Battlefield V places a strong emphasis on team-based gameplay, resource management, and heightened realism by reducing “abstractions” in its core mechanics. The game introduces the Company system, allowing players to create and customize multiple soldiers, each with unique cosmetic appearances and weapon loadouts. Progression is tied to in-game performance, with cosmetic items and currency earned by completing objectives rather than relying on external purchases, further reinforcing the game’s focus on immersion and player-driven achievement.
The Battlefield V campaign, titled "War Stories," follows the same structure as Battlefield 1. Instead of a single, linear storyline centered around one protagonist as in previous entries, the developers designed multiple stories featuring different characters from various factions.
At launch, three stories were available, with an additional one released in December 2018:
--- "Nordlys"---
Tells the story of a Norwegian resistance fighter taking part in the heavy water sabotage mission.
--- "The Last Tiger"---
Depicts the story of a German Tiger tank crew fighting during the Ruhr Pocket in the final days of the war.
--- "Tirailleur"---
Follows a Senegalese soldier during the Allied invasion of Provence.
--- "Under No Flag"---
Puts players in the role of Billy Bridger, a bank robber and explosives expert recruited by the Special Boat Service (SBS) for Operation Albumen.
- Multiplayer
One of the major changes in Battlefield V’s multiplayer mode is the removal of the Battlefield Premium service, a paid feature that had been available since Battlefield 3. Developers explained that this decision was made to better listen to the player community. Squads were also adjusted, returning to a maximum of four players, as in earlier installments up to Battlefield 3.
- Classes
The four multiplayer classes remain the same as in the previous title:
- Assault – specialized in vehicle destruction.
- Medic – focused on healing and reviving teammates.
- Support – responsible for repairing and resupplying ammunition.
- Recon – an expert in scouting and reconnaissance.
- Battle Royale Mode
During E3 2018, the publisher officially announced that Battlefield V would feature a Battle Royale mode, inspired by popular titles such as PUBG and Fortnite.
- Other Game Modes
DICE confirmed the return of the "Frontlines" mode, first introduced in Battlefield 1 and well-received by the community. The Conquest mode also received adjustments to restore the gameplay style from earlier Battlefield games prior to Battlefield 1.
- Cooperative Mode
The co-op mode makes its comeback in Battlefield V for the first time since Battlefield 3, allowing up to four players to team up and complete missions together.