Battlefield 2042 is set to be the most expansive multiplayer shooter out there when it releases in October. Here’s everything we know about the game so far.
EA DICE has finally launched the reveal and gameplay trailers for Battlefield 2042. In them, we see a near-futuristic setting plagued by massive surges in climate and catastrophic weather. Soldiers fight for survival on what EA DICE is calling the most expansive maps in Battlefield history. The biggest news is that Battlefield 2042 will support 128-player lobbies on current-generation consoles and PC. Let’s dive into everything we now know about Battlefield 2042. Battlefield 2042 is set to release on October 22 for PlayStation 4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X| S. EA DICE put out the first official reveal trailer for the game, and it sure looks like the Battlefield that fans know and love. There are, however, a few lingering questions concerning what will be available at launch. In their press release for the trailer, DICE hinted at a TBA game mode set to be revealed at EA Play Live on July 22. While they aren’t giving away any major details right now, they are calling it a “love letter to Battlefield fans” and saying that “long-time players will feel right at home.” Since the reveal trailer, DICE has also released what we’ll call a cinematic gameplay trailer detailing several combat mechanics, which we’ll break down in a later section. However, the big news concerning Battlefield 2042’s release date is the rescheduling of the technical playtest for later this summer. In a Q&A session, which DICE calls a “Battlefield Briefing,” the company assures us that crossplay is a feature they’re working incredibly hard on. It feels like the only way to support 128-player lobbies is to include players from every branch of gaming that supports Battlefield 2042. We know it, and DICE knows it. Because crossplay is something they’re determined to get right on the first try, DICE is moving the technical Battlefield 2042 playtest to later this summer, presumably sometime in the back end of August at the time of this writing. Keep in mind; this playtest is not the Open Beta. So can we play the Battlefield 2042 playtest? Yes, but only by invitation and under a strict NDA. Those looking to get in on the action will want to update their EA Playtesting Profile. Registering does not mean you’ll get in, but it does mean you’ll have the chance at an invite. Battlefield has always been a massive game. Battlefield 2042 will be even bigger. EA DICE has continually pushed the limits of the consoles it releases on and will continue to on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X| S. Gaming PCs will be able to handle the full scale of Battlefield 2042 as well. However, the recent announcement comes with bad news for last-gen players. Yes, Battlefield 2042 will be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. However, it will not run nor support the massive 128-player lobbies. Instead, last-gen consoles will be capped at 64-player lobbies, and the maps will be scaled down. The sheer scale of this new game could not run properly on last-gen systems. The “scaled down” version feels like a happy compromise. The other options were to not port to last-gen or release fully on last-gen. We all remember what happened to Cyberpunk 2077, right? Released June 9, the most recent Battlefield 2042 trailer gives fans a cinematic and in-game look at what they can expect from the next installment. We can see all kinds of futuristic editions from the trailer that make this Battlefield look like nothing we’ve ever seen before. Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by climate change, the Non-Patriated, or Non-Pats, fight for control over land, food, and water. While EA claims the Non-Pats are scarce on supplies, they have no shortage of high-tech military weaponry like robot war-dogs and fighter jets. The environment will also play a huge role in the multiplayer madness that is Battlefield 2042. In the trailer, we see a massive tornado touch down in the middle of the battle and suck up anything caught in its path. Meanwhile, up in the sky, a fighter pilot pulls off one of the greatest aerial kills of all time before free-falling back into his cockpit, all to the tune of Motely Crew’s Kickstart My Heart. So we got a chance to look at the reveal trailer, but let’s talk more about what stands out in the gameplay trailer. As mentioned, it’s more of a cinematic trailer. While it was all captured through actual gameplay, we can tell it was most likely through scripted events to highlight points of interest and new features. First off, we see a grappling hook on display as the player swings like Spider-Man to the end of a tall crane only to have their teammate assassinate an enemy player. The grappling hook is a Specialty that is unique to Webster, one of four Specialists revealed so far. We’ll dive deeper into the Specialists in a later section. Next, we see the vehicle call-in mechanic on display as the player runs toward an incoming tank being lowered in with the help of a few parachutes. The tanks then move through the desert and into a major city area as they aim at rival vehicles and helicopters. The squad then seeks shelter from an incoming tornado, suggesting that players will be safe from natural disasters when inside. In their Battlefield Briefing, DICE confirms that players will not be able to fight on every floor of a skyscraper. Instead, elevators and zip-lines will take players from the lobby to the roof. Battling it out on every floor of a 20-story building would be an entire map in and of itself. Could this be an idea for future DLC? We’ll wait and see. Perhaps the most remarkable new feature of Battlefield 2042 is the ability to swap attachments mid-life. Instead of waiting until you’re back at the spawn screen, you can change the attachments on your weapon while roaming around the map.
