DICE - Developer of the up-coming planned hit Battlefield 4 has recently made it public that there will not be platoon functionality in the game upon release. The source of this statement can be found here. The statement is as follows:

If you’ve been playing the Battlefield 4 Beta, you might be wondering: “Where are the Platoons from Battlefield 3?” We are looking at introducing Platoons for Battlefield 4 in early 2014. We know this is a very popular feature for Battlefield players that have been used by thousands of fans, and as such we are preparing to bring it back into Battlefield 4. As we do this, we’re also very eager to hear what new functions you would like to see. Battlelog has always been an organic service that constantly changes and grows together with you, the community – so please; share your thoughts on the BF4 forums! We’ll be able to share more of our plans for the upcoming Battlefield 4 Platoons feature later.

What does this mean for us as gamers?

• No platoons on Battlelog
• No clan tags within the game
• No clan vs clan matches via Battlelog without the platoon functionality
• DICE developed a 5 v 5 gamemode geared around eSports, yet we don't have platoon functionality.
• If Battlelog was as organic as they say in the above statement, why is Clan Support not featured upon release?

It does not take an experienced gamer to realize the problems with this announcement. It is more than apparent that DICE and EA have a lack of repect for gamers as consumers when such an important feature is not being included within the game upon release. DICE promotes this game as a team based game, where working together wins matches, and not playing as a lone wolf, yet, here we are without the most important ability that would allow us to do this. 

Please do not mistake this petition as an issue with the BETA itself. We are not talking about weapon variances, issues with recoil, levolution, or other issues that can easily be modified and were probably already modified. Remember the BETA itself is most likely an older build that had to be submitted to Microsoft and Sony a long time ago in order to be made available in October. What we are talking about here is a missing key feature of the multiplayer experience for Battlefield. If you are in a team, have been on a team, run your own team, or belong to any platoon of the sort on Battlelog - THIS AFFECTS YOU.

Additionally, we had platoon support with Battlefield 3 on Battlelog, but we won't see it with Battlefield 4? How does this even remotely make sense? Put a stop to the nonsense now. Make your voice be heard. These are our demands as consumers and gamers alike:

1. DICE must provide a clear statement on why Platoon support could not be included in the 4th release of their game where playing as a team is promoted as one of the biggest factors. 
2. DICE must acknowledge that not including Platoon support in this game at release is a complete failure on their behalf to provide an experience they tout as an important aspect of their game (the teamwork).
3. DICE must include basic platoon support for Battlefield 4 upon release, even if it must be a Day 1 Patch. This support should be equivalent to the ability to establish a platoon on Battlelog, members must be able to wear the designated clan tag on Battlelog and within the game, and support a hierarchy to at least the standard currently available on Battlelog for BF3. Ideally the system should reflect and work as it currently does. In an effort to understand time constraints and coding we as Battlefield supports agree to accept that "Clan Battles" may not be available via Battlelog upon release. We also feel this is an ideal compromise as the current system needs reworked a bit.
4. DICE must include in their statement that they acknowledge the error on their part and that the above mentioned BASIC abilities will be available Day 1 of release and that if it is not available they, in agreement and support of EA (Electronic Arts), will refund consumers money for false advertising of said features. 

I hope gamers make a stand. Let us call out a company who continues to make money hand over fist via private server rentals, premium, boost packs, and yet fail to provide a key feature that represents a huge portion of the game. If DICE/EA fail to respond to this petition by October 20th, 2013 we, the signers of this petition, agree to cancel our BF4 pre-orders and will refuse purchase of the game.