17 minutes of Battlefield 4 gameplay shows off the impressive Frostbite 3

Last night EA released the 17-minute gameplay demonstration of Battlefield 4's single player campaign. The lengthy video shows off the power of DICE's proprietary Frostbite 3 engine, giving fans a glimpse into the future of gaming — "a future that is more human, dramatic and believable than anything before it."

As you'll see in the video, environments in Battlefield 4 are huge and destructible. No one is safe, not even in a building because, as we've learned with Battlefield 3, buildings are no match for a tank. Impressive tech aside, Battlefield 4's single player mode will offer some social aspects including tracking your progress, which is designed to add an element of "persistence and friendly competition to the campaign."

The actual demo begins as the player — Recker — opens his eyes to discover he is trapped in a rapidly sinking car with three of his squad mates. While watching pay particular attention to the details — the individual water droplets, the emotional range of the characters, the future of gaming. A brief excerpt from the game's press release reads:

Players will learn how to work together in both the Campaign and Multiplayer, issuing squad orders and comparing achievements in both experiences. Adventure and Competition will unfold through a series of beautifully crafted locations constructed with some of the best art and sound design in modern shooters. All of this is only possible with Frostbite 3 — a new standard for interactive entertainment in 2013

Interestingly, the "future" of gaming had no mention of Battlefield 4 on next-generation consoles like the PS4 or next Xbox. As of right now, the game is only available for pre-order on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

For a more in-depth analysis of what was shown off last night, check out our Battlefield 4 preview.