Battlefield 2042 Explained

Battlefield 2042 should not be confused with Battlefield 2142.

Battlefield 2042
Developer:DICE
Publisher:Electronic Arts
Series:Battlefield
Director:Lars Gustavsson
Engine:Frostbite
Released:November 19, 2021
Genre:First-person shooter
Modes:Multiplayer

Battlefield 2042 is a 2021 first-person shooter, developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. The twelfth main installment in the Battlefield series, it was released on November 19, 2021, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. 2042 is the first installment since 2006's Battlefield 2142 to solely be a multiplayer video game, without a single-player campaign. It is also the first installment to feature support for cross-platform play.

The game received mixed reviews from critics and a more negative reception from players for its technical issues, lack of features, and certain changes to the gameplay. The game failed to meet the sales expectations of Electronic Arts. A new Battlefield installment, under the head of Motive Studio, is in development.[1]

Gameplay

Similar to its predecessors, Battlefield 2042 is a multiplayer-focused first-person shooter. As the game is set in the near future, it features futuristic weapons and gadgets like deployable turrets and drones, as well as vehicles that players can control.[2] Players can request a vehicle air-drop to any location.[3] The game introduced a "Plus" system which allows players to customize their weapons on the spot. The class system is significantly overhauled and removes the four defined classes from previous games; instead, players can assume control of a specialist who falls under the four traditional Battlefield gameplay classes of Assault, Engineer, Medic, and Recon. These characters can wield any of the weapons and gadgets that a player has unlocked. Each operator has their own unique skills and gadgets. For instance, one of the specialists, Emma "Sundance" Rosier, is equipped with a wingsuit, while another, Maria Falck, is equipped with a healing pistol.[4] There are extreme weather effects such as tornadoes and sandstorms which may affect gameplay.[5] The game featured seven maps at launch, including 'Breakaway', the largest map in the history of the Battlefield franchise.[6]

The game has three main gameplay modes. "All-Out Warfare" encompasses "Breakthrough" and "Conquest", two staple modes of the series. In Conquest, two teams combat against each other to capture control points; once all control points in a sector are captured, the team controls said sector. In Breakthrough, one team must try to capture another team's control points, while another team must defend them.[7] Both modes can be played with and against AI-controlled players.[8] The PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S versions support matches with up to 128 players, whereas the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions support up to 64 players.[9] For the first time in the series, Battlefield 2042 features support for cross-platform play with the PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S versions. While the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions also support the feature, it is restricted to only players on the two aforementioned platforms.[10]

The second main mode included in the game is a community-driven platform called "Battlefield Portal". Portal allows players to create customized multiplayer modes and features select maps from past Battlefield games such as Battlefield 1942, , and Battlefield 3.[11] In addition, players can modify core gameplay elements such as health, weapon loadouts, and movement through a web-based scripting application.[12]

The third mode is a cooperative multiplayer mode called "Hazard Zone". In this mode, players are divided into teams, and they must compete with each other to retrieve and extract data drives from the debris of fallen satellites. These data drives are guarded by enemy combatants controlled by AI-controlled players. Players earn "dark market credits" after successfully extracting a data drive. These credits can be spent on purchasing new weapons and upgrades in this mode.[13]

Synopsis

Setting and characters

Battlefield 2042 takes place after the events of Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4, exactly 22 years later. Unlike previous installments, it does not have a single-player campaign. Instead, the story is told through multiplayer gameplay.[14] Decades of devastation caused by collapsing economies, rising sea levels and broken alliances (including the collapse of the European Union due to Germany's bankruptcy and subsequent refugees known as "No-Pats") come to a peak in 2040 when a Kessler syndrome event occurs, causing 70% of orbiting satellites to crash to Earth. The resulting permanent global blackout causes tensions between the United States and Russia to skyrocket, with war breaking out by the year 2042.

Outside of multiplayer gameplay, the story is also told on Electronic Arts' official website for Battlefield 2042.[15] A standalone short film titled Exodus, which depicts events leading up to the 2042 war and features returning Battlefield 4 character Irish, premiered on August 12, 2021, via Battlefields YouTube channel.[16]

The 10 specialists announced were:[17] [18]

New specialists were added every season from season 1 onwards, with season 4 introducing the last specialist to the game. Specialists introduced in post-launch patches include:[19]

Development

The game is developed by series developer DICE in Sweden, with Ripple Effect Studios, EA Gothenburg, and Criterion Games assisting development. It has the largest development team for a Battlefield game, and Criterion had to put the production of the next Need for Speed game on hold in order to assist DICE.[20] Unlike previous installments in the series, the game does not have a traditional single-player campaign. This allowed DICE to allocate more resources to develop the multiplayer portion, which was considered to be the studio's area of expertise. Instead, the story is told through the specialists, which are named and fully-voiced characters who have their own stories and perspective. The narrative was described as "evolving" as new operators and locations would be added to the game post-release.[21] While the narrative of the game depicts a world ravaged by climate apocalypse, DICE added that the game was not a commentary on climate change and the team only chose this setting for "gameplay reasons".[22]

