Earlier this week, a YouTube video sparked reports that Battlefield Bad Company 3 would launch in 2018.

Details of the purported project were uploaded by YouTuber AlmightyDaq - who previously laid out a host of leaked details on Battlefield 1. Off the back of that track record, AlmightyDaq's video was picked up by numerous other sites and forums.

The video had plenty of details in it - a "mid and post-Vietnam conflict" setting, game modes including Conquest, Rush, Operations, Domination and Team Deathmatch, "tighter" maps and era-appropriate guns.

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Battlefield 3 executive producer Patrick Bach is so ashamed of his work on Battlefield: Bad Company 2 that he refuses to even the boot the game up.

Speaking in an interview with The Wall Street Journal about the QA process, Bach explained that he can only ever see the faults in the games he works on.

"I don't know why, but I always feel ashamed about the games I'm involved in making," he said.

"I can't even bring myself to start up Battlefield: Bad Company 2, our last game, because I feel so ashamed. I know it is a great product but still I only see the things we could have done better."

It seems that same exacting attitude is carrying over to Battlefield 3. Bach added that although work on the finished game is almost coplete, he still only sees areas for improvement.

"Right now we are weeks from being done. The only thing you see when you are so close to finishing is more opportunity.

"When you have been building a game for such a long time you get bored with the things that you liked so much before, that you feel like changing them just for the sake of it. You agreed with everyone that the line this guy said, the sound of that gun, was perfect but suddenly you want to change it, just because you're bored with it since you've seen it too many times. But just because you're bored with it, it doesn't mean it's bad."

He's wrong about Bad Company 2 of course - it was rather brilliant, as Eurogamer's 9/10 review bears witness.

Battlefield 3 isn't looking too shabby either. The game entered open beta this week and is due for launch on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on 28th October.

PC Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will receive patch CR11 very early tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 21st September), DICE has revealed.

The file is 2.6GB and rectifies some stability and performance issues. Notably, it adds the ability to take a screenshot as well as removes the SecuROM DRM "wrapper" from non-Steam versions of the game.

The enormous size of the file owes to it containing all previous patches.

Steam will automatically patch BFBC2. Non-Steam games will be patched via the auto-updater or manually through a download link.

DICE warned that it may take multiplayer servers a while to catch up.

The exact change-list is:

• Removed some memory leaks
• Fixed crashes when the game attempted to render lots of content (high detail, high FOV or multiple-monitor modes); this should particularly help multi-monitor users
• Chat window no longer causes lag spikes
• Chat window reworked opacity & visibility-time is controllable through settings in settings.ini
• Clantag is remembered when using auto-login
• Banner URLs can be up to 252 characters in length
• SecuROM wrapper removed from non-Steam version
• Minor performance enhancements
• Reduced rubberbanding on servers with more than 24 active players
• PrintScreen takes a screenshot, file stored in Documents\BFBC2\Screenshots directory

Video: Bad Company 2.

DICE has another Battlefield: Vietnam map for Bad Company 2 - but this time you'll have to earn it. You and the entire Bad Company 2 community, that is.

Clock up a staggering 69 million team actions in either Bad Company 2 or the Vietnam expansion and ding, the Operation Hastings map from Battlefield: Vietnam will be unlocked.

This event spans PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, and DICE starts counting team actions on 21st December - the day the Bad Company 2 expansion Vietnam is released.

Team actions are resupply, heal, revive, spot and repair.

Eurogamer got a sneak peek at the Vietnam expansion for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 last month.

The Vietnam expansion can be pre-ordered on PC from the EA Store now. It costs a tenner.

Video: 'Nam your price.

Co-operative EA shooter Army of Two: The 40th Day and acclaimed EA FPS Battlefield: Bad Company 2 take top billing on Xbox Live this month, with both titles heading to the Games on Demand service.

The fun-but-flawed Army of Two follow-up arrives on 7th December while the brilliant Battlefield sequel goes live on 14th December.

Microsoft's Major Nelson also confirmed what other goodies we can expect to see on Xbox Live through December. Any of this lot take your fancy?

