Players are reporting that enemies in Battlefield 2042 morph from their detailed character models into 2D figures at middle and long distances. DICE's latest entry in the Battlefield series has received massive backlash upon its release for various reasons, ranging from its apparent lack of polish to the absence of key features from previous BF tiles. With player models turning 2D when viewed from afar, though, it's becoming increasingly apparent that Battlefield 2042 could've potentially benefitted from another delay.
Battlefield 2042 is one of the most ambitious entries in the Battlefield series. The multiplayer mode hosts humungous maps with 128 player lobbies. However, although the game should be the definitive Battlefield experience, 2042's bugs have made its launch underwhelming. Coupled with issues regarding the game's Portal mode and other problems relating to gunplay, and it's fair to say that 2042 is experiencing teething issues.
However, while many of these bugs and glitches will likely be patched out in future updates, there are other elements fans have criticized that may be more difficult to address. One such element is that players have noticed that enemies become 2D when viewed from afar, and some are beginning to speculate that this could be a purposeful decision and not just a bug. It's unclear whether it is intentional or just a bug, but the low-detail models are contributing towards the game's unpolished feeling, with players also facing other errors during Battlefield 2042's early-access period.
Battlefield 2042's Lobbies May Be Causing Problems
Battlefield 2042's 2D issue was first recognized by PapaFattyWhack on Reddit, who shared that player models become static, cartoon-like figures when viewed from distances of over 50 meters. Many shared they had the same experience believing it to be a bug, while others began to speculate that DICE may be using 2D models at long distances to make Battlefield 2042's humongous lobbies functional. Lobbies have already been difficult to load into while the player base is limited to those who preordered the Gold or Ultimate Editions of the game. To remove stress from servers, it's possible that graphics and player models are being reduced at greater distances where they're less noticeable.
Regardless of if the 2D models are bugs or an intentional move on DICE's behalf, they lessen Battlefield 2042's immersive qualities. In its current form, Battlefield 2042 feels like a step backward, but it's still possible it could mount a full recovery, similar to how previous installments in the series did following their own rocky launches. Hopefully, DICE will be able to fix Battlefield 2042, and ensure that it's just as great as its predecessors.