DICE is updating Battlefield 2042 this week with a patch focused on polishing the game's content by rebalancing some of the weapons, making quality-of-life improvements, and updating the Specialist character models. Battlefield 2042 players will also be able to better track their in-game performance and stats thanks to the new Player Profile feature.Battlefield 2042 is the latest entry in DICE's large-scale tactical first-person shooter franchise that has been running since 2002. Battlefield 2042 has been heavily criticized by players since launch. The game has received over 70,000 negative reviews on Steam, making it not only the worst-performing Battlefield game in the franchise but also one of the most negatively reviewed games on the Steam platform. In an effort to recover from the troublesome launch, DICE has been periodically updating the game with new features and improvements based on player feedback.The main highlight of this latest Battlefield 2042 update is a major rework of the Kaleidoscope map which will be the first in a series of reworks planned for the game's initial launch maps. New flag positions and more cover have been added in the form of newly-placed assets and terrain modifications intended to break sight-lines and allow for better infantry movement. The new assets are subject to tactical destruction, helping the map evolve over the course of the match in new ways. New areas such as a Forward Operating Base in the park and a command post near the Tower also bring more gameplay possibilities. The Renewal map is next in line for a rework in Season 2.
A "Style and Tone" update for Battlefield 2042's Specialists has subtly reworked the character models. Many of the models have been adjusted to be more detailed while mostly preserving the original design. Players may notice their favorite Specialist has grown some facial hair or had a slight alteration to the color and texture of their clothing. A new Player Profile feature has finally been added, allowing players to better track in-game progress and performance. Current Rank, XP toward the next Rank, and Masteries are all displayed in the Profile tab for quick self-assessment.
Although many other changes such as weapons balance adjustments and an improvement for gamepad aim assist accuracy have also made it into the update, DICE still has a difficult road ahead in the fight to regain the respect of players. Although DICE insists it's focused on Battlefield 2042, it's possible that doing things right for the next release may be more impactful than trying to fix the numerous problems in the current game.
Battlefield 2042 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S