• Xbox Live Arcade:
• 22nd December: A World of Keflings, 800 Microsoft Points
• 29th December: Raskulls, 800 Microsoft Points
• 5th January: ilomilo, 800 Microsoft Points

• Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week:
• Week of 6th December: Winter Wonderland: Polar Panic, 400 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off);Burton Snowboard, 120 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off); Burton RED Hi Fi Helmet, 80 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off); Gingerbread Man, 120 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off); Gears of War 2 Snowblind Map Pack, 160 Microsoft Points (60 per cent off); 3 on 3 NHL Arcade, 200 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off)
• Week of 13th December: Casual Arcade: Bejeweled 2, 400 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off); UNO RUSH, 400 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off); Zuma, 200 Microsoft Points, (50 percent off); Tetris Splash, 400 Microsoft Points (50 per cent off); Feeding Frenzy 2, 400 Microsoft Points

• Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace:
• 2nd December: NBA Collection (today)
• 2nd December: Trials HD (today)
• 9th December: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
• 9th December: Holiday Collection

• Xbox Game Add-Ons:
• 8th December: Pinball FX 2: Marvel Comic Table Pack, 800 Microsoft Points
• 14th December: Forza Motorsport 3 Community Choice Classics Pack , 400 Microsoft Points

Update: EA has sent out a press release confirming the PS3 and Xbox 360 release date for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam as 21st December.

On Xbox 360, BFBC2 Vietnam costs 1200 MSP - a bit more than on PC, PS3.

We're also told that the VIP Map Pack 7 will arrive before then on 1st December. This is free to first-hand buyers of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, who got a VIP download code with their game.

Original story: EA has finally confirmed a release date for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 expansion Vietnam: Saturday, 18th December.

That date is for the PC game and includes the three-day head start.

The EA Store Twitter account confirmed the date.

Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam costs £10 - will it be worth it? Eurogamer took at Vietnam earlier this month.

Video: 'Nam-ean?

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 may lag on PC and Xbox 360 today not because of the snow but because DICE is applying a hefty patch.

The DICE blog states that service will be back to normal at 9am tomorrow morning.

This update paves the way for Bad Company 2 expansion Vietnam - available to pre-order at the EA store now for £10 - and Map Pack 7. We can't find a release date for either, so we're checking with EA.

Today's PC patch is a whopping 2.5GB. In it the following are fixed:

• Acog and Red dot scope now equippable on MK-14 and G3.
• Fixed an issue where the Bullet Tracers wouldn't display
• Fixed an issue where Play Now wouldn't work
• Added Ticket Count for Conquest end of round.
• Added the server info to the objectives screen.

On Xbox 360 the fix-list is much longer:

• Acog and Red dot scope now equippable on MK-14 and G3.
• Fixed a bug on PC where the G3 would do less damage than intended.
• Reduced VADS push back and damage to balance it with the ZU23.
• Fixed a bug where Vehicle Countermeasures would fail to remove tracer darts at high speed.
• Reduced the reload time for Vehicle Countermeasures.
• Slightly increased the AT4's damage vs armor to emphasize its anti vehicle role while keeping it balanced vs armor.
• Increased the AT4's top speed and acceleration so users spend less time exposed when firing.
• Increased the AT4's splash damage so it competes with other AT weapons vs infantry. The AT4 still has the least splash damage of all AT weapons.
• Reduced the splash damage of the Carl Gustav to bring it in line with other explosive weapons. The Carl Gustav still has the most splash damage of all AT weapons.
• Increased the 1 shot kill range of the M95 body shot to counter its lower rate of fire.
• Fixed a bug with the SVU that gave it better close range damage than other semi auto weapons.
• Reduced all weapon damage to the MCOM by 50%.
• Fixed a C4 vs MCOM exploit on Atacama Desert.
• Fixed a bug with FOV when aiming the M1911.
• Lowered the close range damage of the AN94 to highlight its long range role.
• Increased the accuracy of the F2000 on the move to highlight its role as a mobile AR.
• Increased the close range damage of the shotguns to give them a greater advantage vs slugs.
• Slightly lowered the damage of the M60 to balance its accuracy advantage vs other LMGs.
• Slightly lowered the damage of the MG3 at close range to balance it with other high rate of fire weapons.
• Slightly increased the damage of the UH6

The PS3 version of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has already been patched.

Video: BFBC2: Vietnam.

A new multiplayer patch is on the way for Battlefield: Bad Company 2, publisher EA has announced.

