Summary
TheBattlefieldfranchise hasn’t had the best five years. Released in November 2018,Battlefield Vwas a pretty major disappointment for fans, especially coming hot off the heels of the surprisingly greatBattlefield 1. WhileBattlefield Vwasn’t all bad, its disappointing reception definitely harmed theBattlefieldbrand as a whole, something that its successor would exacerbate greatly.
Despite showing some promising pre-release trailers,Battlefield 2042was an unmitigated disaster upon its initial October 2021 release. A bizarre and underwhelming new Specialist system, a severe lack of modes and maps, and some appalling technical issues all plaguedBattlefield 2042on launch, and though DICE has done a solid job of salvaging the game, it’s undoubtedly damaged the brand, meaning that the nextBattlefieldis going to have to go above and beyond in terms of features, modes, and maps. And for the latter,Battlefieldmight want to look to its competition.
Battlefield Needs to Follow In Call of Duty’s Footsteps When It Comes to Remakes
Battlefield’s Portal Mode Just Scratched the Surface
One ofBattlefield 2042’s only redeeming qualities on launch was its Portal game mode. An entirely separate mode fromBattlefield 2042’s multiplayer, Portal allowed players to create their own custom matches, with the primary hook being the ability to use maps, assets, and game rules from some ofBattlefield’s most beloved past titles. On launch,Battlefield 1942,Battlefield: Bad Company 2, andBattlefield 3all received two maps each, along with their unique weapons, classes, and vehicles, all of which had been remastered.
EA and DICE’s original plan forBattlefield 2042’s Portal modewas to keep updating it over time, but those plans never really came to fruition. Aside from one or two updates followingBattlefield 2042’s first season, Portal never really received any substantial content additions, which was extremely disappointing considering just how much potential this Portal mode had.
While it’s understandable that DICE wanted to prioritize fixingBattlefield 2042over adding new content to its Portal mode, it’s left a widespread desire among fans to receive more remasteredBattlefieldcontent, a desire that the next mainlineBattlefieldgame should deliver on. For years now,theCall of Dutyfranchisehas delivered a handful of remastered classic maps alongside a wealth of original content, and it’s an approach thatBattlefieldshould adopt going forward. The entire roster of pastBattlefieldmaps is just lying dormant right now, and it would be great to see them slowly find their way back to the franchise, with their scenery and layout potentially changing based on the era the game is set in, just likeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s upcoming Das Haus map remake.
The Next Battlefield Shouldn’t Follow Directly in Modern Warfare 3’s Footsteps
But whileBattlefieldshould definitely take inspiration fromCall of Duty’s general approach to map remakes, it shouldn’t followCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s approach to the letter. Where most recentCall of Dutyentries have added just a handful of remake maps, that’s all thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3launched with, featuring no original 6v6 maps on release day, and only a collection ofremastered 2009Modern Warfare 2maps. These remasters were decent in quality, but they aren’t what fans wanted from a new $70 game.
The Battlefield Franchise Could Use Some Remasters
TheCall of Dutyfranchise doesn’t have too many full-game remasters under its belt right now, but it still has more thanBattlefield. While someBattlefieldfans want the series to continue moving forward, others want to see a return to the series' heyday, and remasters of the franchise’s most beloved titles are another great way to achieve that. Every month that goes by without aBattlefield: Bad CompanyorBattlefield 3remasterincreases the amount of money EA is leaving on the table.
Battlefield 2042
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield’s past and present.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
