Another BIG Battlefield 3 patch coming this week

More fixes, more balancing - that's the name of the game for Battlefield 3 in the lead up to the Back to Karkand DLC release.

The long-awaited Back to Karkand Battlefield 3 map pack is coming on December 13, but a large part of the content for it will be coming down the pipe in the latest patch, due on December 6th (US time).

It's going to be a big, one, too - about 2GB. EA admit, via the Battlelog, that it's not ideal, and that future updates won't be so weighty. However, there's also a lot of looked for changes coming in the patch, too, such as making AA vehicles easier to kill, while making jet cannon more deadly - two massive things, given that there's a lot of angst over just how OP/UP those two vehciles are.

Here's the full list.

Bugfixes

• Fixed a problem with spawn timer now showing blue border on startup and lost spawn point
• Fixed a problem where player who joined queuing on End of round got spawn screen stuck on screen, but unable to do anything with it untill next round loaded
• Fixed a problem where camera would change to 3rd person on killcam when killcam was turned off in server settings
• Fixed stat references on several dogtags
• Fixed for surveillance ribbon not counting TUGS
• Fixed a missing combat area lines on the minimap for Grand Bazaar conquest small
• Moved a tank spawn in US base on Caspian Border so it would not be destroyed by a falling tree
• Fixed a problem where placing C4 with the russians soldier was playing US faction VO
• Fixed a problem where TV guided missiles could be shot into its own helicopter and destroy it
• Fixed a problem when attempting to fire lock on weapons without a target
• Tweaked the chat, it should now be a bit easier to read
• Fixed several vehicles that did not properly shoot rockets and guns towards their predictive sights
• Fixed the G17 Supressed Laser not working properly
• Added alternate HUD colors to help colorblinds
• Added a network interpolation setting. This allows users with good bandwidth reduce latency, but might increase some stuttering. The user can find what works best for his connection by tweaking the slider.
• Increased the Spawn protection radius on TDM
• Fixed a problem with smoke on land vehicles, Missiles should now miss more often
• Fixed a problem where users could end up with IRNV scope in any vehicle
• Fixed a problem where player dies if vaulting over a ledge and into water while sprinting
• Fixed several crashes and increased general stability
• Fixed a problem where the user was unable to revive two players that have the bodies one over the other
• Fixed so you can assign an axis and use as a digital input. This makes it possible for the player (on pc) to assign one of the sticks on a gameped to be used for throttle/brake.
• Fixed a problem with the Kill camera acting up when suiciding from parachute
• Fixed air radar was showing to much. now lasertagged, heatsignature above threshold, enemy missiles and capture points are only visible on air radar
• Fixed a problem where the game would enter a technical hang if the user pressed pause menu and tilde at the same time
• Fixed a problem where you could get green flashes on screen
• You can now reassign cycle weapons
• Fixed so the weapon zooms automatically after bipod deploy is gone when using zoom toggle
• Fixed a problem where the parachute would stay stuck in air if the owner was killed

Balance Tweaks

• Fixed several weapons so they are properly suppressed and hide the player on the minimap when fired.
• Tweaked Tactical Light so it is not as blinding over longer ranges.
• Tweaked the IRNV scope so it is limited to usage only at close range.
• Reduced heat masking effectiveness of Spec Ops Camo.
• Fixed a bug where Ammo spec would give additional 40mm grenades instead of Frag spec.
• Increased the number of additional 40mm grenades from Frag spec.
• Fixed so AT mines only live for 20 seconds after a player dies to prevent infinite mines. (We want to make a different fix in the future, it’s in JIRA).
• Increased the Time to Live on sniper caliber rounds to allow extreme distance shots.
• Fixed several weapon descriptions, calibers, and fire rates. The weapons themselves have not changed.
• Fixed so the M9 and MP443 pistol can be equipped by the opposing faction when it is unlocked at 100 kills.
• Fixed Laser Guided Missiles missing their targets if the target is moving too fast.
• Reduced the effectiveness of Stealth on Air Vehicles.
• Reduced the effectiveness of Beam Scanning for Jets.
• Reduced the damage done to Armored Vehicles and Infantry from AA guns.
• Increased the damage RPGs and Tank shells do to AA vehicles.
• Slightly decreased the accuracy for all weapons on fully automatic, burst fire is now preferable at mid to long range.
• Increased the effective accuracy of long bursts for LMGs when using a bipod.
• Slightly increased the range of the 44magnum bullets.
• Increased the close range damage of 4.6x30mm and 5.7x28mm bullets.
• Increased the reload time of the Mortar from 3.5sec to 4.8sec and increased the time it takes before a shell hits the ground.
• Reduced the aimed accuracy bonus given by a Suppressor for the MP7, P90, PP2000, PP-19, and UMP45.
• Increased the range and FOV for designating targets with the SOFLAM and vehicle Laser Designators.
• Decreased the effectiveness of 12g FRAG ammo when equipped on semi-automatic and automatic shotguns.
• Slightly Increased the power of Fighter Jet Cannons against all vehicle targets, especially Helicopters.
• Decreased the power of Miniguns against Jets and Helicopters.
• Increased the power of Stingers against Jets.
• Flares reload times for Jets and Helicopter Gunners have been increased.
• Tweaked the AN94 so its burst fire better conveys the real world advantage offered by this weapon.
• Added Single Shot to the AN94 as an available fire mode.
• Slightly increased the recoil on the M416 and removed the Burst Fire mode (this weapon incorrectly had burst fire, which was not authentic).
• Tweaked the spawns for TDM on Kharg Island, Grand Bazaar, Caspian Border, Seine Crossing, Operation Firestorm, Damavand Peak and Noshahar Canals
• Moved a tank spawn in US base on Caspian Border so it would not be destroyed by a falling tree
• Tweaked the Gas station Capture area on Conquest on Caspian Border
• Tweaked the max vehicle height on Noshahar Canals