The update, which hits PlayStation 3 today, fixes bugs and rebalances various weapons. There's a full list of the changes you can expect to see below.

A message on the game's official site added, "We are working hard on getting these fixes out for both PC and Xbox 360 as well, so in the coming days, look for updates on those platforms as well."

It's a busy time for fans of EA's first-rate FPS. There's a new map pack on the way, as well as a Vietnam expansion. Both are expected before the end of the year.

• Acog and Red dot scope now equippable on MK-14 and G3.
• Fixed a bug on PC where the G3 would do less damage than intended.
• Reduced VADS push back and damage to balance it with the ZU23.
• Fixed a bug where Vehicle Countermeasures would fail to remove tracer darts at high speed.
• Reduced the reload time for Vehicle Countermeasures.
• Slightly increased the AT4's damage vs armor to emphasize its anti vehicle role while keeping it balanced vs armor.
• Increased the AT4's top speed and acceleration so users spend less time exposed when firing.
• Increased the AT4's splash damage so it competes with other AT weapons vs infantry. The AT4 still has the least splash damage of all AT weapons.
• Reduced the splash damage of the Carl Gustav to bring it in line with other explosive weapons. The Carl Gustav still has the most splash damage of all AT weapons.
• Increased the 1 shot kill range of the M95 body shot to counter its lower rate of fire.
• Fixed a bug with the SVU that gave it better close range damage than other semi auto weapons.
• Reduced all weapon damage to the MCOM by 50 per cent.
• Fixed a C4 vs MCOM exploit on Atacama Desert.
• Fixed a bug with FOV when aiming the M1911.
• Lowered the close range damage of the AN94 to highlight its long range role.
• Increased the accuracy of the F2000 on the move to highlight its role as a mobile AR.
• Increased the close range damage of the shotguns to give them a greater advantage vs slugs.
• Slightly lowered the damage of the M60 to balance its accuracy advantage vs other LMGs.
• Slightly lowered the damage of the MG3 at close range to balance it with other high rate of fire weapons.
• Slightly increased the damage of the UH6

On the eve of Call of Duty: Black Ops' release EA has announced new downloadable content for rival shooter Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

VIP Map Pack 7 includes four maps, two of which are "fan favourites" Oasis and Harvest Day. It's all free for PC and console VIP players.

The maps previously in Bad Company have been reworked for the sequel, and in the process have gained "full Destruction 2.0 (buildings collapsing and micro destruction), enhanced graphics and lighting, and remastered ambient sounds and backgrounds".

The final two maps in the pack are Cold War and Heavy Metal, both originating from the single-player portion of the DICE-developed shooter.

Talking specifically about Oasis, level designer Cristian Pavel said: "The map has not been changed drastically, so returning players will feel right at home the moment they step into this Oasis.

"The revised parts of the levels are minor. For example, the gold crates in BC1 were located on the rooftops, which we can't have now that entire buildings can collapse. So we had to put the crates on the ground in some places. Things like that."

VIP Map Pack 7 is "on its way", according to DICE.

This week's EA Winter Showcase saw Battlefield looking to the past and the future – the former by way of a Vietnam-themed DLC expansion for Bad Company 2, and the latter with an extremely ambitious free online title, Battlefield: Play4Free.

Putting aside DICE's apparent newfound love of text-speak (at least it's not called Battlefield LOL), it's good to see the series fighting on multiple fronts. Battlefield 3 might still be incubating somewhere warm – and probably fairly noisy – in the developer's studio, but there's a lot of war to be had in the meantime while we wait for it to come together.

As with budget student travel, Vietnam's the best place to start. A download add-on for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (it will require the disk), your 1200 MP or equivalent will buy you four maps, 15 new weapons and six new vehicles with which to play the standard Bad Company 2 multiplayer modes.

The maps on display were goodies. Both Rush offerings with a lot of variety, Hill 137 kicks off in luscious jungle before sending you up a steep bank and into the scorched environment of a freshly napalmed encampment, riddled with survivor tunnels.

Vantage Point, meanwhile, is a spin on Battlefield: Vietnam's Cambodian Incursion, with a tightly hemmed-in river giving way to open sniper territory, topped and tailed with a fishing village and an American base.

Both are lookers - a stylish mixture of deep greens, bleached yellows and washed-out browns perfectly capturing the ambience of the conflict, while the Frostbite engine works its peculiar weighty magic on rocks and rivers alike.

