Don’t you just hate it when you’re groping in the dark when it comes to upcoming unlocks in multiplayer games? While you can check each gadget or item coming up as you level up online, DICE is doing it one step better by including an actual progression hub in Battlefield V that shows what upcoming unlocks are lined up!

Check it out in the short clip below courtesy of Ryan McArthur, Producer on Battlefield V.

One thing we want to players to know is how and when they get stuff. So we built a progression hub to so you can see whats coming. Here is an example of one of the class journeys… note this is not the final layout. pic.twitter.com/pQPUpUV82H

— Ryan (DICE) (@EA_DICE) October 11, 2018

Not bad, right? This makes aiming for specific gadgets, weapons, etc., a wee bit easier. Are you happy with this new addition or is it not even needed that much?

Don’t forget that DICE also laid out the weapon specializations and vehicle specializations today. We also posted what a base level soldier looks like in the game, and how the timer looks for ammo crates.

As part of DICE’s week-long info drop on weapons and vehicles, DICE has now lifted the lid on how vehicles are upgraded in the game!

Players will be able to obtain vehicle Specializations by spending the in-game currency called Company Coin, which will allow them to tailor vehicles to how it fits their playstyle. Using the Panzer IV as an example, DICE outlines what a complete vehicle path looks like, and how it will work to create a vehicle that you want to use.

Specializations for the Panzer IV
To give you an inkling on how a Specialization journey may look like, let’s look at the Panzer IV, the German medium tank used extensively during World War 2. As shown in the image above, there are three columns to navigate between in your Specialization route. First, look at the four upgrades in the left column, which will be extra interesting if you want to create a tank good at fighting other tanks.

Smoke Launchers: Fits multi-barreled smoke grenade launchers to the side of the turret. Allows the driver to launch smoke grenades in the direction of the turret, providing a dense smoke screen that obscures vision. Replaces the default Smoke Generator.

Armored Skirts: Attaches metal plates to the sides of the hull for increased track protection, making tracks less vulnerable to incoming fire.

Pak 40 L/43: Replaces the default tank gun with a long-barreled Pak 40 cannon. Improves muzzle velocity for increased range and a flatter shell trajectory. Reduces the rate of fire slightly.

Armor-Piercing Round: A limited quantity shell that has increased damage and penetration versus armored targets.

On the right side of the tree you’ll find Specializations tailored towards making your Panzer IV more efficient against infantry. Again, you can choose to stay exclusively on this side when specializing, or take detours to the left and middle side.

Zimmerit Paste: Coats the tank in paste, which makes it impossible for grenades and mines to stick to the hull.

Flare Launcher: Fits the tank with turret-mounted launchers, for launching flares that spot enemies in an area for a limited time. Replaces the default Smoke Generator.

Improved Turret Transverse: Improves the turret motors for faster turret rotation, allowing the turret to easier track fast moving targets.

S-Mine Launcher: Fits the tank with multiple launchers that deploys air-bursting explosives in a 360 pattern around the tank, for proximity defense against infantry.

The middle column has two Specializations to offer: one which is available as your second choice, the other a perk that can wrap up your Panzer IV Specialization journey.

Field Repair: Limited quantity specialized equipment for instantly fixing damaged tracks, engines, and turrets. Replaces the default Emergency Repair equipment.

Case Round: Allows the tank to load a shrapnel shell for blasting soft targets at close ranges.

Same as in weapon specializations, players can re-spec the vehicle upgrades to try new combinations. And coming post-launch are Special Assignments just for vehicles that will let players unlock cosmetic rewards.

Source: EA

In a new post on EA’s website, DICE has given us an in-depth look at how the Battlefield V weapon upgrade tree and specialization will work in the game. According to the studio, Battlefield V’s weapon customization will emphasize “quality over quantity” compared to BF3 and BF4.

DICE has made a point this time around that a fully specialized weapon will not be tied to how it will look. As an example, the studio used the EMP submachine gun and highlighted how its upgrade tree will let players choose how to want to use the gun. While the BFV beta only had four paths to go through in the weapon upgrade tree, the final game will have eight paths! DICE says they increased this to “provide more choice.”

As an example, the four specializations on the left path will buff the EMP mainly for close-range engagements, while the right side will improve it mainly for medium and close-range situations. It will be up to the player if they want to go all in on one side, or get a little from both left and right paths.

Let’s start with the four Specializations on the left side of the EMP tree.

