Battlefield 2042 has finally been revealed, and players have gotten their first glimpse at the near future conflict. Developer DICE is hoping to mount a comeback for the series after the disappointing lifespan of Battlefield V. A game set in the near future was long rumored, but is now officially confirmed with the recent reveal of Battlefield 2042. Players will take on the role of No-Pat mercenaries, hired to fight in a proxy war between the United States and Russia as the world's resources continue to dwindle.
Battlefield 2042 will be releasing on October 22, with early access starting October 15 for those who purchase the Gold and Ultimate Editions. It's launching as a cross-generation title, coming to the new consoles as well as the PS4 and Xbox One. Early adopters of the PS5 and Series X/S will have 128 player battles, while the old consoles will be restricted to the typical lobbies of 64.
Battlefield 2042's multiplayer maps will have two versions to accommodate the different match sizes, a feature that wasn't in the last cross-gen title, Battlefield 4. This will be a necessity in 2042, which looks to be increasing the scale of the Battlefield series significantly. It was revealed in a Battlefield 2042 preview that the maps will be roughly triple the size of an average Battlefield map. There are seven maps confirmed to be in the game at launch, with more teased for the future.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Orbital - Korou, French Guiana
Orbital's key set piece is the launch pad for a rocket, which is set to take flight at some point during the match. The EA website says to watch out for inclement weather, but the rocket launch is primed to turn disastrous as well. Battlefield 2042 takes place after a worldwide blackout due to a 70% of all satellites falling out of orbit. French Guiana - in an advantageous position to launch a rocket near the equator on the western side of the Atlantic - will be a priority military target for both sides of the proxy war.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Hourglass - Doha, Qatar
The world of Battlefield 2042 is in a state of climate collapse, meaning cities surrounded by desert are constantly facing the threat of encroaching sand. Massive sandstorms will roll through Hourglass, leaving the neon lights of the city center to be the only source of illumination. Hourglass also promises shifting sand dunes, which will play host to Battlefield's noteworthy vehicle combat.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Kaleidoscope - Songdo, South Korea
Battlefield 2042's sandbox warfare will meet urban sprawl in the metropolis of Songdo. EA makes special note of the city's data center, a key target for intelligence operations.
Towering skyscrapers litter this Battlefield 2042 map, with ziplines in between. The concrete jungle is interrupted by lush plazas at the base of the towers, including some waterways for players to pilot boats through.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Manifest - Brani Island, Singapore
Singapore's Brani Island is of critical importance to the United States' trade network in 2042. The map contains a shipping yard with "maze-like cargo containers" turning the battlefield into a labyrinth. Battlefield 2042's tornadoes, featured in the reveal trailer, will make an entrance on Manifest, potentially rearranging the map in the process.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Discarded - Alang, India
Situated along the west coast of India, Discarded is home to a scrapyard of decommissioned ships being stripped for parts. jackfrags, who participated in the media preview, notes that the scrapyard is of military interest because of a rogue nuclear asset. One of the stranded ships houses a nuclear submarine, which may have some "levelution" potential beyond the deadly weather promised by EA.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Breakaway - Queen Maud Land, Antarctica
Oil-rich Antarctica has become a hot spot for near future conflict in Battlefield 2042. While destructible silos and fuel tanks that cause permanently raging fires piques the interest, the maps highlight will surely be its clifftop control point (pictured above). This appears to be a modern incarnation of the fan-favorite Damavand Peak map from Battlefield 3, which featured a half-kilometer-high BASE jumping opportunity between Rush objectives.
Battlefield 2042 Map: Renewal - Eastern Desert, Egypt
The climate crisis has made advancements in agricultural technology necessary, and this can be seen in great detail on Renewal, where portions of the Egyptian desert has been converted into lush farmland. A large wall separates the crops from the sand - the most obvious example of Battlefield 2042's segmented map design, a necessity when creating war zones for 128 players.