Battlefield 2042 is the latest entry in DICE's acclaimed shooter franchise and it's looking like it could be a serious contender. Battlefield 2042 captures what fans love about this series while also driving the franchise forward with new innovations like 128 players, more dynamic gameplay elements, a heavy focus on player choice, and much more.
This is the biggest Battlefield to date, and is so massive it will actually be scaled back on last-gen consoles. Xbox One and PS4 players will get the series standard 64-player count, but as a result, they'll be playing on smaller versions of the maps to better pace matches. The rumor of Battlefield 2042 having 128 players is true, but it's exclusive to current-gen consoles and PC. This will allow for smaller battlefields within the larger map, as players fight to control the map in modes like Conquest. DICE compared the sizes of several new maps with classic hits from the franchise and at best, these older environments were around half the size of the new ones - but many were closer to 25% - 30% of the size of 2042's varied locations.
It's not clear how scaled back these Battlefield 2042 maps will be on last-gen, but it's likely it will be somewhat noticeable by comparison given the scale of the game. Due to the increased size of the game's war zones, DICE also added the feature to call in land vehicles at will via a tablet, allowing players to move with more agency. Battlefield's focus on vehicles isn't new, and it seems like this won't be changing, as they'll play a vital role in navigating the warzone and possibly getting the upper hand in combat.
Those fond of Battlefield 3 and 4 will be easily entranced by 2042's allure, as the game seems to be playing a bit of the "greatest hits" of the franchise without compromising its ability to move forward. Key pieces from old school maps like Battlefield 3's Damavand Peak seem to have been integrated into one of 2042's new locations set on Antarctica, and Dawnbreaker's looming skyscrapers in Battlefield 4 appear to have influenced the sand-covered neon city of Hourglass. That said, there's plenty that moves the needle forward for the franchise.
Battlefield 2042 features tornadoes, sandstorms, and more to create dynamic maps that make the chaotic nature of the series all the more frenetic. These weather events can pick up and throw objects and players in an unscripted fashion, allowing it to be both a detriment and a tool to be utilized. One DICE dev noted an instance where he was pinned by a sniper and a tornado flung a car at the sharpshooter, killing them in the process. The idea of sandbox gameplay is at the forefront of 2042 and is emphasized in almost every element of the game to create those "only in Battlefield" moments the series has made a name for itself in generating.
Beyond the natural disasters, there's map specific events such as the rocket launch from the leaked Battlefield 2042 trailer that can go catastrophically wrong and massively change the map. Another example given is automated cranes that pick up shipping crates (which can be mounted by players) and move them around. DICE appears to be making the most layered and versatile maps in a Battlefield game yet. This carries over into giving players a lot of freedom with multiple skyscrapers to enter with several floors to battle on, control over bridges and gates, and other interactable objects to change the pacing of a map.
That same level of freedom gives players a lot of choice in how they want to play. With Battlefield 2042's near future setting, DICE has opened up the tried and true arsenal to include new weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, and it's on display with the new specialists. Each specialist is under the typical four classes Battlefield veterans will know: Assault, Support, Engineer, and Recon. Only four were revealed during the press event, but there will be ten at launch with more coming post-launch. These specialists have unique traits and give players access to things like grappling hooks, the wingsuit, sentry guns, and even a syrette gun that can revive players from a distance. Players can even change their weapon attachments on the fly, allowing them to get into cover and rebuild their gun to be more close-quarters oriented or deck it out for long-range engagements, ensuring they can adapt to any situation.
Despite the fact Battlefield 2042 features robots and is set 20 years in the future, it seems the game will still be grounded in some reality with a general modern day sensibility. It feels far more like Black Ops 2 than Advanced Warfare in terms of the technological leap being made. It will enhance the experience greatly and give players a lot of incredibly flashy new tools, but it's not going to radically shake up how players engage with the gameplay of Battlefield. None of the new gadgets are too outlandish and the overall experience of the game seems to remain intact.
Battlefield 2042 is shaping up to be the comeback the series has needed. It appears to realize the scope and scale of what a Battlefield game can be while also being a collection of every hard lesson DICE has learned over the years with past iterations in the franchise. While it remains to be seen what the final product will look like, if it's anything like the preview, Battlefield 2042 will serve as a love letter to the golden age of the series without getting bogged down in nostalgia, allowing it to successfully evolve in the process.
Battlefield 2042 will release on October 22, 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Screen Rant was invited to a digital press event for the purposes of this preview.