The last few years have seen plenty of innovation in terms of what online multiplayer shooters can be. Games like Apex Legends and Fortnite popularized the battle royale genre with their free-to-play models that changed the idea of what a live service game is. When it launched in 2020, Call of Duty: Warzone quickly established itself as one of the biggest names in the online shooter market, and now that Battlefield 2042 is set to release later this year, it seems like all the major AAA shooter franchises will be trying their hands at perfecting the live service title.
While comparisons between Call of Duty and Battlefield have existed for quite a while, as the two series have always done similar things, it seems like the franchises are going down different paths in how to best capitalize on the online shooter market. Warzone is sticking to the free-to-play battle royale scene, while Battlefield 2042 will still be a paid experience that doesn't include a battle royale mode, focusing on more traditional gameplay instead. Wisely, both games have also set themselves up to be the definitive places to experience each franchise, leaning heavily into a live service model and featuring content rollouts inspired by games of the past.
Embracing the History and Future of Call of Duty in Warzone
Because Call of Duty: Warzone has been out for over a year, understanding the direction that the game is taking Call of Duty in is a little bit easier than with Battlefield 2042, as that game isn't out yet. So far, the timeline for Call of Duty has been easy to follow since Warzone's release. March 2020 saw the launch of the battle royale shooter, November 2020 saw the launch of Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War, and all throughout 2021 rumors of the next entry in the series, potentially called Call of Duty: Vanguard, have made the usual internet rounds. All the while, Warzone has been receiving constant updates and seasonal content, some of which have directly corresponded with Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War and other older entries in the franchise.
As Warzone has continued growing, it's added plenty of content for those looking to get a taste of Call of Duty's past, with fan-favorite Operators like Soap, Price, Woods, and more releasing. Throwback maps, weapons, and other gameplay mechanics have been added as well, with some being permanent additions and others existing as fun throwback events. In short, much of the history of Call of Duty is being preserved in Warzone, as it serves as the perfect place to reuse popular ideas from the franchise's past while also keeping things fresh and new.
Inevitably, more Call of Duty games are on the horizon, with the rumored COD Vanguard supposedly launching later this year. As shown by Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Warzone won't be hitting the breaks when more titles release, with the opposite happening instead. The release of new games is the time when Warzone will be putting the pedal to the metal and promoting them inside the game, with specific skins and events linked to the new release. While more COD games will be coming out from year to year, Warzone is where the real preservation and future of the franchise will be.
The Sandbox of Battlefield 2042's Portal Mode
In a similar way to Warzone, Battlefield 2042 seems like it's also looking to preserve the history of its franchise while also breaking new ground. There's plenty of talk about the many new and interesting features coming to the series in Battlefield 2042, but the newly announced Battlefield Portal mode that seems to be all about preserving the series' past.
In Battlefield Portal, players get to create their own game modes using assets and ideas from three main staples of the Battlefield series: Battlefield 1942, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and Battlefield 3. Essentially, the mode serves as something of a game mode editor that's full of player-driven potential. Because Portal is relying so heavily on past entries in the franchise, it seems like DICE and Ripple Effect Studios are looking to keep the memories of those games alive by including them in Battlefield 2042. This sort of franchise preservation in Battlefield feels like it's using a similar idea as Warzone, but it's being implemented in an entirely new way.
In last month's Battlefield Portal preview event, Ripple Effect Studios General Manager Christian Grass confirmed that the game will be a part of the larger live service plan that the franchise is following. That means that it will be receiving seasonal updates and having additional content rolled out, some of which will likely be behind a paywall like many other live service games. The content in question will likely be linked to older Battlefield titles as well as new ones when they release.
The Future of Multiplayer Shooters with Battlefield and COD
Based on the current trajectories for Warzone and Battlefield Portal, both major FPS franchises are looking into ways to keep their histories alive. Luckily for fans of both series, the way that those ideas of preservation are being implemented is through differing game modes. Battle Royale fans can stick with Warzone, while those looking for a more traditional FPS experience can play Battlefield Portal. Either way, it's easy to see how both games can complement each other and help the market as a whole while still being drastically different.
As Warzone continues growing and as Battlefield 2042 finds its footing after launch, it's going to be interesting to see how long each title is supported. Obviously, the studios behind them are pouring plenty of resources into them, so it wouldn't make sense to let them go anytime soon. Still, it remains to be seen how long each game will last. Either way, they should both inspire other major franchises to really lean into their pasts and embrace their history while innovating at the same time.
Battlefield 2042 is set to release on October 22 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.