Battlefield 1 paid DLC isn’t scheduled to drop until March, but an art leak from DICE weapon designer Peter Olofsson Hermanrud may reveal what’s next for the popular shooter. While it’s since been removed, Hermanrud’s ArtStation page allegedly featured a rather detailed mockup of a crossbow-grenade launcher combo.
The design was first discovered and recapped by YouTube’s Westie in a recent video. Right next to mockups of confirmed Battlefield 1 guns like the Cei-Regotti, Harlem Hellfighter trench shotgun and the SMLE was the strange firearm shown in the clip. It hadn’t been included in the game up to this point, so what was it doing so close to these other identifiable renders?
The working theory, of course, is that this weapon may be featured as future DLC. We know DICE plans to dish out a free map later this month, and paying customers can also enjoy the They Shall Not Pass expansion in March. Given that this image has cropped up fairly close to both of those arrivals, the weapon could be part of either set or possibly something later.
Like many facets of Battlefield 1, there are questions regarding the gun’s historical accuracy. The clip notes this exact grenade-crossbow setup didn’t exist in World War I, but crossbows were used by the Germans as a propulsion device to launch projectiles during that time period. In fact, the British and French crafted a catapult of their own to defend against it. What we see in this render, then, is the same pattern DICE has established. There are roots in realism, but alterations make the artifact more suited for modern gaming.
While totally in the realm of speculation, it’s suggested that this DLC may be a gadget for the medic class that’s sorely missing alternate methods of attack. Mines seep into other facets of the game, so a grenade launcher could be a healer’s answer to that.
As with any leak, however, there are contingencies. Since we didn’t see the graphic ourselves, we can’t validate it. Assuming it’s true, that doesn’t even guarantee Hermanrud and crew will add to the game. At the very least, all we can suggest is that it’s probably being considered. The sudden removal of the evidence is interesting nonetheless.
We’d also be remiss if we didn’t bring up a reddit leak we reported last week. It claimed that the December update is set to launch on Dec. 13 with the Giant’s Shadow map and a host of UI improvements. The source isn’t quite as concrete, however.
Battlefield 1 is available now on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
What do you think of this weapon leak? Is it real, and it it something you’d like to see in DLC? Tell us in the comments section!
