Meanwhile, Admiral Chang, the main antagonist, looks to overthrow the Chinese government by blaming the United States for the assassination of Jin Jié, the country's future leader and voice of peace. While the War of 2014 has ended, tensions between the United States and Russia are at an all-time high. The singleplayer campaign is set in the year 2020, six years after the events of the previous game. While crates hold default weapons, collectible weapons may be used whenever they are acquired and level specific weapons may be used once a specific mission assignment has been completed by obtaining enough points in a level. Weapon crates are found throughout all levels, allowing players to obtain ammo and switch weapons. Collectible Weapons return along with the introduction of Collectible Dog Tags which can be used in multiplayer.

The singleplayer features assignments that require specific actions and unlock weapons for use in multiplayer upon completion. The singleplayer also features three separate endings based on the player's choice in the final mission. Players can now spot enemy targets to notify the AI of Tombstone squad. Levels are now built in sandbox-style environments, allowing players more freedom to complete objectives. The singleplayer campaign features many elements from past installments, taking place in numerous locations across the world. Players now have more survival capabilities, such as countering melee attacks from the front while standing or crouching, shooting with their sidearm while swimming, and diving underwater to avoid enemy detection. Players can now use dual-scoped weapons, including weapons with different firing modes (e.g. Many elements from Battlefield 3 as well as other past installments return, such as the same four class system, a similar heads-up display, kill cams, as well as increased destruction.

Battlefield 4 unlock criteria