The new vehicles include Hueys, the classic Apocalypse Now patrol boat and the T-54 Russian tank. The weapons range from banged-up AK47s for the Vietcong to M16s and M21 sniper rifles for the US. Motion sensors and red dot sites are out, naturally, but iron sights are in.

Crucially the expansion's packing a flamethrower, too. Slow to kill in a game in which an enemy with the right gun can take you down in seconds, it's balanced by the fact that it's enormous visceral fun to use up-close, and it allows you to set fire to everything except mud, stones, and water.

As Richard Nixon once said, Vietnam isn't Vietnam until you've set some innocent person's home on fire, and it will be interesting to see what the new gadget brings to multiplayer tactics in this hectic game.

With an international war crime flickering into smoky life behind us, it's probably a good time to turn to Play4Free. Battlefield's already marked out territory in the microtransactions-powered online shooter space with Heroes, but the developer's latest foray is a clear attempt to play to the desires of a slightly different audience.

You won't be rushing into cartoony battles with a sombrero on your head in Play4Free, in other words. Rather, this is a far more po-faced blend of Battlefield and Bad Company ideas, letting you loose in a series of more realistic maps with four familiar classes to choose from – Assault, Recon, Medic, and Engineer – and a levelling curve that attempts to mimic the progression of a real soldier's career.

(That said, it's lacking the bit right at the end where they retire and settle down to write large-print military potboilers with titles like Killnuts: A Jazz Rickshaw Adventure.)

With senior producer James Salt showing me around, Play4Free appears to be an fairly pretty proposition for a free online game. Draw distances are good, assets are detailed, and there's still room on the download for the developer to pay attention to the atmosphere of the contemporary videogame warzone.

"Colour grading, film grain, and depth of field effects: we've got all that stuff," says Salt. "We think people will be quite surprised at the quality, actually."

Karkand's a launch-day map, and it's based on Battlefield 2's Strike at Karkand. "We've made the play area quite a bit smaller, and we've got a very different kind of layout," says Salt.

"It looks like Battlefield 2 at first, but buildings and tactical spots have been moved around. There's still a lot of room, though. A lot of modern FPS games go for the really tight spaces, so it's been refreshing to open things out again."

Play4Free will ship with a new mode that revolves around capturing a series of flags and then holding them long enough to start earning points. The more flags you have, the quicker you earn, and the first team to reach the target level wins.

It's a game type so newly minted that DICE hasn't even named it yet ("What do you think about Assault?" asks Salt. I'll see how I feel after I've eaten, eh James) and despite the tightened confines of Karkand, there's still plenty of room for Play4Free's 16 vehicles to intrude. The game will support up to 32 players, too, so Karkand's going to get crowded.

Despite the relatively fancy visuals, DICE is aiming to keep the download footprint as close to the 500MB of Battlefield Heroes as possible. It seems that the other free-to-play concern – the economy – shouldn't be intruding into the warfare too much. The developers are more than aware that most players aren't going to want to pay a single penny, according to Salt.

"As with Battlefield Heroes, the stuff we're selling are weapons and clothing customisation items for the most part," he says.

Video: Vietcong weaponry will be rusty and knocked about.

"There are two currencies - one you get by playing and one you can buy – and the majority of items are available for both currencies. It's only the really exclusive stuff that you're going to have to buy.

"With clothes, it's only if you want to look really, really badass. With weapons, it's much more about balancing: this gun is really fast, but it's got no grip, this one just looks really cool. It's always a personal choice and it's never going to unbalance the match."

Levelling up sees you earning training points to put into a tech tree that allows you to flesh out the two elements of your soldier: his equipment and his physical abilities. The former will see you gaining access to new weapons and gadgets and eventually tricking them out, while the latter lets you buff attributes that will enable you to do things like take more damage or run faster.

Best of all, as a download title with a lengthy roadmap in place, Battlefield Play4Free will be levelling up alongside you as the developers listen to feedback and implement new tweaks or content accordingly.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that you'll be able to see the game for yourself in a matter of weeks. You can register interest for the beta as of today in readiness for a launch on 30th November. The wait may continue for Battlefield 3, then, but there's more than enough to be getting on with in the meantime.