In a continued shift toward mainstream marketing, the latest Battlefield 2042 trailer seems to take a leaf out of Call of Duty's book with celebrity cameos (including Tom Brady) and an interesting mix of live-action and 3D animation. The Battlefield 2042 release date trailer from the summer shared a similar focus on chaos and trademark "Battlefield moments," making its unrealistic gameplay's innate disconnection from its more serious story a part of the way the series is being outwardly presented ahead of the next entry's November launch.
Battlefield 2042's gameplay and overall focus will be a marked shift after Battlefield V's apparent failure to measure up to expectations at publisher EA. The upcoming entry is ditching a story-driven campaign for a multiplayer-only experience with three distinct experiences: traditional multiplayers modes in All-Out Warfare, the Escape from Tarkov-like Hazard Zone, and customizable fan service on classic maps in Battlefield Portal. There will still be an overarching narrative connecting at least the first two pieces of Battlefield 2042, as climate crisis-driven wars have caused nations and militaries to splinter into new and desperate warring factions.
Featuring cameos by streamer CouRageJD and even star NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Battlefield 2042's "What A Time To Be Alive" trailer takes things a step further than even the release date trailer did. In what appears to a somewhat uncanny blend of live-action performances and 3D-animated cinematics, the one-minute trailer's focus rapidly cuts from explosive scenario to scenario while highlighting Battlefield 2042's unique specialists, abilities, and vehicles like jets and tanks. Brands like Xbox (Battlefield 2042's "official console") and YouTube Gaming also appear, giving some clue as to how much money EA is investing into the game's marketing.
It's a far cry from the more "grounded" trailers of the Battlefield 4 era and earlier, and it seems like a probable response to rival Call of Duty's own breakneck, cameo-laden trailers for its annual releases. As has been this case with much of Battlefield 2042's most recent marketing, specialists (the game's more customizable replacements for classes) feature prominently in the new trailer. Lead developer DICE has previously alluded to Battlefield 2042's climate crisis story being just gameplay set dressing, so leaning further into the game's individual characters seems to be its focus ahead of release.
The resources poured into trailers like Battlefield 2042's latest one aren't a surefire way for EA to ensure its success upon release, as the FPS game will be sandwiched between fierce competition with Call of Duty: Vanguard releasing earlier in November and Halo Infinite dropping in December. Player counts and in-game revenue will tell the tale very soon, and how high those figures reach will likely largely depend on Battlefield 2042's launch state and post-launch content plans.
Battlefield 2042 will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 19, 2021.
Source: Battlefield/YouTube