The recently-added Zombie Survival game mode has been removed from Battlefield 2042 due to players using it to farm experience. DICE's first-person shooter was highly anticipated ahead of its November 2021 launch, but upon release the title was highly criticized for its technical issues and gameplay changes. DICE added Battlefield 2042's Zombies mode on January 20, but the option has already been removed from the title.
Popularized by the Call of Duty franchise, zombie survival modes have become a popular staple of the first-person shooter genre. Battlefield 2042's recently-released mode pits a four-player squad against a horde of 60 undead monstrosities, challenging them to survive the onslaught for a full hour. The survival mode spawns all four players in different parts of a massive map, challenging them to meet up in order to increase their odds of survival. Fallen teammates can be revived by killing enough zombies, which take the form of AI-controlled soldiers wielding knives. The gameplay is similar to Battlefield 2042's winter game mode Attack of the Elves, which pit teams of Santas against terrifying elvish helpers.
As reported by Gaming Intel, DICE has removed Battlefield 2042's Zombie Survival mode shortly after the feature was added. Insider Tom Henderson (via Twitter) reports that gamers were using the mode as a way to farm experience, despite the fact that a recent update was released in an attempt to stop XP farming. Justin Wiebe, the Senior Design Director at Ripple Effect Studios, also addressed the controversy on Twitter. Wiebe admits that the Zombies Survival mode should not have passed the review process and apologizes for the inconvenience caused to fans.
The immediate removal of Battlefield 2042's Zombie Survival mode is the latest in a string of bad luck for the near-future shooter. Due to the title's disappointing release, rumors suggest that Battlefield 2042 may go free to play. Coming from Tom Henderson, the rumors claim that publisher Electronic Arts is disappointed in the game and is looking into ways to salvage the title's future. This may mean transitioning Battlefield 2042 into a free to play format, and it could also mean future installments will be adopting the new model as well.
Battlefield 2042's Zombie Survival mode was positively received by fans, so its immediate removal by DICE only serves to further frustrate gamers. While the mode's use as an experience farm risked ruining the title's progression system, adjusting the mode's settings might have been more effective than removing it entirely. While the Zombie Survival mode could be returned in the future, Battlefield 2042 fans may not wait that long.
Battlefield 2042 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Sources: Gaming Intel, Tom Henderson/Twitter, Justin Wiebe/Twitter