After a couple of recent trips through history, the Battlefield series is returning to a modern setting with the near-future set Battlefield 2042. With the player-count increased to 128 on PC and next-gen consoles, real-time weather effects, dynamic maps, and the new Specialist system, there’s a lot to get excited about. So let’s break down everything we know so far.

The Setting

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As per the title, Battlefield 2042 is set in the near-future and presents a world on the brink of war. With the United States and Russia the major players, catastrophic events and climate change have also led to an unprecedented refugee crisis. And amid this influx and movement of people, the rise of Non-Patriated global citizens has emerged. And within this group, soldiers and Specialists pick a side to fight for -- for both survival and the chance to carve out a little slice of what’s left for themselves. With bullets, wingsuits and tanks.

Specialists and Classes

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Specialists are the playable soldiers in Battlefield 2042 and they’re character-driven with back-stories and narratives to dig into. Think along the lines of Rainbow Six Siege Operators, and you’re on the right track. Specialists will be broken up into categories based on classic Battlefield classes -- Assault, Medic, Support, Recon. But unlike classes, players will be free to customise Specialist loadouts with any weapon, secondary and throwable they choose.

So then, what makes them different? Well that would be unique traits and specialties. With 10 planned for launch, four have been announced so far.

WIKUS “CASPER” VAN DAELE
Place of Birth: South Africa
Class: Recon
Specialty: OV-P Recon Drone
Trait: Movement Sensor

WEBSTER MACKAY
Place of Birth: Canada
Class: Assault
Specialty: Grappling Hook
Trait: Nimble

MARIA FALCK
Place of Birth: Germany
Class: Support
Specialty: S21 Syrette Pistol
Trait: Combat Surgeon

PYOTR “BORIS” GUSKOVSKY
Place of Birth: Russia
Class: Engineer
Specialty: SG-36 Sentry Gun
Trait: Sentry Operator

The Modes

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Battlefield 2042 is being broken up into what’s described as three distinct multiplayer experiences.

All-Out-Warfare includes fan-favourites Conquest and the objective based Breakthrough, but ups the player count to 128. With that in mind 2042 is set to deliver the largest-scale battles in the series to date.

Hazard Zone is squad-based, but that’s pretty much all we know. As per the info released so far, it’s “an all-new, high-stakes, squad-based game-type for the Battlefield franchise that is a modern take on the multiplayer experience that is distinctly DICE but very different from All-Out Warfare’s Conquest or Breakthrough modes”. What we know for sure is that it’s not a Battle-Royale mode.

TBA isn’t the name of the third-mode but the ol’ “to be announced” placeholder for a DICE LA-developed mode that’s being described as “a love letter to Battlefield fans” and something long-time players will dig. We wonder what that could be?

Maps

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Battlefield 2042 is set to launch with seven massive maps, each supporting up to 128 players. Each has been designed with player choice and creativity in mind. And each will feature dynamic weather events, environmental hazards, and other elements that will bring them alive. Spanning the entire globe, here’s a look at the first set of maps.

Kaleidoscope - set in Sogdo, South Korea. Forces here will clash to control a quantum powered disinformation hub after an attack threatens the global network.

Manifest - set in Brani Island, Singapore. Players will see a strategic flashpoint emerge as global trade chokes this location which is vital for the American supply lines.

Orbital - set in Kourou, French Guiana. The battle here is over a rocket launch site as a controversial space launch becomes a race against time.

Discarded - set in Alang, India. Here you see shipbreakers facing tidal extremes as factions fight to secure rogue nuclear assets.

Renewal - set in the Eastern Desert, Egypt. Players will fight for a groundbreaking agriculture technology centre in the Egyptian Desert.

Hourglass - set in Doha, Qatar - Shifting sands and a lost shipping convoy tear a city center apart.

Breakaway - set in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Struggle over oil and gas that pushes soldiers to the brink as an industry clashes with nature and ice gives way.

Dynamic Weather and Events

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Although touched upon above, dynamic weather events in Battlefield 2042 are all based around the extreme effects of climate change. In the Doha based Hourglass this could be the appearance of a massive map-filling sandstorm, or a giant physics-driven tornado in another location. The dynamic events go beyond weather, with the large rocket in Orbital being something that can actually take-off -- or crash. DICE has designed for all of this to feel like a natural part of the action, and they won’t follow predetermined paths or be scripted. They’re integral to the Battlefield sandbox.

Weapons and Vehicles

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With the action set in the near-future not only means modern weapons and vehicles, but improvements across the board. The new Plus System allows weapon customisation to happen in-game and in real-time -- that means changing mags and scopes and other elements on the fly. Very cool.

With Specialists equipped with tablets you’ll also be able to call in vehicle drops anywhere on a map and to foster better team collaboration every seat in a vehicle now has its own defined role to play. From anti-air seats, to gunner-seats, to spotter-seats, what door you open will determine what role you’ll play as your squad rolls out.

Release Date and Platforms

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Battlefield 2042 s set to launch its first rocket into space October 22, 2021 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. With the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions limited to smaller-maps and the traditional 64-player count.

Post-Release Plans, Betas, and Content Roadmaps

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Battlefield 2042 is set to follow the Season approach with Battle Passes set to be made available for each new Season. As per what we’ve seen in other titles 2042 will follow suit in the free and premium tiers of seasonal progression and rewards.

Each season is also set to push the narrative forward -- with the four Season of the first year each set to feature four new Specialists, new locations, and more fresh ways to play.

In terms of pre-release access a Technical Playtest is expected in Early July and will use a greybox environment to gauge performance. An Open Beta will be available prior to launch with those that pre-order getting early access.