Now that E3 and Summer Game Fest are officially here, Battlefield 2042 has finally had its official gameplay reveal. However, fans who got their first real look at the game witnessed a double-edged sword. The first gameplay trailer for Battlefield 2042 showed off the biggest feature the newest title in the long-running series is going to offer, in terms of massive destruction and weather effects. However, that gameplay trailer also showed off something that might be a bit concerning to people who were looking for the game to be truly special and really take advantage of the Xbox Series X and PS5. The graphics shown off in that trailer did not scream "next-gen graphics."

When Battlefield 2042 got its theatrical announcement trailer, the game certainly looked pretty. Of course, that is the point of theatrical gameplay trailers: To visually impress and appetize gamers prior to release. However, it seems as if the Battlefield 2042 graphics really do have a long way to go to live up to the hype of an Xbox Series X/S or PS5 title. Perhaps its due to the scale of these maps or the destruction mechanics in play, but especially when talking about a game being released almost a full year after next-gen consoles have released, Battlefield 2042 didn't quite hit graphical highs.

RELATED: Battlefield 2042's Setting Repeats a Classic Video Game Problem

Battlefield 2042's Graphics Need An Upgrade

Giving Battlefield 2042 the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the gameplay trailer, the developers did state right at the outset that the graphics from the trailer were pre-alpha. That should actually put some minds at ease, at least for now. It seems likely that whatever the final art style and assets for Battlefield 2042 looks like, it will be of a higher quality than what was shown at E3 this week.

The big question stemming from that trailer is just how much better are the graphics going to be? Is it possible that when squeezing 128 players into Battlefield 2042, there's going to be a bit of a drag on the graphics and the performance? It certainly seems as if there was a definite tempering of expectations intended with that particular presentation. In all fairness, there's a lot going on systematically that could be taxing on next-gen systems, but that's still not a foolproof excuse.

The Pre-Alpha Graphics Battlefield 2042 Are a Bit Lackluster

battlefield 2042 feat

When talking about a franchise that's been dormant for a while, there is some expectation that the next installment is going to be an obvious upgrade over the last. The state of the pre-alpha gameplay in the new Battlefield 2042 begs the question of just how much better the game is going to look on release?

There's also the fact that this Battlefield 2042 will carry a $70 price tag as well, despite going full multiplayer and not including a campaign mode. It's clear DICE and EA are pushing for systemic innovation in Battlefield 2042, rather than graphical supremacy, which isn't the end of the world. That being said, compared to some of the PS5 and Xbox Series X games that have already released, the game's visual fidelity is comparatively lacking. If the pre-alpha footage is anything to go by, the development team might still have its work cut out for it before a release date that is rapidly approaching this fall.

Battlefield 2042 releases on October 22 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

MORE: E3 2021 - Schedule, Where To Watch, Everything Announced, & More