Slings and Swivels: Allows swapping to your EMP or sidearm faster. This comes in handy when, for instance, you’re in a firefight and you don’t have time to reload your EMP. Swap to your sidearm in 0.65 instead of 0.75 seconds and win the fight. You’ll also shoot sooner after sprinting.

Enhanced Grips: This improves your base accuracy when firing from the hip. Unlock this and get 25% less hip fire-related spread and 33% better range.

Polished Action: Decreases hip fire inaccuracy and makes your EMP stay accurate for a bit longer. You’ll get around 40% less inaccuracy from hip firing with this unlocked.

Recoil Buffer: Keep your EMP steady with this Specialization. It reduces vertical recoil by 20%.

Moving on to the right side of the tree, you’ll find these Specializations tied to aiming down the sights (also known as ADS).

Quick Aim: Makes your EMP zoom in faster when going into ADS. Instead of 200ms, it will take 133ms to line up your weapon.

Custom Stock: Stay on target. This Specialization reduces spread by 33% while moving aiming down the sights.

Lightened Stock: Peak around corners more quickly while aiming. In your ADS view, you’ll move 60% quicker with this one.

Barrel Bedding: Reduces spread by 75% for ADS. Use it to get an extra headshot or two and enjoy the slightly longer sustained fire.

DICE also mentions how weapons can be re-specced, and that there will be weapon-specific Special Assignments as well which will be introduced once the Specialization tree is completed. Completing these in-game challenges will unlock “stunning, unique” vanity items for the weapon, and according to DICE, “Master these chained challenges; the end goal is truly golden . . .” Does this “golden” term mean anything? is it a hint at gold weapon camos now being in a Battlefield game?

For more on Battlefield V weapon info, check out how bullet penetration works in the game. We also posted what weapons each class can wield at launch too.

Just the other day, DICE talked about the gunplay in Battlefield V, and what the studio’s plans, and even explained how recoil and the like work. Continuing the studio’s focus on weapons this week, DICE has now written an entire blog post about one of the most least talked about things when it comes to first-person shooters, and that’s bullet penetration.

In the website post, Rickard Antroia, Senior Game Designer on Battlefield V, sat down for a Q&A to talk about what exactly is bullet penetration and how it works in the game

What is Bullet Penetration?
Bullet Penetration allows bullets to go through thin materials and deal reduced damage to opponents on the other side. It’s based on weapon categories and provides an additional dimension of damaging enemies – or flushing them out of cover.

How did you approach the concept of Bullet Penetration in Battlefield V?
Bullet Penetration builds upon our destruction design in Battlefield 1, where we saw that a lot of walls, houses, and other covers – “assets” to us developers – deteriorated quickly during combat and the battlefield was flattened. This made us reevaluate our destruction classes and how we built props and architecture. The goal was to increase the interaction between the player and the environment while reducing the sheer number of parts in our assets.

Line-of-fire covers had to deteriorate in stages or survive low-grade explosions and bullets. To avoid having transport vehicles and hand grenades level the playing field, covers were upgraded to resist these types of damage. The same went for Fortifications. These assets needed to be sturdy enough to give you decent cover, especially since it takes time and exposure to enemy bullets to build them.

How will players experience Bullet Penetration in-game?
If you’re behind cover, and an enemy with a Machine Gun has you pinned down, you’ll definitely feel the heat. LMGs, MMGs, etc. have the power to pass through covers (with heavily-reduced damage), and thereby become counter-sniper tools, pushing you out of your comfortable hiding spot.

Visually, bullets that penetrate will create a chunky, debris-themed effect for the player on the receiving end, and a smaller bullet hole with a more low-key visual effect facing the shooter. Non-penetrating bullets will dent hard materials or crack open and rip parts of the surface facing the shooter. Naturally, Bullet Penetration is an ongoing endeavor. We are shipping with a certain setup but are willing to tune and upgrade it in the future.

How do different weapon and bullet types penetrate materials in different ways?
General sidearms like pistols and carbines will go through doors and thin assets like cloth, light vegetation, and glass. The next category contains the SMG and Shotguns, which have slightly better penetration values. Semi-Automatic, Slug, and Assault Rifles exist in their own category, also with some minor deviations. Sniper Rifle is an upgraded version of rifles and becomes the stepping stone to the fully automatic Light Machine Guns, which can break through the walls in wooden buildings and push through barricade covers.

Beyond infantry weapons you have the vehicle bullets, the HMGs, and the airplane 20mm cannon. They are all high-penetration weapons that break through plaster and brick walls, be it with reduced damage.

For the full Q&A, head on over to EA’s website.

In today’s Battlefield V news, check out how a “base level soldier” looks like right here.