Is Battlefield 1 Free on PS Plus?

Hi friend! I know you‘re curious if the epic World War 1 shooter Battlefield 1 is available for free through a PlayStation Plus membership. The short answer is: unfortunately not at this time.

While Battlefield 1 was temporarily offered via the PlayStation Plus Collection for PS5 owners, it is currently not bundled as part of the monthly PlayStation Plus free games lineup on either PS4 or PS5.

But don‘t worry! In this detailed guide, I‘ll give you a comprehensive overview of Battlefield 1‘s past and present availability on PS Plus, so you can get this must-play FPS at the best possible price. Let‘s dive in!

A Quick Intro to Battlefield 1 for the Uninitiated

Battlefield 1 is the fifteenth main installment in the hugely popular Battlefield military shooter franchise, developed by EA DICE and published by Electronic Arts. What sets Battlefield 1 apart is its fresh setting in the First World War, with combat taking place on land, air and sea across multiple WW1 fronts.

Here‘s a quick crash course on what makes Battlefield 1 so special:

• Immersive WW1 atmosphere – Trench warfare, mustard gas attacks, cavalry charges, zeppelin bombers and more capture the grim realities of "The War to End All Wars."

• Massive 64 player battles – PlayStation Plus is required for these epic online multiplayer clashes spanning land, vehicles and sky.

• Destructible environments – Battlefield‘s proprietary Frostbite engine enables the fully destructible terrain and buildings that intensify the battlefield chaos.

• Diverse playable factions – The British Empire, Germany, United States, Ottoman Empire and more are represented.

• Engaging solo campaign – Play as members of the Harlem Hellfighters, Bedouin rebels and other lesser-known combatants through self-contained story missions.

• Free post-launch content – DICE has added new maps and gear through free DLC updates.

Released in October 2016, Battlefield 1 was met with glowing reviews for its risky WW1 theme that paid off in spades. Let‘s look at what PlayStation Plus access has offered to date.

Breaking Down the PlayStation Plus Membership Tiers

To understand what Battlefield 1 benefits PS Plus can provide, it helps to first recap the PlayStation Plus membership options Sony offers as of 2022:

• PlayStation Plus Essential (Monthly price: $9.99) – Required for online multiplayer gaming on PS4/PS5. Also grants two monthly PS4/PS5 games, exclusive discounts and cloud storage. This base tier is essentially the original PlayStation Plus people are familiar with.

• PlayStation Plus Extra (Monthly price: $14.99) – Adds access to a library of 400+ downloadable PS4 and PS5 games spanning both first and third-party titles.

• PlayStation Plus Premium (Monthly price: $17.99) – The top tier option that provides access to 700+ PS4, PS5 and classic PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 games available to download or stream. Offers the most content overall.

Those prices are for monthly subscriptions, but discounts are offered for quarterly and annual memberships.

Now that we‘ve clarified the PlayStation Plus tiers available, let‘s break down specifically what access each provides for Battlefield 1.

Checking Battlefield 1‘s Past PlayStation Plus Availability

Battlefield 1 has been available in limited capacity to PS Plus subscribers in the past:

• PlayStation Plus Collection (Nov. 2020 – May 2021): This was a special PS5 benefit that granted access to 19 popular PS4 games considered "classics" worthy of carrying forward to the next-gen console. Battlefield 1 was featured here alongside beloved PS4 exclusives like God of War and Bloodborne. Any active PS Plus member who claimed the games on a PS5 during this promo period retains permanent access to them.

• EA Play Subscription: Members of EA‘s separate $4.99/month subscription service can play the Battlefield 1 base game as part of their membership. The Premium Pass DLC content requires upgrading to EA Play Pro for $14.99/month though.

So in summary, Battlefield 1 was briefly free via the PlayStation Plus Collection for early PS5 adopters, but hasn‘t been featured as a monthly PS Plus downloadable game. Now let‘s look at its current availability.

Is Battlefield 1 Free on PS Plus in 2024?

As of 2024, here is the Battlefield 1 access granted through the modern PlayStation Plus tiers:

• PlayStation Plus Essential – Battlefield 1 is not currently part of the monthly Instant Game Collection nor has it ever been featured since its 2016 release. No standalone trial is available either.

• PlayStation Plus Extra – Battlefield 1 is not one of the 400+ titles included in the Game Catalog downloadable library. This middle tier does not include BF1.

• PlayStation Plus Premium – The Classics game catalog available to stream does not contain PS3 game Battlefield 1. So it is unavailable through even the highest PS Plus tier.

