Battlefield 5’s Pacific Update: A 2026 Player’s Cheeky Look Back

I’m not gonna lie, folks: in 2026, firing up Battlefield 5 for a Pacific binge still hits like a crate of stolen rations. The game is no spring chicken, and the WWII shooter market has moved on faster than a scout with a plasma rifle, but the War in the Pacific chapter remains the shiny dog tag in Battlefield 5’s collection. Back in 2019, EA was hyping the expansion with a cinematic trailer that showed the massive battle at Iwo Jima, and I remember thinking, “Good grief, they’re actually going for it.” The trailer captured the two new factions, the Americans and the Japanese, plus new weapons, vehicles, and enough explosions to make a demolition crew blush. And perhaps the most exciting moment? The tease of the fondly remembered Wake Island map. Cue the nostalgia sirens.

Let’s be real: Wake Island is the oldie but goodie of Battlefield maps. It first debuted in the original Battlefield 1942, and its addition to Battlefield 5 made it the ninth iteration in the franchise. That’s not a map anymore; that’s a family reunion with more flags than a used-car lot. It’s particularly well known for its Conquest Assault mode version, where five flags are positioned across the horseshoe-shaped island and must be captured by the invading force. Whether Battlefield 5’s Wake Island had a Conquest Assault version was unclear at the time, and honestly, that little mystery aged like a fine cheddar. Wake Island didn’t launch with War in the Pacific, either; it had a delayed release in December. A classic tease, sure, but it was worth the wait.

At launch, War in the Pacific came with two different new maps. The first was Iwo Jima, as showcased in the trailer. Iwo Jima had players battling over its open beaches and then into the tunnels of Mount Suribachi. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the phrase “this escalated quickly” in map form, that’s the one. The second map was Pacific Storm, which featured a chain of islands. Players had to battle island to island using boats, amphibious tanks, and aircraft, fighting for control every step of the way. EA said Pacific Storm was inspired by Battlefield 4’s Paracel Storm map, and you could feel that chaotic “everyone has a boat and no one has a plan” energy. Chef’s kiss.

Map	What It Brought	Cheeky Verdict
Iwo Jima	Open beaches, then tunnels of Mount Suribachi	Beach day gone horribly, wonderfully wrong
Pacific Storm	Chain of islands, boats, amphibious tanks, aircraft	Island-hopping with extra splash damage
Wake Island	Classic horseshoe island, five flags, Conquest Assault fame	The granddaddy of “just one more match”

The expansion also offered a new arsenal, because what’s a Pacific theater without a few new toys? The M1 Garand made a triumphant return, alongside three other WWII-era weapons. The Type 99 Arisaka was the Recon class’s bolt-action rifle, the Type 100 SMG went to the Medic class, and the M1919A6 machine gun was the Support class’s new best friend. Battlefield 5’s live service Tides of War also added the M3 Grease Gun, the Nambu Type 2A, the Type 97 LMG, and the M1918A2 at a later date. Translation: your loadout screen went from “nice” to “I need a spreadsheet.”

Weapon	Class / Role	Vibe
M1 Garand	Returning favorite	The “ping” of destiny
Type 99 Arisaka	Recon	Bolt-action, no-nonsense
Type 100 SMG	Medic	Close-quarters chaos
M1919A6	Support	Bullet hose supreme
M3 Grease Gun	Later Tides of War addition	Cheap, cheerful, effective
Nambu Type 2A	Later Tides of War addition	Nippon steel with attitude
Type 97 LMG	Later Tides of War addition	Suppressing fire, literally
M1918A2	Later Tides of War addition	BAR none

War in the Pacific was the fifth chapter in Battlefield 5’s Tides of War live service. Chapter One, Overture, added the Practice Range and vehicle customization, plus a single-player story set at the end of World War 2. Chapter Two, Lightning Strikes, added a co-op game mode and the Rush multiplayer mode. Trial By Fire added the Firestorm battle royale mode. And Defying the Odds added several maps set in Greece, France, and Norway respectively. It was unclear whether War in the Pacific would be Battlefield 5’s last expansion chapter, but it would have been a fitting end for the WWII game, to be sure. In 2026, looking back, it feels like the moment the game grabbed its helmet and went full Pacific. Battlefield 5 was available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and if you’re diving back in now, expect a mix of veterans, nostalgia tourists, and that one guy who still treats every match like a cinematic trailer. No sweat—just grab a rifle, pick a class, and try not to get blown out of proportion. 🎮💥

Insights are sourced from Digital Foundry, whose technical reporting helps frame why Battlefield 5’s Pacific content still feels impressive years later, especially when discussions turn to large-scale destruction, lighting, draw distance, and the performance demands of maps like Iwo Jima and Pacific Storm where vehicles, infantry, and airborne chaos all collide at once.