Battlefield isn't quite the franchise it once was. Making a sizable splash in 2002 with its debut title Battlefield 1942, the Battlefield franchise offered something that no other military shooter could at the time. While Call of Duty had great ground combat, Steel Beasts had solid tank gameplay, and Combat Flight Simulator let players take to the skies, Battlefield let players do it all at once. That expansive approach helped Battlefield continue to stand out in an ever-growing market, but the franchise has somewhat lost its luster.
After the phenomenal successes that were Battlefield 3 and 4, EA decided to go in a new direction, delivering a cops-and-robbers style experience in Battlefield: Hardline. Failing to live up to expectations, Hardline was the first big miss for the franchise, and the losses only continued with Battlefield 5 and now Battlefield 2042 both being critical and commercial disappointments. But the Battlefield franchise won't give up that easily, as EA and DICE have already put their 2023 plans out there.
DICE Will Continue to Support Battlefield 2042 in 2023
Despite Battlefield 2042 being one of, if not the franchise's biggest failure, EA and DICE seem committed to keeping it going. Since its launch over a year ago, Battlefield 2042 has received a few major updates adding new Specialists, weapons, vehicles, and maps to the game. For the most part, these additions have been welcomed by those still playing, though they haven't really been enough to draw in any new crowds or encourage players to return.
Still, that lack of audience reception doesn't seem to have deterred DICE, as it plans on continuing to update Battlefield 2042 throughout 2023. Season 4 of Battlefield 2042 doesn't have a release date set in stone just yet, but reports seem to suggest a February 28, 2023, launch. Season 4 is set to bring another new Specialist to the game, along with a map and "Assault" game mode that's designed to offer more fast-paced, intense battles. It has also been reported that fan-favorite mode "Rush" is going to return with Season 4, which is something fans have been asking for since day one.
On top of Season 4, EA and DICE have already confirmed that Season 5 of Battlefield 2042 is in development and will be released in the near future. So despite the rough reception and general lack of interest, it seems as though EA and DICE can't afford for Battlefield 2042 to be a total loss, and they'll attempt to keep it going by any means necessary. With live-service failures like Marvel's Avengers finally admitting defeat and closing their doors, Battlefield 2042 could be not long behind it.
According to a recent blog post on Battlefield 2042's official website, EA and DICE are "all-in" on the game, and the confirmation of more updates in 2023 does seem to suggest that's true. For those who are holding out hope for a new Battlefield game in 2023, the odds don't look great. While it's certainly possible that a smaller spin-off like a Battlefield: Bad Company sequel could be in the works and revealed later in the year, there haven't really been any rumors or leaks to suggest that's true. At this point, it's likely that fans will be waiting a long time for a new Battlefield game to hit shelves, so 2042 will have to make do.