PlanetSide 2's Battle Island to bring smaller scale skirmishes with an e-sports focus

For most multiplayer FPS's a 96-player map would be considered pretty big. For PlanetSide 2 and it's continent wide military manoeuvres, it's a vast reduction. It's one being made with a view to better supporting e-sports - reducing the size of the conflict to something more suited to competitive play. SOE have produced a video showcasing the first planned map, Nexus.

From the video's description: "The vast interior areas are an ideal layout for team battle. Beware of ambushes in the frozen canyon, intense infantry action in the ice cave and fierce tank battles in the alpine forest."

This actually strikes me as a good idea. E-sports aside, it'll be nice to have a dedicated arena for those times when you're not looking to engage in the constant ebb and flow of each faction's continental tide. Part of me suspects that this is also a move prompted by PlanetSide 2's upcoming PS4 release - adding in a more familiar multiplayer experience as a way to build up towards the main action. As long as the resulting mode also works as an enjoyable respite, then it's a welcome addition, whatever the reasons.

A release date is yet to be announced for the Nexus update.

Phil has been writing for PC Gamer for nearly a decade, starting out as a freelance writer covering everything from free games to MMOs. He eventually joined full-time as a news writer, before moving to the magazine to review immersive sims, RPGs and Hitman games. Now he leads PC Gamer's UK team, but still sometimes finds the time to write about his ongoing obsessions with Destiny 2, GTA Online and Apex Legends. When he's not levelling up battle passes, he's checking out the latest tactics game or dipping back into Guild Wars 2. He's largely responsible for the whole Tub Geralt thing, but still isn't sorry.