Criminal Syndicate

Lore & Background

The Criminal Syndicate first gained prominence as a playable faction in downloadable content for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and later became a staple in Battlefield 4's single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. They are depicted as a loose coalition of mercenaries and traffickers who operate independently of major world powers, often complicating missions by introducing unpredictable variables. Visually, they are distinct from the US or Russian forces, sporting mismatched tactical gear, civilian clothing mixed with armor, and weapons that range from standard military issue to scavenged, modified firearms. Their vehicle variants frequently include unmarked transport trucks, stolen armored personnel carriers, and heavily modified civilian vehicles designed for urban guerrilla warfare. In the lore of the series, they represent the criminalization of war zones. They do not seek victory in a traditional sense but rather aim to maintain a state of perpetual conflict where they can profit from arms dealing and resource extraction.

In Their Own Story

The dust settles over the abandoned port of Shanghai, but the silence is short-lived. A convoy of unmarked trucks rumbles through the ruins, their cargo crates stamped with no national flag. Inside, a warlord checks his watch, not for a meeting time, but for the arrival of a buyer from a rival faction. He knows the US Marines are sweeping the district and the Russian forces are holding the perimeter, but he doesn't care. To him, they are just obstacles to be bypassed or sold out. As the first shot rings out in the distance, he smiles; chaos is his only true ally.

Reader's Guide

The Criminal Syndicate first gained prominence as a playable faction in downloadable content for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and later became a staple in Battlefield 4's single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. They are depicted as a loose coalition of mercenaries and traffickers who operate independently of major world powers, often complicating missions by introducing unpredictable variables. Visually, they are distinct from the US or Russian forces, sporting mismatched tactical gear, civilian clothing mixed with armor, and weapons that range from standard military issue to scavenged, modified firearms. Their vehicle variants frequently include unmarked transport trucks, stolen armored personnel carriers, and heavily modified civilian vehicles designed for urban guerrilla warfare. In the lore of the series, they represent the criminalization of war zones. They do not seek victory in a traditional sense but rather aim to maintain a state of perpetual conflict where they can profit from arms dealing and resource extraction.

Did You Know?

• The Criminal Syndicate first appeared as a playable faction in downloadable content for Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
• They later became a staple faction in Battlefield 4's single-player campaign and multiplayer modes.
• The Syndicate is depicted as a loose coalition of mercenaries and traffickers who operate independently of major world powers.
• Their visual design features mismatched tactical gear, civilian clothing mixed with armor, and scavenged or modified firearms.
• In the lore, they aim to maintain perpetual conflict to profit from arms dealing and resource extraction.