Information on Battlefield 3: Aftermath revealed

The next major DLC for Battlefield 3, Aftermath, is set for release in December. Details about the new maps that will be featured in the game have been revealed through an interview of DICE's Niklas Fegraeus. The new maps that will be in the DLC are Markaz Monolith, Epicentre, Talah Market, and Azadi Palace.

Markaz Monolith was a financial district before the earthquake that caused the titular aftermath happened. The map is set to have a tower in the middle, where the insides have collapsed. Epicentre is another part of the city which was a big traffic centre. The area has seen heavy destruction because it was very close to the epicentre of the earthquake. The Talah Market is on the outskirts of the city and has a lot of old architecture. The map has an old village setting that gives contrast to some modern buildings. The Azadi Palace is a large urban landscape and has a parliament building. This gives two different battles going on - one inside the building and one outside.

Earlier this month, DICE had released a trailer that showcased the new weapon that will be in the Aftermath DLC - the crossbow. The crossbow is described by DICE as a weapon made with salvage parts – the weapon of a survivor. The weapon is shown to be incredibly versatile, with uses ranging from regular killing, to taking out vehicles like helicopters with well-aimed shots and explosive bolts. Most of the versatility of the weapon comes from the fact that it can have any scope attached to it, as well as the different kinds of bolts you get to use for it.

Aftermath is getting ever closer to its release date

The different bolts for the weapon include the regular bolt, which is good for close to medium range, a bolt that sweeps a small area and spots enemies for you, as well as an explosive bolt that can take out enemy infantry and vehicles with a bang.

DICE had also revealed details about a new game mode that will be making its way into the Aftermath DLC. DICE producer Craig Mcleod gave an introduction to Aftermath’s new mode. “Scavenger really is born out of the Aftermath theme. We wanted the players to feel like, ‘I’ve just been trapped in this earthquake and I’m not going to have all of my equipment, I’m not going to have everything I used to have.’ So you are literally rising up with a pistol, a grenade and a specialisation.”

Mcleod stresses on the importance of exploration of the map and finding new equipment to help you survive. Weapons are going to be tiered in this DLC, with the lowest tier being occupied by sub-machine guns. These will be easy to find near safehouses. “But as you go up through the levels to level three, then you’re really going to have to risk your life to get them.”

Battlefield 3 Premium members on the PlayStation 3 will get Aftermath on November 27, while Premium members on the other platforms will see the DLC on December 4. Those who don't own Premium on the PlayStation 3 will see the DLC on December 11 and the other platforms will see it on December 18.