As each match can now accommodate more players, the team had significantly expanded the size of the maps. However, instead of simply creating huge maps, the locations in the game were designed based on the idea of "clustering" in order to funnel players towards a particular direction where they can engage with other players. Daniel Berlin, the design director of the game, described the maps as "several smaller maps stitched together". The decision to include artificial intelligence for the All-out Warfare mode was made early during the game's development as the team believed that it would be a good entry point for beginners.[23] Ripple Effect, formerly DICE Los Angeles, led the development of Battlefield Portal. The game runs on the latest iteration of the Frostbite engine.[24]

A short work-in-progress demonstration of the game was shown at the 2020 EA Play Live event, teasing large scale battles and detailed facial animations.[25] [26] The game was announced on June 9, 2021. An open beta took place from October 6 to 9, 2021,[27] ahead of the game's launch on November 19, 2021, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The launch was delayed from its original October 22 release date due to impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[28]

Marketing

The game's first trailer was released on June 9, 2021; it featured a remix of Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart" by 2WEI.[29] The trailer was noted for including in its climatic moment a "rendezook" - a classic Battlefield trick shot whereupon during a dogfight, a player ejects from their jet, shoots down their pursuer using a bazooka while airborne, and then re-enters their jet. [30]

Post-launch content

EA plans to support the game extensively with downloadable content after launch; Battlefield 2042 utilizes the battle pass model.[31] Gameplay content would be free for all players, whereas players who purchased the battle pass would receive additional cosmetic items.[32] Before the release of Season 1, DICE released several updates for the game; Update 4.1 removed the 128-player Breakthrough mode, which was deemed to be too chaotic.[33] As of October 2023, DICE had released a total of six seasons.[34] On April 9, 2024, DICE announced that Season 7 would be the last official season, but it will continue to maintain the game.[35]

