When Battlefield 5 released last year, the expected battle royale mode was not available to play at launch. We now know that this mode is called Firestorm, and will involve vehicles and hackable safes on a larger map, introducing new mechanics to the battle royale arena. While Firestorm is currently a game mode within Battlefield 5, many players are wondering if they need to buy the full game to get access to the battle royale. It’s not exactly clear whether Battlefield Firestorm free-to-play will make it available for anyone to play, so read on to find out is BF Firestorm a free-to-play game?
Is Battlefield Firestorm free-to-play?
Many battle royale games are based on a free-to-play model, with both Fortnite and Apex Legends available for anyone to play without cost. However, you will need to buy a copy of Battlefield 5 before you can get access to the Firestorm battle royale mode, as the game is not free-to-play. This mode was advertised as a major part of the game when it was announced at E3 last year, so it’s not surprising that EA is keeping the Firestorm battle royale mode exclusive to owners of the full game, at least for now.
There haven’t yet been any announcements on what role microtransactions or cosmetic items will play in Firestorm, as most of what we’ve heard has focused on the massive map. The absence of a Battlefield Firestorm free-to-play model might suggest that EA is trying a different approach to cosmetic items, as most games of this genre rely on cosmetics as a source of income. While EA has introduced a real-money currency since the release of the game, attaching a wider system of microtransactions within the full game could be an unpopular choice for those who’ve already invested in the game.
However, if you were hoping to jump into the new Firestorm mode but don’t own the full game, then Apex Legends might provide a similar experience for you to try. This game was also published by EA, but developed by the Titanfall studio Respawn, and is completely free-to-play on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with the option to purchase cosmetics. While you won’t find any vehicles or hackable safes, Apex Legends had the best release of any battle royale game to date, and still retains a massive player count.
Will Battlefield Firestorm go free-to-play?
Battlefield 5‘s battle royale is not currently available for just anyone to play, with owners of the game having exclusive access to Firestorm. However, it’s possible that EA could transform this mode into a standalone, free-to-play game, available for anyone to play without having first bought Battlefield 5. Looking at the success of EA’s other battle royale, Apex Legends, it’s not yet clear how they are hoping to profit out of the new mode. If there is sufficient demand for cosmetic items in Firestorm, providing a more consistent source of income, then EA may favor making this game accessible for anyone to play.
EA hasn’t made any official announcements on this topic, so nothing is set in stone. Of course, before Firestorm is potentially made into a free-to-play, EA could also make the game mode free-to-play for a limited time only. We’ve seen EA try this marketing ploy before, giving free access to a game over a weekend, and they could definitely attempt something similar in the future. However, Firestorm will likely remain exclusive to owners of the game for a while, so if you were really hoping to jump into the battle royale you may want to consider buying a copy of the game early on.
Battlefield Franchise Tour
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Battlefield 5 and the many Battlefields of EA's Battlefield
EA's Battlefield franchise has gone through many ups and downs. It's been a Call of Duty killer, a PC technical showpiece, and a linchpin in the way Electronic Arts makes games. As Battlefield expands into battle royale territory, let's look back at what came before. -
Battlefield 1942
Releasing in September of 2002, 1942 introduced the world to the large scale multiplayer warfare the series is known for: control points, spend tickets on respawning, and outlast the opposing force. It's a classic mode and it has represented in every entry in the series since. -
Battlefield Vietnam
Two years later, DICE brought the war to Vietnam as many World War 2 shooters were doing to try and shake things up. Featuring new weapons and maps and period-appropriate music on the car radio, this spin-off would establish a familiar cadence for the franchise of main games spawning off the wall experiences. -
Battlefield 2
Sticking with World War 2, 2005's Battlefield 2 further refined the combat of 1942 while adding improved physics and dynamic lighting. An expandalone entry entitled Battlefield 2: Modern Combat soon followed, bringing the franchise to both the then-current year and then-current consoles for the first time. -
Battlefield 2142
Warping 200 years in the future of the original game, Battlefield 2142 is the only entry in the series so far to feature mechs and fully armored body suits à la Halo. The unique Titan mode had players competing to take down a massively mechanized goliath before it overran their base. -
Battlefield: Bad Company
The first entry in the series to not see a PC release, Bad Company is one of the best attempts at storytelling by the series to date. Gameplay in both single-player and multiplayer revolves around securing boxes of gold bars, and the game's destruction tech was second to none. Bad Company 2 followed the game up and put more focus on multiplayer. -
Battlefield Heroes
While Bad Company hit consoles, Battlefield Heroes was the new PC game of choice. A free-to-play experience with cartoony graphics, this was a browser game and a very early example of how many shooters would operate in the years to come. Also, it looks a lot like Fortnite. Just saying. -
Battlefield 3
Six years after the last numbered entry, Battlefield 3 reestablished itself in the shooter market with what some might still call the highpoint in the series. Bringing in the varied modes from Bad Company and the technical wizardry of the series' past, it had PC gamers scrambling to update their video cards in 2011. -
Battlefield 4
Battlefield 4 brought the series onto the latest Frostbite engine. Still, coming just two years after Battlefield 3, many saw this as too much too soon. There were certainly updates over the last release, but Battlefield had never really been a yearly endeavor. EA got the memo, and future games went all over the map. -
Battlefield Hardline
Hardline is probably the red-headed stepchild of all the Battlefield games. Its cops and robbers theming made some queasy and its highly touted campaign was poorly received. While it had some neat game mode ideas, its multiplayer stuck to the Battlefield 3 formula. At least the music was great. -
Battlefield 1
Blasting back into the unmined territory of World War 1, Battlefield 1 really showed off what developers could do with a mature graphics engine. The game is gorgeous across the board whether you're riding on horseback or ducking inside a train car. It was a side story worth experiencing. -
Battlefield 5
After all the twists and turns, Battlefield 5 returns home to the war that started it all. The game has a lot of baggage, mechanics, and modes grafted on by previous entries. However, underneath it all, it's still the same Battlefield experience.
