'Battlefield Hardline' Beta Will Be Available On All Platforms And Open To Everyone

Visitors try out Electronic Arts' new game software Battlefield Hardline at Tokyo Game Show 2014 in Makuhari, east of Tokyo September 18, 2014. About 421 companies and organizations are participating in the Tokyo Games Show 2014, which will be held until September 21. REUTERS/Yuya Shino REUTERS/Yuya Shino

Following an inordinately long delay, gamers will be getting their fix of the multiplayer mayhem in "Battlefield Hardline." In a press release sent to International Business Times Australia, Visceral Games has announced that the FPS, focusing predominantly on online multiplayer, will be open to everyone and available on all platforms. By all platform, it means the PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4 and PS3. Strangely, no release date has been announced for the beta yet by the developer.

The open beta will give gamers the chance to try out "Battlefield Hardline's" gameplay shift from the traditional military conflict setup to the new cops and robbers dynamic. Although the game will essentially feature cops versus robbers gameplay, players will still have access to the same high-powered military gear as the previous instalments. The beta will allow gamers to try out the new police gadgets and one of the new multiplayer modes meant for the retail release.

The developer is letting players in on one of the new multiplayer modes in the beta. Dubbed Hotwire, the mode is advertised to combine "all-out warfare with all-out speed." The other playable mode is the familiar classic Conquest mode, albeit with a new cops and robbers twist to the core gameplay. This mode incorporates the 64-player mayhem that gamers have grown to love about the "Battlefield" series.

EA has also stated that the beta will not have any limitation on the maximum progression level. The idea is to let gamers unlock available goodies to their satisfaction, thereby allowing them to try out all the available gadgets. The developers essentially want gamers to "to play this beta to death," which will provide them with valuable feedback for improving the experience and stability of the final release.

Citing Visceral Games general manager Steve Papoutsis's earlier statement, IGN adds that the developer's intent is for players to really bring out what they have, enjoy the beta and stress it as much as possible so they can work on improving it even more. "This test is only going to make the game stronger, and help us take a look at ways we can ensure we deliver the most stable launch you deserve," said Papoutsis as quoted by IGN.

This doesn't come as a surprise since "Battlefield Hardline" was slated for launch on Oct. 21 last year, but it was subsequently pushed further into 2015. The delay was prompted by pointed feedback to the first open beta that was held last July. On the bright side, the long delay meant the inclusion of more weapons, gadgets, vehicles, and game modes. Hopefully, the experience will be more polished and rewarding this time around, because it's highly unlikely that EA can afford another delay this time around.