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FANS DESERVED BETTER THAN THIS

Battlefield 2042 is the latest installment in the long-running Battlefield franchise, developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. Set in a near-future world on the brink of collapse, it aims to deliver a high-stakes, large-scale first-person shooter experience. Marketed as a return to form after the disappointment of Battlefield V, it instead fell short of expectations - arguably becoming an even bigger misstep for the series.
As much as I’ve enjoyed the game since Season 5, I still can’t recommend it. Sure, the updates have been solid - DICE fixed, reworked, and added a lot of content - but it shouldn’t have taken so many months to get here.
The game launched in a terrible state, comparable to the rocky premieres of Cyberpunk 2077 and Fallout 76. And even now, it still falls short in many areas when stacked against previous Battlefield titles. I do appreciate DICE’s commitment to improving the game - especially when you consider how quickly Battlefield V was abandoned - but it’s simply not enough. DICE and EA: if you want players to leave positive reviews, try launching a GOOD and FINISHED product next time.
Story
Disappointingly, there's no campaign mode at all.
Game Modes
Conquest (64 and 128), Close Quarter Conquest (64), and Breakthrough (64) are really the only default game modes that matter. I personally play almost exclusively in CQC - it’s intense and fast-paced - but unfortunately, the map pool is limited to just three. If you're looking for more variety, larger maps, or vehicle gameplay, Conquest and Breakthrough still hold up well. No complaints from me on that front.
Occasionally, the game introduces special events with unique modes and rewards. While they can be hit or miss, they offer players a welcome change of pace and something fresh to experience.
Portal
Battlefield Portal is an incredible concept that ultimately suffered from a lack of new content. It lets players create custom matches with a wide range of gameplay options and share them with the community. Overall, it's a fantastic feature that deserves to be a staple in future Battlefield games.
Hazard Zone
Hazard Zone is essentially an extraction shooter, aiming to be a Tarkov-lite set in the Battlefield universe. Unfortunately, it failed to capture interest, and as a result, it faded away quickly.
Specialists
I’m one of those players who couldn’t care less about the specialists. Do I think it was a bad idea that doesn’t fit the Battlefield formula? Absolutely. Does it make the game unplayable or even significantly less enjoyable? Not really.
On one hand, I like the idea of gadgets and unique traits for each operator, but on the other hand, it's a bit odd to see 20 Sundances in a single match. With a few adjustments, it could be a fun gimmick in future Battlefield games - just don't make it the core focus.
Gunplay
Gunplay is always subjective, so I won’t spend too much time on it. Personally, I enjoyed it. It’s casual and doesn’t demand much mental effort - perfect for players who don’t have the time to master every nuance of the game. Most of the weapons are easy to handle, meaning even with average aim, you can still find yourself topping the leaderboards.
The TTK (time to kill) feels solid overall - fast enough to be satisfying, with the exception of three or four guns. As a result, enemies rarely feel like bullet sponges. That said, there are still issues with hit registration, lag spikes, and occasional desyncs. These problems can make the TTD (time to death) feel frustrating at times, as you can be one-shotted without any chance to fight back. While these issues aren’t as prevalent on smaller maps, they become much more noticeable in matches with 128 players.
Vehicles
I don’t have much to say about the vehicles in BF2042, since I rarely use them. The controls feel clunky, the vehicles move awkwardly, and flying helicopters and jets isn’t all that satisfying.
Server Browser
There’s no server browser, and it’s hard to understand why DICE was so determined not to include it. It remains one of the dumbest decisions they made.
Destruction
Compared to older Battlefield games, this one feels like a step backward. Rather than enhancing the existing systems to allow for more impactful destruction, they scaled it back. Even visually, the explosions and building demolitions lack the satisfying impact we’ve come to expect.
Maps
The maps in Battlefield 2042 are a real mixed bag - some, like Spearhead, are solid, while others, like Kaleidoscope, miss the mark. The release maps were especially bad before their reworks. They were too large, too open, with vast flat terrains and hardly any cover. Thankfully, most of them are now at least playable.
It might be controversial (or maybe not?), but I genuinely think the later maps from the new seasons are fantastic. Redacted especially stands out - it's easily one of my all-time favorites in the Battlefield franchise.
HUD & UI
I like the overall design of the HUD. It’s modern, minimalist, and provides all the essential information without cluttering the screen (for the most part). Unfortunately, the customization options are limited, so if you’re not a fan of the default HUD, you're pretty much stuck with it.
After several patches, the UI has become much more solid. The menus have been streamlined, and even something as simple as changing attachments is no longer a hassle.
Visuals
In my opinion, the game looks (mostly) good. While the older maps could use some improvement - often feeling too clean and lacking in detail - the newer ones are visually stunning. Redacted is packed with incredible detail, while Exposure impresses with its breathtaking environmental design.
The dynamic weather is an impressive concept, but in the long run, it doesn’t quite deliver. While random tornadoes or sandstorms can add unpredictability to fights, they often don’t feel impactful enough. It would be better if these events were rarer but capable of causing real havoc on the battlefield.
Audio
Technically, the soundtrack isn't bad. It's solid electronic music with a subtle noise element. The problem, however, is that it doesn't suit the game. While it fits the theme, it doesn’t match the gameplay. What we need is something that hypes us up, something to pump adrenaline into our veins! This is an FPS, not a horror or sci-fi game.
The rest of the audio is decent. Nothing groundbreaking, but at least everything sounds as it should.
Technicalities
Performance heavily depends on the map and game mode you're playing. From my experience, fewer players usually means better FPS and less desync. That’s why I’ve always avoided the 128-player mode - it’s essentially a technical nightmare. Interestingly, newer maps seem to be better optimized compared to the older or reworked ones. You'd expect better quality from maps that have so much extra work put into them...
There are still a fair number of bugs and glitches. Aside from major issues like wonky hit registration and lag spikes, there are also smaller problems - like falling under the map or encountering flying vehicles.
The game supports crossplay with consoles, but if you're not a fan, there's an option to disable it.