Seasons of Battlefield 2042! Season number! Season name! Release date! Description
Year 1
1Zero HourJune 9, 2022The update introduced new weapons and vehicles, a new map named "Exposure", set in the Canadian Rockies, and a new, Polish specialist named Ewelina Lis, who is equipped with a rocket launcher that can shoot player-guided projectiles. A 12-week battle pass was also included in season 1.[36] DICE also decided to shift development resources away from the Hazard Zone mode. While the mode will remain playable, no further content would be developed for it.[37]
2Master of ArmsAugust 30, 2022The content update introduced a new map called "Stranded", set in the Panama Canal, with its centerpiece being a shipwrecked tanker, new weapons, gadget and vehicles, and a new British specialist named Charlie Crawford, who is equipped with a Mounted Vulcan stationary minigun. The update also introduce weapons that were previously exclusive to the "Portal" mode to the main "All-Out Warfare" mode under the name "Vault Weapons", with the first two being the M16A3 assault rifle and the M60E4 light machine gun, originally from Battlefield 3.[38]
3EscalationNovember 22, 2022A new map set in Sweden titled "Spearhead" was introduced, with its centerpiece being two megafactories. Alongside the new map, new weapons, gadgets and vehicles, along with a new Egyptian specialist named Rasheed Zain, were introduced.[39] After the initial rollout of the update, which also saw the game be added to the EA Play subscription service, more changes are planned to roll out during the season, including a rework to the specialist system - which marks the return of the class system of past Battlefield titles - and reworks to the "Manifest" and "Breakaway" maps.[40] These map reworks were released as part of Update 3.1.[41] [42] In addition to these changes, future updates as part of Season 3 introduced more legacy "vault" weapons from both Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3, with Update 3.2 in particular introducing the aforementioned reintroduction of the class system.
4Eleventh Hour[43] February 28, 2023[44] This season added a new Spanish "recon" specialist named Camila Blasco. She is the last Specialist to be added to the game. New weapons and gadgetry, the new map "Flashpoint", set in the deserts of northern South Africa, and a new vehicle were also added. Throughout this season, more weapons from Battlefield 3 returned.[45]
Year 2
5New Dawn[46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AN UPDATE ON BATTLEFIELD 2042 AND WELCOMING MOTIVE STUDIO TO THE TEAM. Byron. Beede. Electronic Arts. April 9, 2024. April 9, 2024. April 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240409183919/https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-2042/news/whats-ahead-2042. live.
  2. These are the seven Battlefield 2042 maps that we've seen so far. Michael. Groff. Electronic Gaming Monthly. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610125930/https://egmnow.com/these-are-the-seven-battlefield-2042-maps-that-weve-seen-so-far/. live.
  3. Web site: Battlefield 2042 reveal trailer – 23 cool details we spotted. Jordan. Forward. PCGamesN. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610125937/https://www.pcgamesn.com/battlefield-2042/reveal-trailer-breakdown. live.
  4. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Specialists are Siege-like characters with unique abilities. Sherif. Saed. VG 247. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610125937/https://www.vg247.com/2021/06/09/battlefield-2042-specialists-unique-abilities-classes-siege-operators/. live.
  5. Web site: Battlefield 2042 revealed: 128 players, Siege-style characters, no singleplayer. Tyler. Wilde. PC Gamer. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210612035928/https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-2042-release-date-trailer-details/. live.
  6. Web site: June 2021. Alex Avard 09. Here's all the Battlefield 2042 maps included at launch, and what to expect from each. June 13, 2021. GamesRadar+. June 9, 2021. en. June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613212244/https://www.gamesradar.com/battlefield-2042-maps/. live.
  7. Web site: Battlefield 2042 is all-multiplayer warfare, coming in October. Michael. McWhertor. Polygon. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610192039/https://www.polygon.com/22525821/battlefield-2042-release-date-announcement-gameplay. live.
  8. Web site: Battlefield 2042's All-Out Warfare can be played with and against AI bots. Sherif. Saed. VG 247. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610152549/https://www.vg247.com/2021/06/09/battlefield-2042-all-out-warfare-ai-bots-co-op-pvp-pve/. live.
  9. Web site: Battlefield 2042 will host 128-player combat on PC, next-gen consoles Oct. 22. Sam. Machkoech. Ars Technica. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610222935/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/06/battlefield-2042-will-host-128-player-combat-on-pc-next-gen-consoles-oct-22/. live.
  10. Web site: Battlefield 2042 will have crossplay between PC and consoles . . 14 July 2021 . October 3, 2021 . October 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003015745/https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-2042-crossplay/ . live .
  11. News: Wilde . Tyler . 2021-11-03 . Here are the classic Battlefield maps, guns, and vehicles in Battlefield Portal . en . PC Gamer . 2022-09-12 . September 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220912124825/https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-portal-classic-maps-guns-vehicles/ . live .
  12. Web site: EA reveals crazy Battlefield: Portal sandbox mode for Battlefield 2042. July 22, 2021. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723014216/https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/22/ea-reveals-crazy-battlefield-portal-sandbox-mode-for-battlefield-2042/. live.
  13. Web site: Battlefield 2042: Hazard Zone Is a Squad-Based PvPvE Mode. Joe. Skrebels. IGN. October 14, 2021. November 13, 2021. November 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211113124029/https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-hazard-zone-pvpve-not-battle-royale. live.
  14. Web site: June 9, 2021. BF2042: No campaign, story told exclusively through multiplayer. June 13, 2021. TweakTown. en-US. June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613234932/https://www.tweaktown.com/news/79897/bf2042-no-campaign-story-told-exclusively-through-multiplayer/index.html. live.
  15. Web site: The World of 2042. EA.com. August 3, 2021. August 6, 2021. August 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803195726/https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-2042/the-world-of-battlefield-2042. live.
