The next installation in the long-running Battlefield franchise is Battlefield 2042 and takes players back to the future.
Announced in today's live stream event, Battlefield 2042 represents the series' return to a futuristic setting. While not pulling on the more hardcore sci-fi tones of Battlefield 2142, released in 2006, the upcoming first-person shooter will provide players with advanced technology and weapons unlike what has been seen in many modern entries to the franchise.
According to the developer DICE, Battlefield 2042 will not feature a dedicated single-player campaign. The narrative of the game will instead take the form of season events spaced out through a live-service model. The story is expected to change and evolve the multiplayer of the game as the narrative unfolds.
According to DICE, classes have been drastically altered for Battlefield 2042. Distinct classes will not feature in the game and have been replaced by four "Specialists." Each of these characters can be equipped with any kind of weapon, gadget and grenade but can also make use of a unique Speciality and Trait. Some of the highlights include a grappling gun, a syringe pistol that can revive downed teammates over a distance and a deployable sentry turret.
Players won't have to scour the map for free vehicles in Battlefield 2042. Instead, vehicles can be called in via airdrops anywhere on the map. Resources aren't required for this action and players can call in as many vehicles as they want; the only limitation is availability, as destroyed vehicles are placed on a cooldown when they are destroyed.
Battlefield 2042 will consist of 3 separate "Experiences," each of which provides a unique form of gameplay. "All-Out Warefare" is what fans may call a "classic" Battlefield game mode; It comprises Conquest and Breakthrough game modes, both of which have become staples of the franchise. Matches will take place on bigger maps that make use of new-gen hardware. PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC will be able to host 128 players, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game will be limited to 64-player matches and feature smaller versions of the maps. The game will launch with seven maps and more will be added post-launch.
The second game mode is called "Hazard Zone" and will focus more on "smaller, tight squad play." This mode is not a battle royale and is an entirely new avenue for the Battlefield franchise. Details are currently scarce but will be revealed in the near future.
The final experience is currently unknown with the only information on the mode being that it is developed by DICE LA and will reportedly act as a "love letter" to longtime fans of the Battlefield series. More information will be revealed at EA Play Live on July 22.
The Battlefield series started in 2002 with the first game in the franchise, Battlefield 1942. The franchise has undergone several changes over its nearly 20 years, with the most recent entry in the franchise, Battlefield V returning the series to its World War 2 roots. Many of the Battlefield games released on recent hardware make use of a modern-day setting, such as Battlefield: Bad Company, Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4.
Developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts, Battlefield 2042 will launch for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC on October 22. An open beta for the game will be held closer to launch,
Source: Electronic Arts