This title, first released in late 2013, is a main entry in the large-scale military action genre, categorized broadly as a Shooter, Simulator, and Strategy game. It launched across multiple platforms, including PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The core experience is built around moments that define massive, dynamic military conflict, emphasizing large maps and intense combat scenarios involving combined arms. Players have access to a "Boot Camp" area designed to familiarize them with the mechanics of both the single-player narrative and the signature competitive multiplayer modes. Key features central to the experience include the environmental destruction mechanic known as Levolution, the strategic Commander Mode, and extensive Naval Warfare capabilities.

Core Gameplay and Setting

The single-player campaign permanently casts the player as Recker, a member of the elite Tombstone Squad. The narrative unfolds amidst a rapidly escalating geopolitical crisis, beginning in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the squad secures vital intelligence while under immediate pursuit by Russian special forces. The story progresses largely chronologically, detailing the squad's efforts to navigate international tensions involving China and the United States, often placing the player in high-stakes covert operations across various global locations, from sinking aircraft carriers to besieged urban environments.

The atmosphere of the campaign is tense and cinematic, focusing heavily on squad cohesion and survival amidst massive military engagements. The player's role as squad leader frequently involves making critical, immediate decisions that impact the mission outcome and the fate of their teammates.

What are the defining features of this shooter?

The game is widely recognized for its large-scale multiplayer battles, which combine infantry combat with vehicular warfare across land, air, and sea environments. A central mechanical innovation is Levolution, which allows environments to dynamically change during a match—often triggered by player actions—leading to the creation of new tactical opportunities or the destruction of existing cover.

Multiplayer and Strategic Depth

Beyond standard infantry combat, the game integrates significant strategic layers. The Commander Mode allows one player to oversee the battle from an overhead perspective, directing resources, calling in support, and monitoring enemy movements, adding a layer of real-time strategy to the first-person shooter experience.

Naval Warfare is also a significant component, featuring controllable aircraft carriers, gunboats, and other watercraft that play a crucial role in controlling the flow of battle across large maps.

Additional Content Availability

Since its initial launch, the core experience has been supplemented by additional content, including several downloadable content packs (DLCs) and five major expansions, which introduced new maps, vehicles, and game modes to the overall package available to players.