  16. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Exodus short film reveals a returning character from Battlefield 4. Connor. Sheridan. GamesRadar. August 13, 2021. August 21, 2021. August 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210821064426/https://www.gamesradar.com/battlefield-2042-exodus-short-film-reveals-a-returning-character-from-battlefield-4/. live.
  17. Web site: 2021-10-07. The full list of Battlefield 2042 Specialists so far. 2021-10-23. Windows Central. October 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023001112/https://www.windowscentral.com/battlefield-2042-specialists. live.
  18. Web site: 2021-10-21. Five new 'Battlefield 2042' specialists have been revealed. 2021-10-23. NME. en-GB. October 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023001112/https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/five-new-battlefield-2042-specialists-revealed-3076157. live.
  19. Web site: Mackay . Liam . 2022-06-08 . All Battlefield 2042 Specialists: Classes, Gadgets, abilities, Traits . 2022-09-02 . Charlie INTEL . en-US . September 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220902040327/https://charlieintel.com/every-battlefield-2042-specialist-gadgets-abilities-traits/107781/ . live .
  20. Web site: DICE shares Battlefield 6 update and says it has its 'biggest ever dev team'. Andy. Robinson. Video Games Chronicle. April 22, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610125930/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/dice-shares-battlefield-6-update-and-says-it-has-its-biggest-ever-dev-team/. live.
  21. Web site: Battlefield 2042 has no campaign and no battle royale mode. Martin. Robinson. Eurogamer. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611110825/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-06-09-battlefield-2042-will-have-no-campaign-and-no-battle-royale-mode. live.
  22. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Is Not Commentary On Climate Refugees Says Dev, Internet Disagrees. Nathan. Grayson. Kotaku. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610134634/https://kotaku.com/battlefield-2042-is-not-commentary-on-climate-refugees-1847066559. live.
  23. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Imagines A Huge Multiplayer Hellscape Of Climate Change. Phil. Hornshaw. GameSpot. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210609175050/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-2042-imagines-a-huge-multiplayer-hellscape-of-climate-change/1100-6492557/. live.
  24. Web site: Battlefield 2042 hands-on – it's back, and more tactical than ever . . 6 October 2021 . October 10, 2021 . October 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010084130/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/oct/06/battlefield-2042-hands-on-its-back-and-more-tactical-than-ever . live .
  25. Web site: EA teases next-gen games during EA Play, including BioWare and Battlefield titles. Sam. Loveridge. GamesRadar. June 19, 2020. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610125933/https://www.gamesradar.com/ea-teases-next-gen-games-during-ea-play-including-bioware-and-battlefield-titles/. live.
  26. News: Makuch . Eddie . June 23, 2020 . Battlefield 6 Will Make "Crazy Ambitious Ideas" Into Reality, EA Says . . June 10, 2021 . June 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610024544/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-6-will-make-crazy-ambitious-ideas-into/1100-6478782/ . live .
  27. News: Park. Morgan. 2021-10-06. How to get into the Battlefield 2042 open beta. en. PC Gamer. 2021-10-08. October 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211008145859/https://www.pcgamer.com/au/how-to-get-into-the-battlefield-2042-beta/. live.
  28. Web site: Battlefield 2042 delayed to November 19. September 15, 2021. September 16, 2021. Windows Central. Tolbert. Samuel. live. Future US, Inc.. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915201526/https://www.windowscentral.com/battlefield-2042-delayed . September 15, 2021 .
  29. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Official Reveal Trailer (ft. 2WEI). Electronic. Arts. Electronic Arts Inc..
  30. Web site: 'Battlefield 2042' trailer pays tribute to one player's legendary maneuver. June 9, 2021. Engadget.
  31. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Open Beta And Live Service Elements Revealed. Eddie. Makuch. GameSpot. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610173534/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-2042-open-beta-and-live-service-elements-revealed/1100-6492572/. live.
  32. Battlefield 2042 Battle Pass Explained, Free Vs. Premium. Liana. Ruppert. Game Informer. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610125938/https://www.gameinformer.com/e3-2021/2021/06/09/battlefield-2042-battle-pass-explained-free-vs-premium. dead.
  33. Web site: Battlefield 2042's 128-player Breakthrough has been removed. Ishraq. Subhan. Eurogamer. May 19, 2022. June 11, 2022. June 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220610215222/https://www.eurogamer.net/battlefield-2042s-128-player-breakthrough-has-been-removed. live.
  34. 1665788123651997697. Battlefield. Season 5: New Dawn launches on Wednesday, and your #Battlefield 2042 journey will continue with Season 6. Stay tuned for more info later in Season 5 . June 5, 2023.
  35. Web site: An Update on Battlefield 2042 and Welcoming Motive Studio to the Team. Electronic Arts Inc.. 2024-04-09. en. Arts. Electronic. 2024-04-09.
  36. Web site: Battlefield 2042 season 1 kicks off this week with stealth choppers, new 'vehicle killer expert' specialist. Michael. McWhertor. Polygon. June 7, 2022. June 11, 2022. June 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220610215225/https://www.polygon.com/23157898/battlefield-2042-season-1-release-date-new-content-map-specialist-helicopters. live.
  37. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Is 'Winding Down' Support for Its New Hazard Zone Mode. Ryan. Dinsdale. IGN. May 25, 2022. June 11, 2022. June 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220610215227/https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-2042-winding-down-hazard-zone-mode. live.
  38. Web site: Leston . Ryan . 2022-08-25 . Battlefield 2042 Season 2 Details Revealed . 2022-09-02 . IGN . en . September 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220902040325/https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-2042-season-2-details-revealed . live .
  39. Web site: Dinsdale . Ryan . 2022-11-18 . Battlefield 2042's Season 3 Brings New Map, Battle Pass, and More Next Week . 2022-11-23 . IGN . en . November 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221123122138/https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-2042s-season-3-brings-new-map-battle-pass-and-more-next-week . live .
