After all of the leaks and rumors, EA and DICE have finally revealed the latest, highly anticipated entry in the long running Battlefield series. Battlefield 2042 brings the series back to the modern era with three distinct game modes ready at launch including Conquest, Hazard Zone, and more. In addition to the new setting, the experience has been tuned for next-gen platforms which support 128 players at a time and real-time events that promise to change matches on the fly.
What many longtime fans have been curious about, however, is the inclusion of a campaign. Prior to the reveal, new rumors indicated that this latest Battlefield could be launching without a single player campaign, something that has been a standard of the franchise since it was introduced with Battlefield: Bad Company. As it stands, DICE has confirmed that Battlefield 2042 won't be launching with a campaign of any kind.
While that news may be disappointing to many longtime fans, DICE isn't abandoning the story elements entirely. Instead, the storytelling has been infused into the online elements of Battlefield 2042, giving players a reason for all of the fighting. Taking place in the near future of 2042, shortages of food, energy, and clean water have pushed nations to the edge and created the biggest refugee crisis in human history. The United States and Russia have seemingly pulled the rest of the world into an all-out war, coaxing those who are not affiliated with a particular nation to join their side, promising a future to them in this new world.
Along with the overarching story, each of the seven multiplayer maps at launch come with a bit of backstory as well, similar to what Treyarch attempted to do with Deniable Ops in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Here's a bit of backstory on each of the maps, where each is located, and what each side is fighting for.
- Kaleidoscope - Located in South Korea, teams battle over control of a quantum powered disinformation hub after an attack threatens the safety of the global network.
- Manifest - This Singapore inspired map is a strategic location for global trade. The American supply lines are under threat here, leading to a major conflict.
- Orbital - A rocket site located in French Guiana, both sides are fighting to control the area before a controversial space launch.
- Discarded - A water heavy map set in Alang, India, teams fight one another to secure rogue nuclear assets against extreme tidal conditions.
- Renewal - The large desert map set in Egypt, both sides battle to control groundbreaking agriculture technology.
- Hourglass - This Qatar map features a lost convoy in the shifting sands as well as a city center about to be torn apart by the weather.
- Breakaway - The final launch map is located in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Teams fight over dwindling Oil and Gas reserves while the ice starts to give away around them.
According to DICE, each of these seven maps have been specially designed to be the biggest ones ever made as well as offering the most "sandbox-enabling Battlefield ever built." Along with the return of destruction, these maps will also be home to dynamic weather, as well as environmental hazards and world events which aim to make each match a unique one for players. This also seems to be the tip of the iceberg as Battlefield 2042 is being positioned as a live service game, with new content being added to the experience over time to keep things fresh and interesting months down the road.
Battlefield 2042 launches on October 22, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.