What it is
Battlefield 3 is a modern military first-person shooter from DICE, released for Xbox 360 in 2011. Its campaign delivers a tightly scripted story across several international locations, while its celebrated multiplayer was built around large maps, destructible environments, vehicles and squad play. That online side is now historical on Xbox 360: EA closed the console servers on 7 November 2024, leaving the campaign available but removing competitive multiplayer and co-op.
- UK release
- Friday, 28 October 2011
- Platform
- Xbox 360; backwards compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via compatible disc
- Developer
- EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE)
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- UK price
- £39.99 Limited Edition at launch; £49.99 Premium Edition in September 2012
- PEGI
- 16 — Bad Language, Online Game, Violence
- Genre
- Shooter
- Engine
- Frostbite 2
- Game Pass/PS Plus
- PC version available through EA Play, including PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate; no current Xbox 360 service
- Online mode
- No — Xbox 360 multiplayer and co-op servers closed on 7 November 2024
Story and setting
The campaign puts you in the boots of US Marines during a fictional modern conflict involving terrorism, military coups and the threat of nuclear weapons. Sergeant Henry Blackburn is questioned about a disastrous operation, with the story moving between interrogation-room scenes and missions in places including Paris, Tehran and New York.
It is a linear, heavily scripted campaign built around set pieces rather than Battlefield’s usual open-ended combat. There are some memorable moments, including urban firefights, tank operations and an aerial sequence, but the story was widely criticised at launch for its familiar characters, restrictive level design and uneven pacing. Battlefield 3 also includes six short co-op missions designed for two players, though those missions now require a platform where the relevant online service still operates.
How it plays
Battlefield 3’s strongest feature was always its team-based combat. The four classes are Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon, each offering a different role through weapons, gadgets and equipment. Medics can revive and resupply teammates, Engineers repair or destroy vehicles, Support players provide ammunition and suppressive fire, while Recon focuses on long-range weapons and spotting.
The Frostbite 2 engine gives the game its defining sense of scale. Walls and cover can be damaged or destroyed, vehicles range from Humvees and tanks to helicopters and jets, and the sound design makes distance and direction matter. Conquest and Rush remain the main attractions, supported by Team Deathmatch, Squad Rush and Squad Deathmatch. The Xbox 360 version shipped with nine core multiplayer maps and supports battles of up to 24 players, rather than the 64-player matches available on PC.
DLC and post-launch support
Battlefield 3 received five major expansion packs: Back to Karkand, Close Quarters, Armored Kill, Aftermath and End Game. Together they added 20 maps, 20 weapons, 10 vehicles and four game modes, alongside new assignments, camos, dog tags and other unlocks. Back to Karkand revisits maps from Battlefield 2, Close Quarters focuses on infantry combat in compact indoor spaces, Armored Kill expands the vehicle battles, Aftermath is set in earthquake-ravaged Tehran, and End Game adds faster vehicle-focused maps and Capture the Flag.
The game also received substantial patches after release. Later updates added features including Squad Obliteration and improved matchmaking options for ranked servers, while addressing balance and technical problems reported at launch. The Xbox 360 version is therefore best understood as the final patched game with its expansion content, not the less stable launch build reviewed in October 2011.
Xbox 360 performance and current status
The Xbox 360 release uses two discs: one for the campaign and one for multiplayer and co-op. The second disc also contains an optional high-definition texture installation. It is strongly recommended for consoles with a hard drive, as the uninstalled texture set is noticeably softer. The 360 version also has smaller maps and a 24-player limit compared with the PC edition.
As of 1 October 2026, EA’s Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 online services for Battlefield 3 have been shut down, so there is no functioning multiplayer, server browser or online co-op on this version. EA also removed the game and its related console DLC from digital storefronts on 31 July 2024. Battlefield 3 remains backwards compatible on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S when using a compatible Xbox 360 disc, but the server shutdown still applies. The practical route to the game is a second-hand physical copy, with the campaign playable offline.
Editions, UK price and reception
In the UK, the Limited Edition launched at £39.99 on Xbox 360 through GAME and GameStation. It included the Physical Warfare Pack and a code for the Back to Karkand expansion. The Battlefield 3 Premium Edition followed on 13 September 2012 at £49.99, bundling the base game, all five expansions and the Multiplayer Head-Start Kit. Those are historical launch prices rather than current recommended prices, and there is no active Xbox 360 pre-order or official digital purchase option.
The critical response was strong overall but uneven across modes. GameSpot awarded the Xbox 360 version 8.5/10, praising its varied multiplayer, vehicles, maps and teamwork while finding the campaign disappointing. Eurogamer gave it 8/10 and IGN scored it 9/10. The Xbox 360 version’s Metacritic average settled at 84/100. The broad consensus was clear: Battlefield 3 was an excellent multiplayer shooter held back by a weaker campaign, technical glitches and the compromises required by the Xbox 360 hardware.
Battlefield 3: your questions
Is Battlefield 3 still online on Xbox 360?
No. EA shut down Battlefield 3’s Xbox 360 online services on 7 November 2024, so multiplayer and online co-op no longer work on the console version.
Can you play Battlefield 3 on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S?
Yes, the Xbox 360 version is backwards compatible when played from a compatible disc. The campaign remains playable, but the Xbox 360 online servers are still closed.
Does Battlefield 3 have a single-player campaign?
Yes. It follows US Marines during a fictional modern conflict, with missions in locations including Paris, Tehran and New York. The campaign is entirely playable offline.
What is included in Battlefield 3 Premium Edition?
It includes the base game, all five expansion packs, the Multiplayer Head-Start Kit and related Premium items. The expansions are Back to Karkand, Close Quarters, Armored Kill, Aftermath and End Game.
Should I install the Xbox 360 HD texture pack?
Yes, if you have a hard drive with enough free space. The texture pack is supplied on the multiplayer disc and noticeably improves image quality compared with the default installation.
