This weekend, Xbox Live users will be able to play Battlefield 2042 for free. DICE's new shooter released in November and has already seen steep discounts. Battlefield 2042 was met with a negative reception from both fans and critics following a rocky launch filled with bugs and underwhelming content. DICE has already issued a number of patches for the game, with more on the way alongside new seasonal content.

It was recently reported that Battlefield 5 had more players than Battlefield 2042 over Christmas, even though the prior game released several years ago and also had a negative reception at launch. Many have criticized the game for failing to meet the standards of some of the best Battlefield games such as and 4. Even though it was advertised as a return to the modern era of the series, it failed to impress and left many with a desire for more from DICE. Nevertheless, DICE isn't giving up.

Related: How BF 2042 Loses Sight Of What Makes Battlefield So Special

For those who haven't played the game yet, Xbox will be offering Battlefield 2042 as one of its "Free Play Days" titles from January 6 - January 9. This is only a trial, so players will not be able to keep the game after this weekend unless they purchase it. The entire game will be available during this time, so there are no limitations for the free trial. The game is also roughly $20 off on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X, so those who enjoy the game can pick it up at a discount. Battlefield 2042's first season is still months away, so players will have to wait a bit for some new content.

Why Battlefield 2042's Reviews Are So Mixed

It's unclear if this is a sign of declining sales for what was expected to be EA's biggest title of 2021 or if it's just a post-holiday push. Call of Duty: Vanguard also had a free multiplayer trial shortly after its release, leading some to believe the game isn't flying off the shelves. Since hard sales numbers aren't usually released outside of investor calls unless a game has a tremendous performance, it'll likely remain unclear how well either of these titles did.

It has been reported that Battlefield 2042 sold quite well upon initial release, but it's unknown how those sales have translated to long-term player counts. Since December only had a handful of noteworthy releases, the December 2021 NPD sales charts should give an idea of how the game held up during the holidays. If Battlefield 2042 can't win players back with its upcoming updates, that could put the overall series in a dire spot. Although some fans have come back around on Battlefield 5, it was too little, too late to matter. Hopefully, Battlefield 2042 won't suffer the same fate.

Next: Battlefield 2042's Rush Mode Removed Despite Community Requests

Source: Xbox