When Battlefield 2042 was first revealed in June of 2021, so-called "Battlefield moments” were a key part of the trailer. Showcasing a series of impossible aerial maneuvers and one-in-a-million combat situations, it felt like a celebration of everything that made the series unique in the eyes of fans. Despite the game’s rocky reception, Reddit user Vance_H recently posted a clip to the Battlefield subreddit proving that, while rare, these unbelievable occurrences really do happen in-game.
In the highlight, Vance_H can be seen making an effort to run over two presumably-panicked members of the enemy team before swerving to the left and coming to a stop. In a stunt that could be replicated intentionally, another Battlefield 2042 player fires a rocket at the truck but misses in the most spectacular manner, the missile flying through one window and out another without ever making contact with the vehicle.
Had it not been recorded, it’s the sort of thing nobody would have believed. Yet, situations such as these are precisely why some find the series to be so engaging. “This is exactly the kind of Battlefield moment that lets me know the game has huge potential” commented Reddit user Iosumi. “Love seeing this and look forward to playing in the future!”
Previous installments in the Battlefield franchise focused on fictionalized versions of decades-old conflicts, and, while Battlefield 1 was well-received by the community, it was relatively restrained when compared to the ridiculous sandbox mayhem of Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4. Based on the response to Vance_H’s video, it seems like most of the Battlefield community prefers this unabashedly absurd approach to gameplay as opposed to the somewhat grounded prior games.
What’s more, clips like these may help to rescue the reputation of Battlefield 2042. The beta was infamous for its lack of polish, and, unfortunately, the full release didn’t receive much of a tune-up. Plagued with all manner of technical flaws, DICE’s latest effort can be a downright pain to play at times, but, with a renewed focus on massive battles and uncompromisingly wacky conflicts, fans may come to embrace the unabated absurdity of the game, even in its unfinished state.
That said, the coming months will be crucial for Battlefield 2042’s longevity. Should DICE fail to squash some of the most blatant bugs, the player base will likely suffer as gamers look elsewhere to get their FPS fix. Though troubled in their own ways, high-profile games like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Halo Infinite represent major competition for EA’s new release, and, while Battlefield moments make for excellent organic marketing, it’s hard to know how long the game can last without receiving any major patches or updates.
Battlefield 2042 is now available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/.