DICE decided not to implement the feature:
- There are concerns that some players will benefit from an unfair advantage in the game if their device has more power than other players.
- DICE wishes to keep the balance between its platforms so that everyone can have an equal experience of Battlefield 5.
However, there’s significant demand for Battlefield 5 to become cross-platform.
In the latest installment of the series, Battlefield 2042, cross-play has been implemented so that players on Xbox One and PS4 can play against and with each other.
However, they cannot play with other players on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.
While there are still some evident limitations here, it’s a promising move for the future of the Battlefield.
Cross-play features are incredibly popular, and with time, there’s a hope that DICE will up its game and tap into the demand for cross-platform play.
However, the key phrase here is for the future of Battlefield.
Unfortunately, Battlefield 5 is too old to implement such changes now, so we can only hope that future games in the series will get a shot at the cross-platform features that Battlefield 5 never got to experience.
Why Don’t Some Game Studios Implement Cross-Platform Play?
Although more and more games are becoming cross-platform, some of the biggest games in the world STILL don’t offer the feature.
It’s incredibly frustrating for players who want to take advantage of multiplayer features with friends and family who don’t have the same devices.
If there’s such a massive demand for cross-platform games, why are some studios still so reluctant to make their games cross-platform? Surely there are gains to be made, right?
Unfortunately, cross-platform games often require more funding than regular games. Although larger and more profitable studios may have the option, they still choose not to.
One explanation may be that for cross-platform to be effective. It requires a lot of time, effort, and money. This can delay game releases, and if it goes wrong, it could be detrimental to the game.
Let’s also not forget that most big-name games are released with special deals. For example, your favorite games may come with exclusive games or packages only available for the PS4 version.
These offers drive more sales for both the game and the console, and implementing cross-platform play here defeats the purpose.
It’s a real bummer for those of us crying out for these excellent features, but it makes perfect sense from the perspective of studios and game developers.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, Battlefield 5 is not a cross-platform game. However, you can still play with friends using the same console as you, so all hope is not lost!
There are plenty of exciting multiplayer matches to dive into, so kick back and enjoy – don’t expect to be able to do it with someone using another platform.