Microsoft Offers a Glimpse at ‘Battlefield V’ War Story ‘Nordlys’

By Stefanie Fogel

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – When “Battlefield V” launches on October 19, it will feature a collection of single-player “war stories” based on aspects of World War II. Microsoft gave fans a glimpse at one of them Sunday during its E3 press conference.

“Nordlys” is the story of a young Norwegian Resistance fighter during the German occupation. Microsoft didn’t give much details. “You must pay an unthinkable price to save not only yourself, but also your family,” it said on-screen before the brief trailer.

Publisher EA officially unveiled “” last month and drew some criticism from certain corners of the internet for showcasing a female character in its marketing and trailer. Some claimed it’s “historically inaccurate” (despite all  evidence to the contrary). general manager Oskar Gabrielson responded on his personal Twitter account, “First, let me be clear about one thing. Player choice and female playable characters are here to stay. We want ‘Battlefield V’ to represent all those who were a part of the greatest drama in human history, and [to] give players [the] choice to choose and customize the characters they play with.”

EA also revealed yesterday “Battlefield V” is getting its own battle royale mode , an unsurprising announcement given the massive popularity of games like “Fortnite” and “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.” Additionally, it claimed the game won’t have loot boxes or premium passes.

“‘Battlefield‘ has always been about a balanced rock-paper-scissors gameplay, and it still is,” said DICE senior development director Ryan McArthur. “There will be no Premium Pass. Your Company will evolve side-by-side with ‘Battlefield V.’ We want to keep the entire community together through this journey.”

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