With the first-person shooter genre being as hugely popular as it is, it should be no surprise that a ton of FPS games release during the fall gaming rush every year. However, fall 2021 is especially packed with first-person shooter games, with at least one new high profile FPS game due for release in October, November, and December, ensuring that FPS fans consistently have something new to play from one month to the next.
Of course, FPS games come in different shapes and sizes and attract different audiences. While Far Cry 6 and Back 4 Blood are both first-person shooter games releasing in October, they aren't necessarily competing for the same players. Far Cry 6 will attract those who want a single-player open world experience, whereas Back 4 Blood will get the attention of FPS fans that want an online-focused co-op shooter.
The upcoming Battlefield 2042 was originally scheduled to launch in October as well, with it filling the role of being the major competitive multiplayer FPS game for October 2021. This original Battlefield 2042 release date would've given the game a headstart on its competition in the coming months, allowing fans to get their hands on Battlefield 2042 before they have the opportunity to purchase Call of Duty: Vanguard or Halo Infinite.
Unfortunately, DICE and EA had to delay Battlefield 2042's release date so that the game is now coming out on November 19 instead. This sandwiches Battlefield 2042 between Call of Duty: Vanguard and Halo Infinite, putting the game in a much less appealing spot.
Battlefield 2042 vs. Call of Duty: Vanguard
Battlefield's chief rival for over a decade now has been Activision's Call of Duty franchise, and that won't change in 2021. Both games are competing for the competitive multiplayer crowd that likes military shooters, and while both are virtually guaranteed to sell millions of copies out of the gate, it seems Battlefield 2042 coming out before Call of Duty: Vanguard would've been the best-case scenario.
This would've meant that Battlefield 2042 didn't have to compete with Call of Duty: Vanguard for sales at first, but now the two games will be going head to head on store shelves right when BF launches on November 19. It's possible that this will result in less total sales than Battlefield 2042 would have enjoyed had it managed to meet its originally planned October release date, though we'll never know for certain.
There a couple of interesting wrinkles to this that fans should consider, however. For instance, Battlefield 2042 is a live service game with DICE apparently planning on adding on to it for years to come. Call of Duty: Vanguard will be a live service game as well, but it won't receive support nearly as long as Battlefield 2042. In fact, there are already reports about the 2022 Call of Duty game, which will undoubtedly usurp Vanguard's spot when it launches next year.
The other interesting thing to keep in mind is EA Play and its connection to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Eventually, Battlefield 2042 will come to EA Play and by extension, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, greatly broadening the game's potential playerbase further. So while Call of Duty: Vanguard will likely have Battlefield 2042's number when it comes to early sales, it seems possible that EA's shooter could win out in terms of overall player numbers in the long run.
Battlefield 2042 vs. Halo
Another reason why Battlefield 2042's new release date is not as desirable as its previous one is that it is preceding Halo Infinite by only a couple of weeks now. It only being available on PC and Xbox means that it doesn't have quite the same potential playerbase as Battlefield or Call of Duty, but Halo Infinite's availability as a free-to-play multiplayer game is going to be huge, making it instantly accessible to millions of people who may rather play it than plop down the cash for Battlefield 2042 or Vanguard.
Halo Infinite, Battlefield 2042, and Call of Duty: Vanguard are all gunning for the wallet of the same consumer, who may have limited resources and definintely has limited time. FPS fans will have to pick and choose what they spend their time playing this fall, and the game's may very well cannibalize each other's sales. Battlefield 2042 once had the advantage of being out first, but its delay means that's no longer going to happen and it will have to have a far more intense competition.
However, diehard Battlefield fans are likely happy that the game's delayed as long as it means a better product once it finally launches. Fans will get to find out for themselves how Battlefield 2042 is shaping up well before launch, though. A Battlefield 2042 open beta is on the way, and while official details have yet to be revealed, more information should come to light sooner rather than later.
Battlefield 2042 launches November 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.