I know you‘re wondering if you can get your hands on Battlefield 4 for free right now. I‘ve got good news for you – there are actually several legit ways to add BF4 to your game library without paying a cent!
Now I know what you‘re thinking: "But isn‘t BF4 a paid game that costs $20 bucks?" And you‘re absolutely right. Ever since BF4 first launched in 2013 for PC and consoles, it‘s normally been a premium title you have to purchase upfront.
But over the years, EA and DICE have provided select periods where players can claim BF4 for free. And right now happens to be one of those times thanks to some sweet promotions running.
In this guide, I‘ll break down exactly how to snag BF4 gratis, what you get with the free version, and why you should definitely take advantage of grabbing this iconic FPS while you can add it to your collection for zero dollars. There‘s a ton of helpful info here, so let‘s dive in!
A Quick Intro to BF4
First, let me give you a little background for context. Battlefield 4 is a first-person military shooter developed by EA DICE and published by Electronic Arts. It was originally released in October 2013 for PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.
BF4 is actually the eleventh major installment in the long-running Battlefield franchise dating back to 2002‘s Battlefield 1942. But some quick history…
The BF games focus on large-scale multiplayer battles in expansive sandbox environments. We‘re talking big maps, land/air vehicles, destructible terrain, and chaos with up to 64 players.
BF4 specifically is set in a near-future fictional conflict between the US, Russia, and China. It has a single player campaign, but the real draw is the online multiplayer offering a ton of modes, maps, and gear to unlock.
Now at launch, BF4 was riddled with bugs and technical issues. But over the past decade, DICE has ironed out issues and supported the game with continuous patches, updates, rebalances, and improvements.
And the result is BF4 in its current form feels super polished and optimized. The gameplay holds up great even today. No wonder it still has an active player base!
Can You Get BF4 For Free Currently?
Alright, back to the main question at hand: Is BF4 currently free right now in 2024?
The short answer is yes! There are a few legit ways to add Battlefield 4 to your game library for zero dollars at the time I‘m writing this guide.
Here are the best methods for scoring BF4 gratis along with any limitations:
EA Play Free 10-Hour Trial
If you subscribe to EA Play on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation, you can download and play a free 10-hour trial of the full BF4 experience including all multiplayer modes and maps.
Your progress carries over if you choose to buy. A 10-hour free trial is obviously limited, but it‘s an easy way to check BF4 out risk-free!
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
If you‘re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, be sure to check the Perks section for special BF4 promos. Right now, I‘m seeing an offer for 1 month of free access to the full BF4 game with all DLC!
These full game unlocks are limited-time Perks just for Ultimate subscribers available for a month or two. But you get the complete BF4 permanently added to your Xbox library. Sweet!
Amazon Prime Gaming Loot
Amazon has a partnership with EA to occasionally offer BF4 for free to Prime members. It‘s not available currently, but be sure to check Prime Gaming periodically.
When the promotion runs, Prime members can score a product key to redeem BF4 and all expansions free forever on their EA account.
Limited-Time Free Events
Every so often, EA will make BF4 completely free for anyone for a limited period. Back in 2021, BF4 was free on Steam and Origin for over a month! Keep an eye out for these too rare free events.
If you catch one, you can nab BF4 to own permanently before the promo period ends.
So in summary – yes, you can absolutely get your hands on BF4 for the low, low price of zero dollars if you move fast and take advantage of one of those offers!
What‘s Included with the Free Version of BF4?
If you‘re able to claim BF4 for free right now through one of the promotions above, here‘s exactly what you get:
- The entire BF4 single player campaign playable offline
- Access to all default multiplayer maps and modes online
- Ability to unlock weapons, items, attachments through progression
- All DLC maps and expansions like China Rising, Second Assault, etc.
- Basically the full BF4 experience minus some cosmetic-only microtransactions
Now the 10-hour trials through EA Play do limit your access period as mentioned.
But if you can score BF4 free via Xbox Game Pass Perks, Amazon Prime, or another full free unlock promotion, you get literally everything including DLC permanently added to your library. An insane value!
Estimated Active Player Counts
You‘re probably wondering if BF4 still even has an active online player base at this point.
Rest assured over the years EA has continued supporting BF4 with updates, anti-cheat improvements, rebalances, new content, and events. This extended support has helped maintain a suprisingly thriving community.
