Battlefield 2042 is the highly anticipated return of EA's premiere military shooter. The newest entry in the series takes it to a near-future setting filled with advanced weaponry and gear like robotic dogs. Of course, when the game releases later this year it will have some serious competition with the likes of Call of Duty: Vanguard and Back 4 Blood releasing around the same time, and Halo Infinite not far behind. To help itself stand out within the genre, Battlefield 2042 is doubling down on evolving the series formula with a number of big changes.
These changes see DICE focusing on fleshing out the game's multiplayer offerings. Not only does this include the exclusion of a single-player campaign, but it also has led to new modes like Portal and Battlefield 2042's Hazard Zone being created. Both modes give players a new way to tackle the Battlefield experience while bigger servers and weather disasters aim to mix up the core multiplayer mode as well. Another big change coming with Battlefield 2042 is the introduction of Specialists, which replace Battlefield's usual classes and help flesh out its unique setting.
Specialists in Battlefield 2042
So far DICE has revealed five specialists that each have their own gadget and trait that allows players to customize their approach to matches. While the specialists do replace the traditional Battlefield classes, the replacement does help open up the possibilities for players when building loadouts. The lack of classes means that every specialist can take advantage of Battlefield 2042's full arsenal of weapons. The game is slated to launch with 10 specialists, with more being added after launch thanks to Battlefield 2042's live service approach to new content. Character-driven abilities have become very popular among shooters in recent years, and additional specialists being introduced to the game will likely lead to some interesting new options for players to take advantage of.
However, Specialists also offer an avenue for the world of Battlefield 2042 to grow in lieu of a campaign. Every specialist has a background, and while some of them may be brief, they offer a glimpse into the world outside of Battlefield 2042's multiplayer matches and add some motivations behind what players are doing in the game. From the specialists that have been revealed so far, their abilities are not too game-changing, but do offer different ways to approach situations during matches, whether it be with an automatic turret, a grappling hook, or a pistol that can heal allies. DICE has revealed a video explaining four of Battlefield 2042's Specialists in one convenient place, but longtime fans of the series may be very interested to see how Battlefield 4's Irish stacks up against the competition.
The Background of Specialist Kimble 'Irish' Graves
Kimble 'Irish' Graves is, so far, the only character in Battlefield 2042 that is returning from an earlier entry in the series. Irish was prominently featured in the single-player campaign of Battlefield 4, where he was one of the player's squadmates. Throughout the campaign Irish was characterized as a soldier who cared deeply for squadmates like Pac, as well as putting his neck on the line for a number of Chinese refugees. However, towards the end of the campaign players had to choose whether or not to sacrifice Irish or Hannah for completion of the mission. With Irish's appearance in Battlefield 2042's Exodus short film, the canonical ending for Battlefield 4 has been confirmed, as Irish survives.
In the time between Battlefield 4 and Battlefield 2042, Irish left the United States Marine Corps. After large global disasters displaced over 1.2 billion people before the game takes place, Irish was reminded of the Chinese people he helped in Battlefield 4. As such, he joined the Non-Patriated, which are refugees displaced from their homeland in Battlefield 2042's story. Eventually, Irish became the Captain of the MFS-04 Exodus Arleigh Burke-class destroyer ship, which is seen throughout the Exodus short film. The short film also established that Battlefield 4's Pac was killed, which undoubtedly has a big effect on Irish as he viewed Pac as a little brother throughout Battlefield 4's campaign.
Irish's Abilities in Battlefield 2042
DICE has also revealed what players can expect when playing as Irish in Battlefield 2042, as he brings a more defensive approach to the game's firefights. This is through Irish's gadget known as a Fortification System. The system is a waist-high wall that is clear on the top to let players see enemy positions on the other side of it. Players will have to crouch behind the wall to be covered by it, but it will protect them from enemy gunfire as long as they are positioned properly. The Fortification System also features the APS-36 Shootdown Sentinel that functions similarly to a Trophy System and destroys explosives before they get closer and explode on the cover.
Irish also has a trait known as Veteran, which gives Irish 10 points of body armor, which seems reminiscent of Battlefield 4's ARMOR specialization. DICE's official description of the trait, however, also mentions that Irish will get additional bonuses from downed enemies. What this means is not clear, but it could refer to ammo, equipment, or armor. However, it seems likely that fans won't know exactly what Veteran does for Irish until they get a chance to try him out in Battlefield 2042's beta.
Irish's gadget and trait in Battlefield 2042 seem interesting and could be very useful for players in defensive situations. The Fortification System will be great for covering objectives with unique sight angles, while the Veteran trait could end up being very useful for skilled players who live for a long time and need to replenish their resources. It will be very interesting to see what the remaining Specialists can do and what DICE has planned for Battlefield 2042's post-launch Specialists. Hopefully, players will get some more news on the game and its Specialist lineup sometime soon.
Unfortunately, the actor who portrays Irish, Michael K. Williams, recently died due to unknown causes that are still under investigation. The loss is a tragedy and shocked Hollywood and his fans especially, as he was only 54 years old. Michael K. Williams' career spanned decades and he appeared in over 100 roles over the years. Williams' passing is a genuine shame, and, hopefully, his family will be able to grieve and recover as comfortably as is possible.
Battlefield 2042 releases on October 22 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.