  40. Web site: Bailey . Kat . 2022-11-11 . Battlefield 2042 Headed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in Time For Season 3 . 2022-11-23 . IGN . en . November 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221123122139/https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-2042-headed-to-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-in-time-for-season-3 . live .
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  42. Web site: Battlefield Briefing - First Look at 2023. Battlefield.com. 2022-12-01. 2022-12-03. en. December 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221202114603/https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-2042/news/battlefield-briefing-first-look-at-2023. live.
  43. Battlefield. 1626250149717544960. It's time to bring out the big guns for Season 4: Eleventh Hour Tune in for the gameplay reveal tomorrow, Feb 17 . February 16, 2023.
  44. Web site: Battlefield 2042 - Official Season 4: Eleventh Hour Gameplay Trailer. IGN.com. February 18, 2023. February 18, 2023. February 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230218091830/https://www.ign.com/videos/battlefield-2042-official-season-4-eleventh-hour-gameplay-trailer. live.
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  46. Web site: Lemay . Ryan . Battlefield 2042 Season 5: start date, new map, trailer, more . May 27, 2023.
  47. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Elite Edition Is Now Available On PC and Consoles. De Mao. Francesco. May 26, 2023.
  48. Battlefield. 1707772220934606979. Grab your squad and get ready to earn your nerves of steel for the reveal of Season 6: Dark Creations. . September 30, 2023.
  49. Web site: BATTLEFIELD 2042 UPDATE #6.0.0. October 6, 2023 . October 19, 2023.
  50. Web site: BATTLEFIELD 2042 UPDATE #7.0.0. Electronic. Arts. March 15, 2024. Electronic Arts Inc..
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  54. Web site: Battlefield 2042 fans upset at leaked Santa Claus skin. Ishraq. Subhan. Eurogamer. December 3, 2021. December 3, 2021. The main gripe players have is the creative decision by DICE to move away from the dark and gritty tone the franchise is known for to something more akin to the likes of Fortnite, which is continuously monetised through the addition of new cosmetics.. December 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211203012654/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-12-02-battlefield-2042-is-getting-a-santa-claus-skin-and-players-hate-it. live.
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  58. Web site: Battlefield V Currently Has More Steam Players Than Battlefield 2042 . Dalton . Cooper . Game Rant . December 24, 2021 . January 9, 2022 . January 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220115224711/http://gamerant.com/battlefield-2042-steam-player-count-battlefield-v/ . live .
  59. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Steam concurrent players fall below 1000 for first time. Victoria. Kennedy. Eurogamer. April 11, 2022. April 24, 2022. April 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421164323/https://www.eurogamer.net/battlefield-2042-steam-concurrent-players-fall-below-1000-for-first-time. live.
  60. Web site: April 25 . bySanchay Saksena Updated . Battlefield 2042 Patch Leads to Slight Improvement in Player Count . . en-in . April 25, 2022 . May 8, 2022 . April 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220425212637/https://in.ign.com/battlefield-2021/171703/news/battlefield-2042-patch-leads-to-slight-improvement-in-player-count . live .
  61. Web site: DICE removes fan-favourite Rush mode from Battlefield 2042's official playlist . Ishraq . Subhan . . January 6, 2022 . January 8, 2022 . January 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107080936/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-06-dice-removes-rush-from-battlefield-2042s-official-playlist-as-community-grows-dissatisfied-by-lack-of-communication . live .
  62. Web site: Following developer harassment, Battlefield 2042's toxic subreddit may go on lockdown . Morgan . Park . . January 7, 2022 . January 8, 2022 . January 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107111325/https://www.pcgamer.com/following-developer-harassment-battlefield-2042s-toxic-subreddit-may-go-on-lockdown/ . live .
  63. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Subreddit Might Get Closed Due To Toxicity . Jeremy . Winslow . . January 7, 2022 . January 8, 2022 . January 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107181045/https://kotaku.com/battlefield-2042-subreddit-might-get-closed-due-to-toxi-1848321601 . live .
  64. Web site: Makuch . Eddie . Battlefield 2042 Brings Back Rush Mode . . May 10, 2022 . January 13, 2022 . January 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127153438/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-2042-brings-back-rush-mode/1100-6499604/ . live .
  65. Web site: Wales. Matt. Battlefield 2042 petition demanding refunds on all platforms nears 40k signatures. Eurogamer. February 9, 2022. February 19, 2022. February 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220217124213/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-02-08-battlefield-2042-petition-demanding-refunds-on-all-platforms-nears-40k-signatures. live.
  66. Web site: Kratky. Otto. Battlefield 2042 Refund Petition Gains Over 120,000 Signatures. GameSpot. February 10, 2022. February 19, 2022. February 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220219161624/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-2042-refund-petition-gains-over-120000-signatures/1100-6500560/. live.
  67. Web site: Zwiezen. Zack. More Than 160,000 Battlefield 2042 Players Sign Petition Asking For Money Back. Kotaku. February 11, 2022. February 19, 2022. February 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220219103157/https://kotaku.com/battlefield-2042-refund-petition-ea-bf2042-change-1848524654. live.
  68. Web site: Mital. Malvika. Battlefield 2042 Refunds Petition Crosses 200,000 Signatures and EA Should Definitely Be Worried. IGN. February 17, 2022. February 19, 2022. February 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220218044528/https://in.ign.com/battlefield-2021/170491/news/battlefield-2042-refunds-petition-crosses-200000-signatures-and-ea-should-definitely-be-worried. live.
  69. Web site: Wales . Matt . Next week's Battlefield 2042 update brings "400+" fixes and improvements . . April 28, 2022 . April 13, 2022 . April 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220428193717/https://www.eurogamer.net/battlefield-2042s-40-update-arrives-next-week-promises-400-fixes-and-improvements . live .
