Battlefield 4 cuts server lag in an update two years after launch

A Battlefield 4 update with a "massive impact on the second-to-second gameplay" will start rolling out on February 9 on PS4 and Xbox One, a scant 2 years, 3 months, and 11 days after the game came out. This may be the best time to jump back in yet if you've been absent for most of Battlefield 4's reign as elder statesman of online shooting.

The update will increase the tickrate of all "small" servers (32 players or less) from 30hz to 45hz. Servers updating 50 percent faster should mean fewer frustrating scenarios like getting your head popped by a sniper right after you run behind a wall. Unfortunately, you won't see the same improvement for 64-player matches; DICE said even small tickrate increases caused too many issues for larger scale matches.

PS4 and Xbox One players in the North American East server pool will start seeing the update at 4 am EST on February. If all goes well, DICE will roll the changes out globally at an unspecified time on February 11.

Whether through new maps, server tweaks, or absurdly complicated Easter eggs, DICE has done a laudable job of supporting Battlefield 4 long past the average triple-A shooter's expiration date. Hopefully the next Battlefield, planned for holiday 2016, enjoys a similarly active post-season-pass lifestyle.

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