In summary, Battlefield 1 is not available through any standard PlayStation Plus membership at present. It has not been a monthly downloadable PS4/PS5 game since its release over 6 years ago. PS Plus members cannot access the Battlefield 1 base game or Premium Pass content through their subscriptions without paying extra.

I know that‘s disappointing if you were hoping to play Battlefield 1 at no additional cost! But don‘t abandon hope yet, as deals and discounts can make Battlefield 1 more affordable, as I‘ll explore next.

Past PlayStation Plus Discounts for Battlefield 1

While not gratis, PlayStation Plus members have occasionally gotten exclusive member pricing on Battlefield 1 that knocks a decent dollar amount off:

• October 2018 – Battlefield 1 Revolution Edition was $12 for PS Plus members, 60% off the regular $29.99 price.

• July 2019 – The Battlefield 1 & Titanfall 2 Ultimate Bundle was only $6 for PS Plus subscribers.

• April 2021 – PlayStation Plus members received 50% off the Battlefield 1 Time Saver Bundle.

So while not as ideal as getting Battlefield 1 completely free through the Instant Game Collection, the occasional PS Plus discounts of 50 to 60% off make it more tempting to purchase.

I‘d recommend keeping an eye out for future promotions tied to holidays or Battlefield anniversaries, as Battlefield 1 drops below $10 for Plus members once or twice a year usually.

Other Battlefield Games Available on PS Plus

Let‘s now look at what other Battlefield franchise titles have been offered to PlayStation Plus members for free:

Battlefield V

• Release Date – November 2018
• PS Plus Availability – Free PS4 game June 2021

Battlefield 4

• Release Date – October 2013
• PS Plus Availability: Free PS3 game March 2019

Battlefield Hardline

• Release Date: March 2015
• PS Plus Availability – Free PS3 game July 2018

So both Battlefield 1‘s predecessor Battlefield V and earlier entries Battlefield 4 and spin-off Hardline have been free monthly downloads on PlayStation Plus in the past few years.

Based on this pattern, I am optimistic EA will add Battlefield 1 to a future PS Plus monthly game lineup once enough time has passed since Battlefield V‘s inclusion. My prediction is late 2024 or early 2025 could see the BF1 giveaway finally happen!

Can You Play Battlefield 1 Through EA Play?

EA Play is Electronic Arts‘ own $4.99/month or $29.99/year game subscription service on PS4, PS5 and PC. It actually does grant access to Battlefield 1:

• Base Game Access – An EA Play membership lets you play the core Battlefield 1 multiplayer modes and singleplayer campaign without any hourly limits.

• DLC not Included – However, EA Play only includes Battlefield 1 Revolution. To get the full Premium Pass content requires upgrading to EA Play Pro for $14.99/month.

So while not free through Sony‘s PS Plus service itself, subscribing to EA‘s own subscription can be an alternative avenue to experience Battlefield 1 multiplayer regularly for under $5 monthly. Just be aware the DLC maps and weapons require paying extra for EA Play Pro.

Recent Free Battlefield Games on PlayStation Plus

To give you a better idea of the recent free Battlefield offerings PlayStation Plus members have received, here‘s a quick recap:

Battlefield 2042

• Release Date: November 19, 2021
• PS Plus Availability: Free monthly download March 2023

Though rife with bugs at launch, 2042 has grown into a solid multiplayer experience, and this free trial for Plus members came at the perfect time to witness DICE‘s improvements.

Battlefield V

• Release Date: November 20, 2018
• PS Plus Availability: Free monthly PlayStation Plus game on PS4 June 2021

Many considered Battlefield V a return to form for the franchise, with its WW2 setting and modes like Grand Operations generating fun multiplayer action.

Battlefield 1

• Release Date: October 21, 2016
• PS Plus Availability: Temporary access via PS Plus Collection Nov 2020 – May 2021

This fresh World War I theme complete with bayonets, biplanes and trench warfare won over critics and fans alike. Operations mode also helped cement its legacy.

While these free periods are limited-time only, they‘re great for sparking ongoing interest that keeps the player population healthy years later.

Is Battlefield Mobile Free-to-Play?

Alongside their marquee console and PC franchise titles, Electronic Arts also publishes the free-to-play mobile shooter Battlefield Mobile on iOS and Android devices. While not a standalone product, it is free and worth a look for Battlefield fans. Some quick facts on Battlefield Mobile:

• Release Date: Ongoing beta period starting May 2022. Full launch unannounced.
• Monetization: In-app purchases and battle pass system familiar to other mobile shooters used to profit from the free downloads.
• Maps & Modes: Smaller Battlefield-inspired maps and quick gameplay periods designed around on-the-go play sessions. Not 1:1 content parity with PC/console titles.

