Battlefield 2042 is set to introduce plenty of new things, ranging from a Specialist system to dynamic weather events. While both are certainly exciting, one other thing that has caught the eye of many fans is the map lineup for Battlefield 2042. Players will be fighting through cities, deserts, and even part of Antarctica, with a huge visual variety seen across the seven confirmed play spaces. However, these will not be the only maps that feature in DICE’s next game.
Battlefield 2042 is bringing back fan favorite maps via a still-unconfirmed experience. Set to be revealed at EA Play, this additional mode is being developed by Ripple Effect, formerly known as DICE LA. While details are scarce on its gameplay, the fact that it will be made up of beloved locations from past games is a promising sign. While there have been many great maps throughout Battlefield’s storied history, some would fit particularly well with the game’s near future setting.
Battlefield 3’s Operation Metro And Operation Firestorm
Kicking off the list is a must-have map from the beloved Battlefield 3. Operation Metro is undoubtedly the most iconic map from the 2011 game, and for good reason. Opening in a park, the map saw teams facing off in a close quarters environment filled with trees and cover. Once players progressed to the next section of the map, they found themselves in a subway station packed with long sightlines great for snipers. A great example of Rush at its best, the game mode’s map progression was felt most on Operation Metro.
The diverse map design continued to be seen on the subway’s upper level, as it saw players bottlenecked on staircases as they tried to push forward. A great section for Battlefield players that love explosives, this area was perfect for grenades and C4. The final area took players outside, letting them fight through buildings or snipe those leaving the subway station. With each prior location favoring a playstyle, and this final area accommodating all styles, the map was beloved by all fans of Battlefield’s infantry play.
While Operation Firestorm shares the first half of its name with Metro, it was a vastly different map. Leaning heavily on the vehicles of Battlefield, jets and tanks played a major role in the map. Seeing a group of them push through the desert was a memorable sight for defenders, as there was a lot to deal with from the get-go. With snipers positioning themselves on the hills, too, it is hard to top the thrill of the initial push on Operation Firestorm. Unfortunately, it is not on the list of maps that leaker Tom Henderson has teased for the Ripple Effect game mode, so it remains to be seen if it will ever return.
Battlefield 3’s Damavand Peak and Siene Crossing
Two more maps that do not appear on Henderson’s list of “Battlehub” locations are Damavand Peak and Siene Crossing. However, both maps should make a comeback, regardless of whether they are available on release or added via Battlefield 2042’s post-launch Seasons. Siene Crossing was essentially a full version of Operation Metro’s final area, with player’s battling through a French city. A standout section saw players fighting over a bridge, with fighting taking place on the path and in the river below it.
As for Damavand Peak, the map features a moment that has stuck with gamers for years. After destroying the first few M-COM stations in Rush, the objective will move to an area far below. Players will need to leap off the mountain to this new play space, a scene that is iconic for both attackers and defenders. For the former, leaping off a cliff with several teammates is a wild sight, with the freefall being a lot less common than it is in modern shooters. On defense, seeing tons of enemies flying dropping from above is intense, with helicopters also free falling toward the ground. Fortunately, Battlefield 2042’s reveal trailer shows that a moment like this is being replicated via the Breakaway map.
While the Damavand Peak jump may be the best thing about the Battlefield 3 map, it is far from the only good thing about it. Not only does it feature similar variety to Operation Metro, as players move from an open area to a building complex before reaching an underpass, but it also used the dome to show off Battlefield’s trademark destruction. Able to be ripped apart with explosive damage, blowing up the large white structure was a ton of fun. On top of that, Recon players could use a spawn beacon to drop on top of the dome, using the vantage point to snipe enemies below.
Battlefield 4’s Siege of Shanghai And Operation Locker
While Operation Firestorm, Siene Crossing, and Damavand Peak may not have been leaked for Battlefield 2042, these two maps have. Alongside Operation Metro, Siege of Shanghai and Operation Locker have been rumored to come to the game. This would be for the best, as both maps offer two hugely different Battlefield experiences for players to enjoy. Though Battlefield 4 had its issues at launch, these two maps were a hit with fans from the get-go.
Siege of Shanghai saw players fighting through a massive city, with the map spotlighting the game’s Levelution. While the destruction of the skyscraper was a lot of fun, as it saw the map coveted in a layer of dust, the city was filled with buildings to fight through. While players could get on top of these using spawn beacons or elevators, the map would be a great place for the Battlefield 2042 Specialist Webster to shine. Equipped with a grappling hook, Webster players could quickly reach some power positions.
Finally, there is Operation Locker, one of the smallest and most close quarters Battlefield maps of all time. Taking place in a prison complex, the map is comprised entirely of interior fights. The only place to explore on the outside of the prison is a snowy mountain path, an area that could be made more memorable through Battlefield 2042’s weather system. If a severe blizzard is going on outside the map that makes it hard to see, players would have more of a reason to keep fighting in the prison itself. With Battlefield 2042’s new maps being so massive, including a small location like Locker in the lineup of remasters would be a wise idea.
Battlefield 2042 releases on October 22 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.