Battlefield: Hardline is the newest entry to the popular Battlefield series.
In Battlefield: Hardline, DICE has thrown out the traditional my army versus your army combat mechanics. Instead, players get to play cops and robbers.
That’s right: instead of launching fighter jets from carriers, you get to zipline around cities like Los Angeles in pursuit of criminals. Or, if you choose to be the bad guys, you can be the criminals trying to escape from a dedicated police force.
In any case, Battlefield: Hardline sounds like a lot of fun. It’s good to see a developer avoid the temptation to create another war game and try something different.
At EA’s E3 press conference, gamers received a surprise announcement: the Battlefield: Hardline beta was coming soon. In fact, it was coming right now.
EA officially released the beta at the end of the press conference in a shower of pyrotechnics. The beta is currently available to PS4, Xbox One, and PC players.
However, it seems like the beta is only open to those who own Battlefield 4. I tried to sign up right away but it only directed me to a page to buy Battlefield 4. Thanks EA! I’ve only played every Battlefield game since 1942 but who cares, right?
The beta is also first come, first serve, so most of the seats have likely been taken. However, EA may choose to expand the beta in the future, so it’s not a bad idea to sign up today.
At the E3 press conference, EA also unveiled the following gameplay trailer:

That video shows a 32-player multiplayer match. It’s all beautifully showcasing the gorgeous Frostbite 3 engine and also shows the destructive environments of Battlefield. Before long, the streets of downtown LA have been virtually destroyed.
It’s a mix of Battlefield and Payday – two awesome games which reward teamwork and cohesiveness.
That trailer looks amazing. It’s exactly how DICE wants gameplay to proceed. However, it’s going to be tough to find the same level of teamwork online with a bunch of strangers.
That being said, this still looks like a lot of fun. Chasing criminals around the streets of Los Angeles (and other cities) using helicopters, armored vehicles, motorcycles, and everything else at your disposal looks amazing.
It’s a glitzy, over-the-top version of cops and robbers. More importantly, it’s a sign that Battlefield doesn’t want to fall into the same trap as the Call of Duty series by releasing the same, slightly modified game over and over again. You’ve got to appreciate that.