Every Battlefield 1 Map Has Dynamic Weather, Here's How It Affects Gameplay

DICE continues to share more details about its upcoming World War I shooter, Battlefield 1. Today, the developer published a blog post that covers the game's use of dynamic weather. Changing weather is not completely new for the Battlefield franchise, but as DICE reminds us, there were no infrared scopes or GPS tools in the Great War. Real-world battles could be won or lost depending on the weather and Battlefield 1 aims to capture this.

Every multiplayer map in Battlefield 1 features dynamic weather. This includes subtle things like the sun emerging from the clouds, which might be nice to look at but doesn't change gameplay all that much. On the other end, there will be major weather system changes such as fog. When the fog is dense enough, a map that normally has long sightlines might morph into a close-quarters arena since players can't see as well. The weather effects come and go, DICE said, so you won't have to face the conditions all the time.

When it's raining in Battlefield 1, the distance you can see is unchanged, but the drops of water can "distract and distort your sight," DICE explained. Rain can affect infantry and aerial combat.

"You always look for movement when you're scanning the horizon for threats, but rain pouring down makes this much more difficult," the studio said. "This change in vision changes how you'll approach flying, too. Since visibility is affected, the rain pushes you to become more cautious when flying close to mountains or the ground."

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Battlefield 1 will also have "extreme" weather such as sandstorms. This not only limits your vision on ground and in the skies but can also make it difficult for a plane to stay in the air. Skilled players may be able to compensate for this and in turn use it to their advantage. The audio also changes during sandstorms. Players will get to experience all of this in the Battlefield 1 beta, which is set on the Sinai Desert map (see some footage of it in the video above).

DICE noted that raindrops accumulate on weapons, while birds fly away when the wind gets heavy. Maps in the western front will have heavy rain, while fog in trench warfare sequences will be denser since it's closer to the ground. For maps with enough vertical scale, you may be able to climb above the fog.

"Dynamic weather gives flavor to specific matches, creating unforgettable moments that feel more unique, more personal," DICE said. "Even after multiple matches, you will encounter a combination of weather, location and gameplay you've never experienced before, with a new dimension to your Battlefield moments."

The Battlefield 1 beta begins on August 31 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, though Battlefield Insiders can play early. The full game launches on October 21, but there are multiple ways to jump in before that.

This is just the latest overview that DICE has provided regarding an area of Battlefield 1's gameplay. Also this week, DICE talked at length about how horseback combat works, while earlier information dumps focused on the game's weapons and vehicles. For more on Battlefield 1, check out GameSpot's recent interview feature, "Why DICE Ignored Sci-Fi and Returned to the Past."

This story has been updated.