Summary
It seems that the focus of DICE is starting to shift to the next installment of theBattlefieldfranchise, with the studio recently announcing that the latest in-game season ofBattlefield 2042will be the title’s last. It only seems right that this next project for the IP should feature a thematic shift away from2042, but the 2020 release did teach DICE a lot of important lessons that should carry over to what is next for the franchise.
It is paramount that the launch of the nextBattlefieldis not as problematic as2042’s release, and this can mainly be avoided by the next game launching with a wider range of content.2042waited until its post-launch seasons to introduce a lot of content that repaired the game’s reputation, and players should not have to wait for this kind of post-launch support for the nextBattlefieldgame. Arguably, the most successful post-launch content forBattlefield 2042was its smaller maps, and a future installment should have a good mix of scale in its maps from the get-go.
Battlefield’s Gameplay Shines When Complimented by Smaller Maps
One of the largest problems thatBattlefield 2042faced during its early post-launch state was the lack of variety in its core maps;Battlefield 2042’s seven original maps were all quite large experiences. WhileBattlefield’s gameplay is usually synonymous with large-scale warfare, the IP has historically offered more intimate maps to offer some contrast to this, and it tookBattlefield 2042a while to deliver on this franchise staple.
Season 6 ofBattlefield 2042, which launched in October 2023, saw the introduction of the Redacted map, which took place in a top-secret testing facility in the Scottish Hebrides. Largely composed of tight corners and narrow corridors, and not featuring any vehicles, Redacted quickly became the go-to map for some of the most chaotic gameplay inBattlefield 2042.DICE stated the map was inspired by similar locations in pastBattlefieldgames.
Specifically, DICE namedOperation Metro and Operation Locker as blueprints for Redacted, maps that came fromBattlefield 3andBattlefield 4respectively. Metro and Locker were themselves considered as some of the best maps in what were massively successful entries to the franchise, and it is clear that the nextBattlefieldproject needs to learn from this feedback pattern.
Redacted’s Late Introduction to Battlefield 2042 Was Too Little, Too Late
Fans had to wait just under two years forBattlefield 2042to add Redacted and offer a smaller-scale experience, and this is a mistake that the nextBattlefieldgame cannot afford to repeat. Theplayer counts ofBattlefield 2042famously faced huge dropsjust months after the game launched, and it can be assumed that this would have been partially avoided if the game featured a wider range of gameplay experiences upon release.
While the traditional large-scale maps ofBattlefieldwill always have a place in the franchise’s identity, it is clear that the additional presence of smaller maps to compliment them is a tried and tested point of success for the IP.As the nextBattlefieldrelease creeps up on the horizon, it seems paramount to include smaller maps as standard as opposed to waiting deep into the game’s life cycle.
Battlefield 2042
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield’s past and present.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
