Leaked Battlefield Hardline gameplay video demonstrates multiplayer modes, vehicles, weapons, singleplayer campaign and more

Just a short while after it was announced that Battlefield Hardline was being developed by Visceral Games, a seven-minute long video – supposedly meant only for internal distribution at EA – leaked online, giving fans of the series their first look at the gameplay and main features of the upcoming FPS. Visceral’s VP/General Manager and Hardline’s Executive Producer Steve Papoutsis subsequently tweeted that the footage was at least six months old, so amend your expectations accordingly.

The clip, made available thanks to GameSpot, suggests that the title was earlier codenamed Omaha, and that its singleplayer portion revolves around young Miami cop Nick Mendoza out for revenge against his brothers in blue who betrayed. The footage shown suggests that the game aims at portraying something along the lines of a gritty cop TV drama meets explosive fast-paced action sequences, though it also suggest that there will be varied methods to completing objectives; the player can resort to brute force and open urban combat, or snipe opponents from afar, or even go in stealthy and use non-lethal measures such as a Taser. The campaign also boasts of a cast who have starred in roles on hit TV series like Justified, The Americans and House Of Cards.

Moving onto the much-anticipated multiplayer part of the game, it appears that there will be at least four modes: Heist involves robbers attempt to breach a bank vault for the big score and subsequently escape the scene of the crime, the cops need to prevent them from doing so; Rescue sees SWAT members trying to rescue hostages in a robbery gone wrong; Hotwire in contrast is about those characteristic cop chases but in large open environments, with cars choppers and guns all coming into play; finally, Bloodmoney revolves around a large cash cache and the two sides battling it out to secure the loot.

The developers promise wider and more open environments to play around in, a redesigned AI and enhanced environmental destruction across Los Angeles. Players will also have access to a military-grade arsenal of weapons and even others like sawed-off shotguns and Tasers. Expect Gadgets like Claymore and Flechette rounds, specialisations and camos/appearances. Numerous vehicles will of course be in the game; expect muscle cars, motorbikes, police cruisers, counter-attack trucks, planes and choppers.