  70. Web site: Makuch . Eddie . Battlefield 2042 Update 4.0 Adds 400+ Fixes And Improvements Next Week . . April 28, 2022 . April 13, 2022 . April 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220428194136/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-2042-update-4-0-adds-400-fixes-and-improvements-next-week/1100-6502443/ . live .
  71. Web site: Tyler . Wilde . This week's Battlefield 2042 update adds voice chat, hundreds of fixes and tweaks . . en . April 18, 2022 . April 27, 2022 . April 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220427204728/https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/battlefield-2042-voice-chat-update/ . live .
  72. Web site: McWhertor . Michael . Battlefield 2042's Hazard Zone mode is going to video game heaven . . May 24, 2022 . June 5, 2022 . June 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220605161030/https://www.polygon.com/23139798/battlefield-2042-season-1-hazard-zone-mode-ending-development . live .
  73. Web site: Robinson . Martin . Hazard Zone to be deprioritised as Battlefield 2042 lays the way for its first season . . May 24, 2022 . June 10, 2022 . June 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610200842/https://www.eurogamer.net/hazard-zone-to-be-deprioritised-as-part-of-battlefield-2042s-next-big-update . live .
  74. Web site: Plunkett . Luke . Major Battlefield 2042 Update Leaves Remaining Fans Dismayed . . May 24, 2022 . June 10, 2022 . June 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610201321/https://kotaku.com/battlefield-2042-dice-ea-electronic-arts-update-season-1848973007 . live .
  75. Web site: Wales . Matt . EA refutes new report claiming Battlefield 2042 development now in 'abandon ship' mode . . June 8, 2022 . June 10, 2022 . June 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610200843/https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-refutes-new-report-claiming-battlefield-2042-development-now-in-abandon-ship-mode . live .
  76. Web site: Middler . Jordan . Battlefield 2042 is reportedly in 'abandon ship' mode as EA switches focus to the next series entry . . May 24, 2022 . September 26, 2022 . September 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928160741/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/battlefield-2042-is-reportedly-in-abandon-ship-mode-as-ea-switches-focus-to-the-next-series-entry/ . live .
  77. Web site: Wales . Matt . Vince Zampella says Battlefield 2042 "strayed too far from what Battlefield is" . Eurogamer . 26 September 2022 . September 16, 2022 . September 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926215853/https://www.eurogamer.net/vince-zampella-says-battlefield-2042-strayed-too-far-from-what-battlefield-is . live .
  78. Web site: Blake . Vikki . Battlefield 2042 "strayed a little too far from what Battlefield is", says Vince Zampella . GamesRadar+ . 26 September 2022 . September 17, 2022 . September 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929021917/https://www.gamesradar.com/battlefield-2042-strayed-a-little-too-far-from-what-battlefield-is-says-vince-zampella/ . live .
  79. Web site: UK Sales Charts: Battlefield 2042 Settles for Third While Spider-Man: Miles Morales Swings Back. Stephen. Tailby. Push Square. November 22, 2021. February 2, 2022. February 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220202041854/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/11/uk-sales-charts-battlefield-2042-settles-for-third-while-spider-man-miles-morales-swings-back. live.
  80. Web site: November 2021 NPD: Elusive new-gen consoles drag down industry sales. Jeff. Grubb. VentureBeat. December 13, 2021. February 2, 2022. February 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220202041854/https://venturebeat.com/2021/12/13/november-2021-npd-elusive-new-gen-consoles-drag-down-industry-sales/. live.
  81. News: NPD: The top 20 best-selling games of 2021 in the U.S. . Jeff . Grubb . . January 18, 2022 . February 2, 2022 . January 18, 2022 . https://archive.today/20220118173905/https://venturebeat.com/2022/01/18/npd-the-top-20-best-selling-games-of-2021-in-the-u-s/ . live .
  82. News: EA Says Battlefield 2042 'Did Not Meet Expectations' . Rebekah . Valentine . . February 2, 2022 . February 2, 2022 . February 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202041855/https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-2042-did-not-meet-expectations . live .
  83. Web site: Battlefield 2042 skin 'unintentionally' references Russia's invasion of Ukraine, says EA. Owen. Good. Polygon. November 15, 2021. November 19, 2021. November 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211115180319/https://www.polygon.com/22783382/battlefield-2042-little-green-men-russian-skin-ukraine. live.
  84. Web site: Battlefield 2042 Removing 'Unintentional' Reference To Russia's War With Ukraine. Luke. Plunkett. Kotaku. November 14, 2021. November 19, 2021. November 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211115001533/https://kotaku.com/battlefield-2042-removing-unintentional-reference-to-ru-1848055505. live.
  85. Web site: Bankhurst . Adam . DICE Awards 2022 Winners: The Full List . IGN . February 25, 2022 . 15 March 2022 . February 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220225063731/https://www.ign.com/articles/dice-awards-2022-how-to-watch-all-the-nominees-and-what-to-expect-winners . live .
  86. Web site: 'Dune' and 'Encanto' Lead Visual Effects Society Nominations. Variety. Jazz. Tangcay. January 18, 2022. January 18, 2022. live. January 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220118193039/https://variety.com/2022/artisans/awards/visual-effects-society-awards-nominations-dune-encanto-1235156134/.
  87. News: Verhoeven . Beatrice . March 8, 2022 . 'Encanto,' 'No Time to Die' and 'Don't Look Up' Among Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards Winners . March 10, 2022 . . en-US . May 31, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531071714/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-scl-society-of-composers-and-lyricists-awards-1235106835/ . live .
  88. Battlefield. 1662112039060291584. Fight on a forgotten battleground awoken once more and defy the odds stacked against your squad in #Battlefield 2042 | Season 5: New Dawn Ready up, transport arriving on June 7 |date=May 26, 2023}}| June 7, 2023| A new map set in the Czech Republic, "Reclaimed", depicting an abandoned factory was added. This map first appeared as "Zavod 311" in Battlefield 4. Three new weapons, the XCE Bar, GEW-46, and BFP.50 were added, alongside new grenade types. A new squad management system, akin to previous titles, was added. A rework of the map "Hourglass" was introduced.[46]