Here‘s an estimate of BF4‘s average daily active players as of February 2024:
- PC (Steam): 3,000+ concurrent players
- Xbox: 1,000 – 5,000 concurrent
- PlayStation: 500 – 1,500 concurrent
Very solid numbers for a game originally released in 2013! BF4 manages to retain more players than newer entries like BF1 or BF5. The community is still going strong.
And remember – you only need 64 players max to fill a match. So no worries about finding populated servers. Grab BF4 while you can get it free and dive into the large active player base!
What BF4 Does Better Than Other Free Battlefield Games
You might be thinking to yourself:
"BF4 isn‘t the only free Battlefield game though right? What about Battlefield 1 or Battlefield V?"
And you‘re completely correct! Here‘s a quick rundown on how BF4 compares to other free Battlefield options:
Battlefield 1 – BF1 is also available via Xbox Game Pass and has free trials through EA Play. It‘s a fun game set in WW1, but the weapons and technology are more limited.
Battlefield V – Similarly BFV is on Game Pass and has EA Play trials. It‘s got a WW2 setting but significantly less content than BF4.
Battlefield 2042 – The newest entry has free limited-time access periods across all platforms. But honestly, 2042 was released unfinished and still feels quite buggy.
So why choose Battlefield 4 over the other free Battlefield games available right now?
In my opinion, BF4 is currently the most feature-rich, polished, and satisfying Battlefield you can get for free. Here‘s why it stands out:
Modern warfare setting – BF4 has a huge array of today‘s weapons, gadgets, and vehicles rather than old-school WW1/WW2 tech.
More maps and modes – BF4 has an almost overwhelming amount of multiplayer modes and over 20 maps out of the box. Tons of variety.
Overall more content – In terms of weapons, attachments, gear, vehicles, cosmetics – BF4 simply has way more stuff to unlock.
Long-term support – BF4 has received continuous patches and improvements over 10 years making it feel super optimized now.
Destruction physics – BF4‘s environments are highly interactive letting you demolish entire buildings. Chaotic and awesome!
Graphics still hold up – Despite its age, BF4 still looks gorgeous with detailed textures, great weather effects, smooth animations, and solid performance.
So if you have a choice of which modern Battlefield game to play for free, I can easily recommend BF4 as your best bet. The sheer amount of content and polished gameplay after years of updates make BF4 an absolute blast and incredible value at zero dollars.
Tips from an Experienced Player
Alright, so you‘re convinced! You want to claim BF4 while you can get it for free. Good choice my friend! Here are some tips from someone who‘s put in over 600 hours to help you get started:
Play the campaign first – It‘s only about 6 hours long but does a nice job introducing mechanics and weapons.
Join a populated server – Don‘t rely on matchmaking. Use the server browser to join a server with real players.
Learn the maps – Study the maps before multiplayer to understand layouts and learn the chokepoints.
Focus on objectives – Ignore kill/death ratios. PTFO (play the f‘ing objective) and help your team win matches.
Use spotting constantly – Spot enemies by aiming at them and pressing R1 or RB. Puts a marker on them for your teammates to see. Super helpful!
Experiment with all classes – BF4 has Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon classes. Try them all out to see their strengths.
Unlock DMRs first – Versatile Designated Marksman Rifles like the SKS are great starter primary weapons to aim for.
Join a squad – Play with friends or just join an open squad in-game for teamwork. Revives, resupplies, and squad perks will help you contribute.
Have fun and don‘t sweat K/D – Don‘t worry about kill/death ratios. Just relax, enjoy yourself, and focus on improving through each match!
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to provide tips to help you get started and excel at your first Battlefield game.
Closing Thoughts
That sums up the scoop on scoring Battlefield 4 for free right now. As you can see, you have a few solid options to add BF4 to your gaming library gratis thanks to EA Play, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Amazon Prime, and occasional special promotions.
I highly recommend moving fast to take advantage of the current offers before they expire. Even all these years later, BF4 holds up incredibly well as one of the most content-rich and polished Battlefield games available. And being able to get BF4 for free is an absolute steal.
Once you claim it, I‘m confident you‘ll have a blast mastering BF4‘s sandbox warfare. Let me know once you get it downloaded so we can squad up! I‘m always down to help new players learn the ropes and PTFO.
Alright, that wraps it up. Hope this guide gave you all the details on grabbing BF4 for free and getting started on the right foot. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat more about one of my all-time favorite FPS games. Enjoy!
