The Battlefield video game franchise originated from the 1999 game "Codename Eagle" developed by Refraction Games, which was later acquired by Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment (DICE) in 2000. DICE used the in-house Refractor Engine to develop "Battlefield 1942," a World War II-themed first-person shooter released in 2002. The game was a massive success and led to the development of sequels, including "Battlefield Vietnam" and "Battlefield 2."
The franchise took a modern turn with "Battlefield 2" and subsequent games, including "Battlefield: Bad Company," which featured a single-player campaign and destructible environments thanks to the Frostbite Engine. The series has since become known for its large-scale multiplayer battles and realistic gameplay.
Throughout the franchise's history, DICE has included various Easter eggs and references, many of which are related to Swedish culture. Examples include Swedish text on in-game items, Swedish folk songs, and even a maypole that triggers a midsummer carol.
Other interesting facts about the franchise include the cancellation of an early game called "Urban Combat," which was later reworked into "Battlefield: Hardline." The game "Battlefield 2142" was also mentioned, with many speculating that a sequel, "Battlefield 2143," may be in development.
One of the most elaborate Easter eggs in the series can be found on the map "Dragon Valley," which involves a complex series of steps, including finding hidden buttons, lighting lanterns, and decoding Morse code messages. The Easter egg ultimately rewards players with a unique camouflage called "DICE LA."
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Refraction Games released Codename Eagle in 1999.
2. Codename Eagle was a war-based first-person shooter with expansive outdoor environments and usable vehicles.
3. Refraction Games was acquired by Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment (DICE) in 2000.
4. DICE developed Battlefield 1942 using the Refractor Engine, which was released in 2002.
5. Battlefield 1942 was set in World War II and featured massive open battlefields, a class system, and multiple game modes.
6. Battlefield 1942 was the first game in the Battlefield franchise to feature large-scale online multiplayer battles.
7. Battlefield Vietnam was released in 2004 as the first sequel to Battlefield 1942.
8. Battlefield 2 was released in 2005 and was set in a modern military setting.
9. Battlefield: Bad Company was the first game in the series to feature a single-player campaign and destructible environments.
10. The Battlefield franchise has included several Swedish-related Easter eggs and references throughout the series.
11. DICE worked on a game called Urban Combat in 2000-2001, but it was canceled and later inspired Battlefield: Hardline.
12. Some radio chatter and quotes in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 were taken from real-life military communications.
13. The teaser trailer for Battlefield 3 included a voice clip taken from a real US Air Force pilot evading surface-to-air missiles.
14. Battlefield 4 included a megalodon Easter egg that could be triggered by gathering 10 players around a buoy on the map Nansha Strike.
15. PETA condemned a sequence in the single-player campaign of Battlefield 3 for its treatment of animals.
16. Battlefield 1942 was modified to remove references to fascism and Nazism in order to release the game in Germany.
17. The game included a modified version of a flag used by the German Empire and a symbol known as the Balkenkreuz.
18. Battlefield 2142 was released in 2006 and included references to a possible sequel in later games.
19. A select few weapons in Battlefield: Hardline and one pistol in Battlefield 4 have unique reload animations.
20. Battlefield 2142 included a futuristic drone and plastic containers with the number 2143 printed on the side.
21. The Final Stand DLC for Battlefield 4 is considered a distant prequel to Battlefield 2142.
22. The game's developer, DICE, has neither confirmed nor denied rumors of a sequel to Battlefield 2142.
23. One of the most intricate Easter eggs in the Battlefield series can be found on the map Dragon Valley.
24. The Easter egg involves pressing a series of hidden buttons to light lanterns and ultimately unlock a unique camouflage.
25. The Easter egg codes and solutions will be different in every play-through, requiring players to complete the process on their own.