    "New Dawn" marks the start of Year 2 of Battlefield 2042, with a new "Elite Edition" being introduced in lieu of the "Ultimate Edition".[47] |-| 6| Dark Creations[48] | October 10, 2023| "Redacted", set at the Scottish Hebrides and inspired by fan-favorite close quarters maps from previous titles, was introduced. Three new weapons, the G428, L9CZ and VHX D3, new portable pouches for ammo and health, and a new vehicle named the YUV-2 “Pondhawk” were introduced.[49] |-| 7| Turning Point[50] | March 19, 2024|"Turning Point" is the last season of Battlefield 2042 to feature two maps rather than one: "Haven", set in Chile, and "Stadium", a returning location from "Hourglass" set in Doha, Qatar, that was previously removed in the rework of "New Dawn". Three new weapons are introduced, the AK 5C, SCZ-3 & DFR Strife LMG. The Predator SRAW also makes a return that was last seen in Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 4, respectively. The XFAD-4 Draugr stealth bomber will also be the last vehicle introduced in "Turning Point".|}

    Reception

    Critical response

    Battlefield 2042 received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms, according to the review aggregator Metacritic, making it the lowest-rated installment in the Battlefield series.[51]

    Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game five out of five stars, writing: "Battlefield 2042 brings the sandbox back to the series in bold and controversial ways. The new Specialist system might seem like sacrilege at first, but it opens up gameplay opportunities that weren't possible in previous titles. The massive, well-designed maps offer plenty of room for experimentation and emergent stories, and the modes are a blast." Hardcore Gamer summarized its 3/5 review by saying: "Battlefield 2042 should have been a triumphant return of the franchise and developer. In some respects, Battlefield 2042 delivers on its promises thanks to fantastic gameplay, a suite of new features and improvements, and a presentation that looks as good as it plays. Unfortunately, the game falls short just as much, if not more."

    Jordan Devore of Destructoid wrote, "Battlefield 2042 feels like it could become a cool game, but it's tantalizingly out of reach today. There's enough promise with the satisfying-when-it-works gunplay, large-scale chaos...It didn't have to be this way though." GamesRadar+ praised Battlefield 2042s All-Out War, the visuals, and the Portal mode, but criticized the Hazard Zone mode and the removal of classes. IGN thought similarly, concluding, "For a game claiming to be the future of Battlefield, 2042s impressive Portal options make it clear that it doesn't stack up to the past. Instead, it's those same customization tools that could come to define it in time." GameSpot felt the game had a lot of variety but that many of the glitches hampered the experience, especially on PC. Christian Vaz of PCGamesN gave the game a 7/10 and criticized it for feeling rushed, stating, "This near-future sequel has all the components it needs to become a classic entry in the multiplayer series, but it feels like 2042 is many updates away from reaching its full potential."

    Phil Iwaniuk writing for The Guardian gave the game two out of five stars, feeling that 128-player matches were too chaotic and granted little accomplishment for individuals while noting criticism of the game's multiple bugs and netcode issues. VG247s Sherif Saed also criticized the game's bugs and poor technical state, adding that many of the same bugs had been present in recent Battlefield games. Chris Jarrard of Shacknews described the game's Specialist system as "befuddling" and described maps as "uninspiring" and "painful to traverse" on foot, further criticizing technical issues. Writing for Push Square, Liam Croft compared the game to a starter meal, stating that what the game offered at launch was too little for the asking price.

