Summary
The prospect of a newBattlefieldrelease is finally on the horizon, with DICE recently confirming that post-launch support forBattlefield 2042will officially cease after the end of Season 7. While nothing is currently confirmed about the potential setting, modes, and core mechanics of the next entry to the franchise, it would make sense for DICE to capture the attention of fans by offering some brand-new experiences.
Battlefieldhas always had a level of scale and immersion that sets it apart from its major competitors likeCall of Duty, and this is something that the IP could easily lean into with its next release. TheBattlefieldcommunity has been hard at work with mods and sub-communities dedicated to more realistic gameplay, and this perfectly tees up the nextBattlefieldrelease to include its own realism playlist, giving much-needed variety to the next steps of the franchise.
Dedicated Realism Playlists Could Become a Staple of Battlefield Moving Forward
Regardless of the early controversies surroundingBattlefield 2042, the title was quite ambitious in terms of the new experiences it offered fans of the franchise. To compensate for things like a lack of a single-player campaign,2042introduced new modes like Portal, which allowed players to mix and match assets from severalBattlefieldreleases to create time-bending custom multiplayer experiences.
WhilePortal sadly did not live up to the expectations that surrounded the mode, it showed a desire for innovation on DICE’s part that should be extended to the nextBattlefieldrelease. Portal gave much more depth and variety to the core experience ofBattlefield 2042, and a realism mode for the next release could have a similar impact.
TheBattlefieldcommunity has already voiced how conducive the games are to more realism-focused gameplay, with the high-profileReality Mod forBattlefield 3showing a clear desire for this kind of approach. The Reality Mod turnsBattlefield 3into more of a mil-sim, with a bare-bones HUD, faster time to kill, and an increased focus on teamwork and voice communication. The popularity of other mil-sims likeHell Let LooseandSix Days in Fallujahshows that the market for these experiences is larger than ever before, andBattlefieldcould easily capitalize on this.
Battlefield Could Provide the Best of Both Worlds with a Realism Mode
A realism mode should be offered alongside the traditional gameplay of the nextBattlefield, being a perfect fit for players who want more strategic and immersive engagements.Battlefieldwould be leaning into one of its largest strengths in this way and could play against one of the largest current weaknesses ofCall of Duty. In recent years,CoDhas faced a lot of flak due to the increasingly zany nature of its multiplayer, losing its gritty roots in favor of more weird and wonderful operators, weapon skins, and finishing moves.
With a full realism mode, the nextBattlefieldwould make a strong statement against the changing identity ofCall of Duty, offering tense and immersive gameplay that is becoming increasingly rare in standardCoDmultiplayer. Of course, the traditionalBattlefieldexperience should still be available for fans, withsmaller-scale maps providing the same fast-paced arcade gameplaythatCall of Dutyis known for.
In this way, the nextBattlefieldrelease could appeal to all walks of the FPS experience, allowing fans to experience the same maps and modes in wildly different contexts. With how ambitious parts ofBattlefield 2042were, it only seems right that the next franchise release takes things a step further with a focus on optional realism.
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.