While much smaller in scope given the platform limitations, Battlefield Mobile brings the core Battlefield combat experience to smartphones for free. Consider it a complementary companion product rather than full replacement for the AAA titles.

How Does Battlefield 1‘s Player Count Hold Up?

For competitive online shooters, having an active player base is key. The good news is Battlefield 1 remains popular years later, especially on PlayStation platforms thanks to the larger install base:

PlayStation 4: Over 5,000 concurrent players daily, enough to regularly find full matches fast even on less populated game modes or maps.

Xbox One: Around 2,000 peak daily players. You may encounter more bots filling out matches, but core modes stay populated.

PC (Steam): 2,000 to 4,000 concurrent users. Remains stable year-over-year.

So PlayStation 4 has the healthiest Battlefield 1 community at over 5,000 players online daily. Xbox One and PC are smaller but still have enough concurrent users to play, just expect less full matches at off-peak times. Overall the game has retained a dedicated audience six years from release.

How Does Battlefield 1‘s Campaign Hold Up?

Beyond the large-scale multiplayer battles, Battlefield 1 also incorporates a cinematic singleplayer campaign allowing you to play through self-contained "War Stories" from lesser-known perspectives like Bedouin rebels or the Italian army.

Highlights include:

• Unique perspectives like an African-American Hellfighter and Bedouin warrior woman.
• Tank warfare mission letting you command a lumbering heavy armor vehicle.
• Gorgeous vistas as biplanes dogfight or battleships shell shorelines.
• Excellent voice acting guising you between stories.
• Varied gameplay from stealth to vehicle sections to close combat.

The emotional storytelling received huge praise from reviewers. It‘s absolutely worth experiencing the singleplayer even if you never touch multiplayer, thanks to the production values that capture the essence of The Great War.

What Does Battlefield 1‘s DLC Include?

Two major expansions added new maps and gear to Battlefield 1 after launch:

They Shall Not Pass

• Release Date – March 2017
• Content: 4 new maps set during the Battle of France along with the Char 2C super-heavy tank, the devastating trench raider elite soldier class, and the tactical Operations game mode still popular today.

In the Name of the Tsar

• Release Date – September 2017
• Content: 4 maps located in the Russian Civil War with the Russian Empire as a new playable faction, plus the heavily-armed Ilya-Muromets bomber plane.

The Premium Pass bundled all Battlefield 1 DLC content together for $49.99, though the expansions can be purchased separately as well.

There have also been several free updates adding weapons like Burton LMR light machine gun or maps like Prise de Tahure set during the Nivelle Offensive.

How Does Battlefield 1 Compare to Other Series Entries?

Within the lengthy Battlefield series catalog, Battlefield 1 stands out for taking the bold leap to a World War I setting and introducing fresh innovations like Operations mode:

As you can see, Battlefield 1 remains one of the most creatively risky entries thanks to its World War I setting and thematic commitment to trench warfare. In a franchise known for modern combat, going back over 100 years into the past kept Battlefield 1 feeling fresh.

Let‘s Recap the Key Takeaways…

Phew, that covers everything you need to know about PlayStation Plus and Battlefield 1! Let‘s do a speedy recap:

• Battlefield 1 is currently NOT free with any standard PS Plus subscription. It has never been part of the monthly games lineup since releasing in 2016.

• It was briefly free temporarily via the PS5 PlayStation Plus Collection from Nov 2020 to May 2021, but this was discontinued.

• Occasional PlayStation Plus discounts can make Battlefield 1 up to 60% off for members. Best to watch for holiday sales or franchise anniversaries for the lowest pricing.

• An EA Play membership provides access to the Battlefield 1 base game only for $4.99/month. The expansions require upgrading to EA Play Pro.

• Other Battlefield titles like Battlefield 4, Battlefield Hardline and Battlefield V have been offered for free to PS Plus members in the past.

• With over 5,000 daily players on PS4, Battlefield 1 remains decently populated years later. Worth playing for the stellar solo campaign too.

So while not gratis, Battlefield 1 remains a phenomenal FPS experience that all PlayStation owners should absolutely have on their radar, especially when discounted for PS Plus members. I hope this guide gave you clarity on the PlayStation Plus membership options relevant to Battlefield 1 so you can experience this iconic entry in the Battlefield saga!

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to provide additional tips and guidance for getting the most out of your PlayStation Plus membership.