In November of last year, DICE and EA released the latest title in theBattlefieldfranchise in the form ofBattlefield 2042. Touted as a multiplayer-focused, massive-scale shooter meant to capture the classic chaos ofBattlefieldgameplay in an ambitious futuristic setting, the game launched with a whimper as opposed to a bang. With a trend of negative reception to the most recent titles in theBattlefieldfranchise, questions are starting to be asked of DICE/EA and its direction with the iconic gaming IP.
DICE, founded in 1992, took over the development of theBattlefieldIP when it inherited the acclaimedBattlefield 1942with the acquisition of Refraction Games in 2000. With over two decades of development experience within the FPS genre withBattlefield, DICE have of course been responsible with some of the best entries the franchise has to offer. From the heights ofBattlefield 3andBattlefield: Bad Company 2, it is clear DICE have faltered with recent titles, especially the controversialBattlefield 2042.
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Battlefield 5: The Start of a Slippery Slope
Among general discourse between fans, many point toBattlefield 5as the firstBattlefieldtitle that began to show cracks with the once-winning formula that DICE and EA have been utilizing since its joint-takeover of the IP.Battlefield 5, set during WW2, famously drew pre-release criticism from fans of the franchise, with theofficial release trailer forBattlefield 5receiving 300,000 dislikeswithin its first week of being uploaded.
While this backlash was superficial, deriving from what many considered to be an uncharacteristic lack of historical accuracy displayed in the trailer (and not down to something more tangible like gameplay issues), it did lead to a significant rift between DICE and theBattlefieldplayer base. The controversy and back-and-forth between fans and developers saw EA Chief Design Officer Patrick Söderlund leave the company after telling fans “either accept it or don’t buy the game,” marking the start of a shift in the old guard of both DICE and EA.
While the actual gameplay ofBattlefield 5was generally well-received upon release, it still drew criticisms concerning thefrequency of glitches and an uninspired campaign mode, with the former criticism being another trend thatBattlefield 2042would also inherit.
Battlefield 2042:A Missed Opportunity
WhileBattlefield 5garnered negative attention pre-release and redeemed itself post-release,Battlefield 2042has struggled to do the same.Battlefield2042’strailers showcased the high-octane nature of the gameplay it was attempting to foster, as well as thevariety of new environmental and player-led game mechanics. Its futuristic setting freed it from the potential critiques of “historical accuracy” that plagued its predecessor.
The game is entirely multiplayer-focused and was one of several AAA titles that released in November, most notably in direct competitionwith other FPS giantCall of Duty: Vanguard.Battlefield 2042promised intense and densely populated 128-player games on the latest hardware, with classic modes coming to fresh, expansive and natural disaster-prone maps.
It additionally boasted the brand-newEscape From Tarkov-esque “Hazard Zone” mode, where gamers compete against other player-controlled squads and AI to collect data drives around large environments, extracting with their lives or losing all they’ve worked for in death. Finally, a tertiary and extremely ambitious mode resonated with fans in the form of “Portal,” a mode where gamers could create and play custom game modes within older titles, namelyBattlefield 1942, Battlefield: Bad Company 2andBattlefield 3.
While that brief synopsis may sound like an attractive prospect, as it did for manyBattlefieldfans, it was in execution where it seriously faltered. Upon launch and the ensuing months after release, the game was littered with bugs and glitches, many of which had already been outlined in themixed-reaction of the open beta for the game. Players additionally reported a litany of quality of life downgrades in comparison to previous titles, serious performance issues on last-gen consoles, and an overbearing lack of polish to gameplay balance.
How DICE Proceeds Following Battlefield 2042’s Launch
The hype surroundingBattlefield 2042pre-release was palpable, which makes the poor state in which it was launched all the more upsetting.Battlefield 2042represents a glaring missed opportunity for the franchise to re-establish itself following the aforementioned lull ofBattlefield 5.
The extent of how negative of an effect this poor state of launch has had on the game is most visible when looking at the player count forBattlefield 2042, with it astonishingly not even finding itself in thetop 50 most-played Xbox gamesfour months into its life-cycle. This lack of player base longevity is no better on PC, with Steam records showing a 24-hour peak of 6,479 players worldwide, a fraction of its all-time reported peak of over 100,000 players.
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This drop-off has undoubtedly hindered DICE and EA’s roadmap of what it had planned forBattlefield 2042, so much so that recent reports are suggesting the developers may even move tomakeBattlefiled 2042free to playin order to partially re-stabilize the player base and viably execute its vision of additional content post-launch.
While this has the potential to partially revive the game, the unfinished state of release is much more concerning for the negative publicity surroundingBattlefield 2042’s poor launch. With similar fates ofFallout 76andfamouslyCyberpunk 2077deriving from their poor launches that precededBattlefield 2042, DICE finds itself in a similarly damaging scenario withBattlefield 2042’s launch.
Considering this, it seems feasible that DICE could take a step back from theBattlefieldfranchise. BothBattlefieldandCall of Duty, two titans of the FPS genre, have faced similar downward trajectories in recent years, and withMicrosoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it is possible that the production and development ofCall of Dutyis likely to change, or at the least be shaken up.
This provides a perfect opportunity for DICE and EA to re-evaluate its own development formula, especially considering the recent departure of DICE Head of Design Fawzi Mesmar as a result ofBattlefield 2042’srelease. A fresh development team, formula and strategy could be implemented if DICE re-evaluate its approach toBattlefield,and ultimately serve to re-invigorate the long-term fans who want to experience that classicBattlefieldfeeling following the disappointment ofBattlefield 2042.
Battlefield 2042is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
