Initially touted as an inclusion with the limited edition of the game, Back to Karkand is now revealed as a bonus for anyone who pre-orders Battlefield 3. Featuring four classic maps from Battlefield’s past: Strike at Karkand, Wake Island, Gulf of Oman, and Sharqi Peninsula, this map pack is the perfect way for DICE to get those fans wary of the game’s new single player emphasis interested in pre-ordering the game.
Niklas Fegraeus, Lead Designer on Back to Karkand, has also revealed how the maps, especially the iconic Strike at Karkand, are taking advantage of the new tools at DICE’s disposal. Using the new Frostbite 2.0 engine — the very thing that made Battlefield 3 a reality — DICE is able to keep the maps’ core mechanics the same while adding the heightened intensity that comes with destructible environments.
Fegraeus also revealed that classic Battlefield 2 weapons, vehicles, and unlocks will be included with the map pack, but he wouldn’t mention anything specific. By including items that fans of the maps will remember, but also tying in the new features of Battlefield 3, Back to Karkand is the perfect expansion pack for any gamer interested in what the game has to offer.
Though there is no official release date for Back to Karkand, we anticipate it will be sometime around the time the full retail game drops. Gamers who might not have the money to pre-order but plan to pick the game up at a later date needn’t worry as the map pack will also be available to purchase via each console’s digital marketplace.
Has the prospect of four maps from Battlefield’s past convinced you to pre-order Battlefield 3? Which map featured in the Back to Karkand map pack are you most interested in revisiting?
Battlefield 3 should release in Fall of 2011 on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Source: Battlefield Blog
