Summary
DICE recently made it clear that its resources are shifting to a new installment for theBattlefieldfranchise, withBattlefield 2042’s recently launched Season 7 marking the end of its post-launch support. While no details are currently confirmed regarding the next project for the IP, it seems clear that it will need to make some striking changes from2042to truly stand out and recapture the attention of the franchise’s fan base.
The near-futuristic setting ofBattlefield 2042made it quite a unique title for the IP, allowing the game to lean into sci-fi elements for its characters, weapons, equipment, and locations. It is true that this setting was a huge part of2042’s identity and one of its strongest gameplay elements, but the controversy surrounding the title and its long time in theBattlefieldspotlight may mean that DICE needs to ditch this setting going forward.
Battlefield’s Next Project May Need to Be a Big Departure From 2042
The time setting ofBattlefield 2042is a massively important part of the game, with the release even being named after the year in which it is set. While theBattlefieldfranchise has explored a range of historical conflictsin the past, many fans were intrigued at the idea of the longstanding IP looking once again to the future with2042, and how this would impact the themes and gameplay of the title.
To the disappointment of some fans, much of the equipment, weapons, and vehicles inBattlefield 2042are grounded in modern reality, lacking the advanced technology that definedpast franchise releases like 2006’sBattlefield 2142. Instead,2042’s time setting greatly shapes the lore and overarching narrative of the title, with its disaster-stricken dystopian world being locked in a global battle for supremacy and remaining resources between the United States and Russia.
Of course, this allowed2042to take some great creative directions with its maps, withthe post-launch addition of Redactedtaking place in a classified research facility in the Scottish Hebrides. While there was a lot of narrative value in2042’s setting, the game’s lack of a single-player campaign wasted a lot of the potential for world-building and a more complex story.
Battleifeld’s Future May Look to the Past, Not the Future
It is no secret thatBattlefield 2042has faced a lot of controversy ever since its release, with its lackluster launch being one of the most criticized releases in recent memory. While2042has done well to repair its reputation via its post-launch seasons, the lingering stigma associated with the game makes it likely that the next entry toBattlefieldwill have to be a massive departure from the title.
As its semi-futuristic setting is the most identifiable characteristic ofBattlefield 2042, it seems that the next installment for the franchise will have to do away with this, perhaps returning to a portrayal ofreal-world historical conflicts akin toBattlefield 1andBattlefield 5. It is a shame thatBattlefield 2042did not give its unique setting the correct platform to flourish narratively, but it seems for the best that the next steps for the franchise begin on a completely fresh page.
