Both Halo Infinite’s multiplayer and Battlefield 2042 launched in November 2021, and since they are both fast-paced, futuristic competitive shooters, they are often compared to one another. The comparisons at the beginning were not unwarranted; the two games share similar sandbox style multiplayer, and both were plagued with issues at launch.
Unfortunately for Battlefield, the issues persisted. Almost a year after launch, many still consider the game unplayable and the player count has drastically declined. Luckily for Halo Infinite, it was able to shake off its rocky start and has begun to thrive, gaining the fans’ trust once again. However, even after the two games’ paths diverged, many still draw comparisons between the two, which does not bode well for either title.
Where the Comparison’s Between Halo Infinite and Battlefield 2042 Begin and End
Battlefield 2042 and Halo Infinite both have a rich lineage as popular FPS titles. Each franchise has a dedicated fanbase that has followed each new title, for better or worse. And the latest two releases were striving to be ambitious, breakout games that would have a leg up over other FPS games. Halo Infinite changed its multiplayer to follow a free-to-play model while also allowing players to partake in seasonal battle passes. However, problems arose when players experienced gameplay issues, the battle pass and cosmetics proved lackluster, and customization was minimal compared to other Halo games.
Battlefield 2042 also experienced issues with the progression system, as players became frustrated with the arduous XP progression that was only amplified by the numerous bugs present at launch. Players were very vocal about their disdain for game-breaking bugs such as randomly clipping into walls or objects and dying, or ineffective weapons and loadouts that would often reset themselves to default and undo any player customization. The first rendition of Battlefield 2042’s multiplayer did not even feature a scoreboard. This issue has been since fixed through an update, but the absence of such a basic multiplayer feature exemplifies how faulty the experience was.
Each game had its own issues at launch, but the core issues were fixable and many have been patched out. However, Halo Infinite has been actively fixing issues with regular updates, and while Battlefield 2042 is also receiving updates, the consistency of each update and amount of fixes has not been able to keep up with player’s concerns, leading some to give up on the game entirely and petition EA for a full refund.
How Comparing Battlefield 2042 and Halo Infinite Is Unfair to Both Games
The world of competitive multiplayer games is cut-throat even for the developers. Each new game in a series is not only trying to best its predecessors but also competing with every other FPS on the market. This can sometimes lead to rushed development, which was likely the case for both of these titles.
Both EA's DICE and 343 Industries had to develop games through the COVID-19 Pandemic, which definitely put extra strain on each game's release. EA has also made comments comparing its game to Halo Infinite, but the developer was quick to correct the comments made, stating they were taken out of context. However, that controversy happened during the decline of Battlefield 2042, so whether EA actually made those allegations or not, the timing was detrimental to the developer.
Whether it is fans or developers negatively comparing similar games, the comments are unfair to both parties. At the end of the day, the Battlefield and Halo franchises are fundamentally different, with each having its own ups and downs, as every game does. However, it is how the game addresses the issue that determines whether it can become successful, and unfortunately Battlefield 2042 has been unable to properly address the gameplay flaws and glitches that have dug it into such a deep hole.
Without an exponentially large overhaul, Battlefield 2042 may never reach its full potential. Many fans have lost hope, and EA should use the problems of its latest title to know what not to do in the next rendition of Battlefield. The franchise as a whole is still salvageable, but comparing this title to Halo Infinite only continues to hurt the Battlefield name. Halo Infinite does still show signs of life, and the community seems to be starting to rally around 343 Industries as it tries to right the issues that affected the beginnings of the game and potentially makes Halo Infinite a standout title in the series.
Halo Infinite is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.