New Battlefield 1 Update Adds Spectator Mode, Weakens Some Shotguns

DICE has shared more details on the next Battlefield 1 update. In addition to adding the game's first free DLC map (Giant's Shadow) and a new weapon (grenade crossbow), the update will introduce a spectator mode, the developer said in a blog post.

Similar to other games, Battlefield 1's spectator mode lets you watch a live match as an observer. As an observer, you can switch between first- and third-person camera views, or use a bird's eye view camera to see a wider look at the battlefield. There is also a "Free Cam" option that you can use to move wherever you want on the map.

Another part of the new Battlefield 1 update is a new option for Custom Games. When toggled on, this limits all classes to using one rifle--their class' starting one. "These weapons are not equipped with optics, and are intended to provide players with gameplay inspired by the WW1 trenches," DICE said.

The new Battlefield 1 update also changes shotgun balance. DICE said the goal is to "[even] out advantages and disadvantages of each shotgun type." Some shotguns were too powerful at "certain distances," so DICE is reducing the range for buckshot variants of the M97 Trench Gun, Model 10-A, and Sawed Off Shotgun. Overall, this will reduce the maximum one-hit kit distance.

Syringe cooldown for medics is also being tweaked, as are elements like sprinting and spawning into a landship, though no details about how these are changing were provided. DICE will share the full patch notes tomorrow, December 13, when the patch goes live. We'll report back with the details then.

The Giant's Shadow map and grenade crossbow weapon arrive tomorrow for Battlefield Premium members; everyone else gets the content on December 20. EA will show off the map, weapon, and more during a livestream event later today, starting at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET.

Looking further into the future, Battlefield 1's first paid expansion, They Shall Not Pass, comes out in March 2017.