It’s no secret that theBattlefieldfranchise isn’t in the best spot right now. For a while now, the series has seemingly lost its connection to its fans. Beginning withBattlefield 5, the series has made blunder after blunder, and the game that was meant to make up for EA and DICE’s shortcomings,Battlefield 2042, was absolutely destroyed by critics and fans alike. So, as is seemingly the case with every big franchise when it fails its audience, it’s up to the fans to pick up the pieces. A recently released mod, theBattlefield 3 Reality Mod, might just be the thing that brings fans back to the franchise.

Created by a relatively small team of 32 members, and some additional contributors, theBattlefield 3 Reality Modis a complete overhaul of the classic 2011 game, designed to be the most immersive and realistic version ofBattlefieldaround. With over five years in development, theBattlefield 3 Reality Modis finally available to download, and it’s quickly becoming a highlight of the waning franchise.

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Battlefield 3’s Reality Mod Explained

The team behind theBattlefield 3 Reality Modhas made its goals explicitly clear on its website. This mod is designed to be the most realistic and immersive version ofBattlefieldever released, and every gameplay tweak and design decision has been made with that goal in mind. Similar tomilitary simulator titles likeArma, theBattlefield 3 Reality Modputs an emphasis on slow, tactical, team-based gameplay, where just one shot can mean instant death. Players need to traverse across massive maps and use teamwork to maintain the advantage over their opponents. Only the most tactical, patient teams will conquer everythingBattlefield 3’sReality Modhas to throw at them.

Set at the end of the Cold War going into the modern day, theBattlefield 3 Reality Modbreathes new life into this decade-old title, bringing a plethora of brand-new features that completely transformtheBattlefield 3experience. This mod completely overhauls the game’s UI and builds it from the ground up to focus on team mechanics. The stakes have also been raised pretty significantly, with servers now allowing over 100 players per match and brand-new custom maps pushing even the most die-hardBattlefieldfans out of their comfort zone.

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TheBattlefield 3 Reality Modalso adds multiple in-game radio channels, includingproximity chat. On top of all this, a slew of brand-new textures, character and vehicle models, weapons, and game modes have been added to the game, with some dynamic weather elements and a day-night cycle makingBattlefield 3feel even more realistic than ever.

The Future of The Battlefield 3 Reality Mod

While theBattlefield 3 Reality Modis now out and available to downloadfor any keen player, the development team is far from finished. According to the team’s website, its is quite a ways off from being done with the mod, with a whole roadmap highlighting everything the team intends to add over the next few years, including a vast selection of gameplay tweaks and new content.

The team behind theBattlefield 3 Reality Modplans on introducing a slower movement speed and some tweaked weapon handling mechanics, which should go toward making the mod feel even more realistic. TheclassicBattlefieldspawning systemis also being reworked, with the team planning on scrapping squad respawns and replacing them with player-placed spawn points. A brand new medical system is coming to the mod, introducing a bleedout mechanic, limited revives, and some new healing items. The development team is even planning on overhauling the game’s vehicle physics system so that air vehicles feel more weighty to control.

With a plethora of gameplay tweaks already in theBattlefield 3 Reality Mod, and much more to come, it seems as though this might be theBattlefieldexperience that dominates fans' play-time.Battlefieldfans either want the franchise to truly return to its roots or completely change for the better, and theBattlefield 3 Reality Modcertainly does the latter, givingveteranBattlefieldplayersan experience unlike any other.