Battlefield 2042's Early Access launch next week appears to be more and more of a mixed bag every day. A recent leak has fans up in arms about how much content the game seems to lack in comparison to the rest of the series.
The Battlefield series is known for its large-scale battles involving numerous variants of vehicles and guns, but Battlefield 2042 appears to be scaling back somewhat, disappointing some longtime fans. The game is set to launch in early access next week, though it might not be bringing a lot of weapons along with it.
Aaron Frogger on Reddit published screenshots of the game, allegedly managing sneak into a match using the preloaded version, and the results seem disappointing to many fans. There are twenty-two weapons shown in total, spread across several different formats including LMGs and assault rifles. Some replies on the post indicate that the weapon count is "light" compared to the game's competitors, and when combined with Battlefield 2042 technical issues that are confirmed to be present at launch, fans are frustrated.
While 22 weapons may seem like a lot, comparing it to its contemporaries like Apex Legends or even the previous game in the series makes it clear that the count is lackluster. Battlefield V allowed players to use more than 25 individual weapons, so Battlefield 2042 appears to be scaling back the number somewhat, if the leak is accurate. Future players should keep in mind that leaks are often fake, and the only way to know the real weapon count is to wait for the game to be officially launched.
The reasons for why Battlefield 2042 may have fewer weapons than usual are plentiful; it is entirely possible that DICE plans to add more in updates, or that the studio is focusing more on balancing and made a calculated decision to scale back. Regardless, it is a disappointing change among many other strange decisions that differentiate Battlefield 2042 from the rest of its series, and some fans will certainly hope the leak is indeed fake.
During earlier leaks and reveals, some fans speculated that a delay would help Battlefield 2042 reach its full potential, citing Halo Infinite as an example of how much a delay can help a game. Development studios often receive backlash for delays, but the majority of the time delaying a game is beneficial. The launch window is a crucial moment for games, and holding a title back to make a better launch product would ideally help satisfy fans and give DICE more time to respond to player feedback. With the game's release imminent, though, such a delay is unlikely.
Battlefield 2042 releases on November 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.