    Audience response and changes

    Player reception was much more critical. Battlefield 2042 became one of the worst-reviewed games on Steam, garnering almost 30,000 negative reviews by November 21, 2021 (See additional readings). Players criticized extensive bugs, a lack of features previously included in older Battlefield games, and several changes to gameplay.[52] [53] Some also panned the inclusion of Christmas-themed skins, including a leaked Santa Claus example, as conflicting with the series' "dark and gritty" tone.[54] [55] Despite becoming one of its most played games on Steam at launch, the game's player count sharply declined in the following weeks from about 105,400 concurrent peak players to an average peak of 52,000. On November 28, 2021, Kotaku journalist Zack Zwiezen noted that Battlefield 2042 had been overtaken in player numbers on Steam by Farming Simulator 22, considering it notable that "one of the biggest games of the year on one of the most popular digital stores in the world on one of the biggest gaming platforms in the world [...] isn't able to keep up with Farming Simulator 22".[56] By 2 December, Battlefield 2042 had lost 70% of its initial players on Steam.[57] By the end of December, the Steam concurrent player base for Battlefield 2042 decreased to about 19,000, being overtaken by 2018's Battlefield V in daily player numbers.[58] By mid-April 2022, the game's player count had declined even further, dropping below 1,000 at certain points.[59] Following the release of update 4.00, the Steam player count increased to an average of over 2,000 players.[60]

    In January 2022, DICE removed the popular "Rush" mode from the featured playlist in Battlefield 2042s Portal mode, resulting in more backlash from players.[61] Meanwhile, EA global communications director Andy McNamara criticized the audience's expectations as "brutal" on Twitter, causing hostile responses from players and harassment of DICE developers. On Reddit, discourse about Battlefield 2042 became adversarial enough that moderators threatened to shut down the game's official subreddit.[62] [63] In response to the outcry, "Rush" was restored to the game later the same month.[64] In February 2022, a Change.org petition advocating for all buyers of Battlefield 2042 to be refunded reached more than 200,000 signatures within a month. The author of the petition cited the game's numerous technical issues that had rendered it "unplayable", while claiming that the developers failed to keep promises with improving the game at launch.[65] [66] [67] [68]

    In response to fan feedback, DICE released an update for the game in April 2022, version 4.00, which brought over 400 changes, including bug fixes, improvements to gameplay balancing, and other additions.[69] [70] [71] In May, DICE announced Battlefield 2042s Season 1 and released a video explaining their commitment to improving the game through changes to maps, modes, and Specialists, new items, a focus on smaller player-counts, and improving the controls and animations of player characters; DICE also announced they would no longer be supporting the game's Hazard Zone mode.[72] [73] [74] In June, EA denied reports from Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb that the development team was "down to a skeleton crew", saying, "There is a significant team across studios focused on evolving and improving the Battlefield 2042 experience for our players, and at the heart of that is our team at DICE."[75] [76] In September, Vince Zampella, head of Respawn Entertainment and the Battlefield series, stated that the game had "strayed a little too far from what Battlefield is".[77] [78]

    Sales

    Battlefield 2042 was the third best-selling retail game in the United Kingdom on its week of release, only behind Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.[79] It was the second best-selling game in November 2021 in the US, according to NPD Group.[80] It went on to become the fifth best-selling game in 2021 in the US.[81]

    During an earnings call in February 2022, EA revealed that the game had failed to meet sales expectations. EA blamed the game's performance on remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to unexpected technical issues during the launch period of the game, and remarked that some of the design choices made by the team "did not resonate" with the Battlefield community.[82] The blaming of remote work is heavily disputed by the community.

    Controversy

    The game generated some controversy when the name of a cosmetic for a playable character alluded to the Little Green Men from the Russo-Ukrainian War. DICE stated that the reference had not been intentional and that the cosmetic would be renamed in a future update, saying the reference "isn't reflective of our team's values".[83] [84]

    Accolades

    YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
    202225th Annual D.I.C.E. AwardsOutstanding Technical AchievementDaniel Berlin, Mikael Uddholm[85]
    Visual Effects Society AwardsOutstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time ProjectAnders Egleus, Jeremy Chubb, Gray Horsfield, Sean Ellis[86]
    Society of Composers & Lyricists AwardOutstanding Original Score for Interactive MediaHildur Guðnadóttir & Sam Slater[87]

    References

    Notes
  89. References

    90. Further reading

    Hume, M. (2021, November 27). Review | The problems of ‘Battlefield 2042’ go beyond its bugs. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/battlefield-2042-review/

    Zacny, R. (2021, November 12). “Battlefield 2042” Offers Unfinished Experiments with the Series’ Formula. Vice. 'Battlefield 2042' Offers Unfinished Experiments with the Series' Formula

    External links

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