As Battlefield 2042 begins winding down its seventh and final season in the coming months, EA and developer DICE will no doubt turn their attention towards wrapping up work on the next game in the series. And while some other entries from the famous franchise have gone on to spawn direct sequels, the fact that Battlefield 2042 never managed to develop the dedicated following of some of its forebears means that the 2021 title is likely to be a one-and-done. But even though gamers are unlikely to ever see a sequel to Battlefield 2042, its limited-time Future Strike event provides the perfect template for adding a speedy and strategic new mode to the next Battlefield.

Introduced as part of Battlefield 2042’s Future Strike event, the Strike Team mode offers a strategic spin on the series’ traditional run-and-gun gameplay. By switching up Battlefield 2042’s familiar formula for the limited-time event DICE proved that even an old shooter can still learn new tricks, and it shouldn’t abandon that momentum by leaving Strike Team behind when the next Battlefield game is released. Fleshing out the Strike Team mode and making its smaller, speedier matches part of the upcoming sequel’s core gameplay may even help the series regain some of its former glory.

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Battlefield 2042’s Strike Team Mode Sees the Series Step Beyond its Roots

Clearly taking inspiration from Valve’s classic Counter-Strike and Call of Duty’s popular Search and Destroy mode, Battlefield 2042’s new Strike Team mode ditches the massive battles the franchise is known for in favor of smaller, more strategic matches. Playable in either 4v4 or 8v8 on multiple maps, Strike Team sees teams fighting for control of objectives in rounds that last little more than a minute. Though the mode lacks a traditional respawn mechanic, eliminated players can respawn as drones that can mark enemies for their surviving squadmates to see.

With a far faster pace of play than a typical Battlefield 2042 match and unique mechanics that set it apart from other modes, Strike Team makes for one of the most interesting additions to the game in ages. Though obviously taking some cues from its contemporaries, the limited-time mode also shows that after years of releasing competent but often increasingly formulaic entries in the franchise, Battlefield can still try something new. This is why, as Battlefield 2042’s final season winds down, DICE should take the time to fully flesh out the Strike Team mode and make it a staple of the series moving forward.

Strike Team Could Be a Central Piece of a Revitalized Battlefield

Fleshing out Strike Team before the next Battlefield game could make the already innovative mode even more enjoyable. To ensure that the action remains fast-paced and frantic, the mode’s 90-second time timer should be retained, but there are other elements of the gameplay that could benefit from some additional depth. One good place to start would be giving downed players a bit more to do.

The current ability to spawn in as a drone post-death in Strike Team lets Battlefield 2042 players help their team even when they’re down and out, but additional options could make them even more useful. From adding a flashbang-like functionality to letting drones slow down enemies’ capture rate for each map’s objective, there are multiple ways their utility could be expanded. Battlefield 2042 developer DICE could even allow each team’s sole Specialist to tap into a video feed from the drones, giving them a better overview of the constantly shifting battlefield.

Battlefield 2042’s Strike Team mode is an innovative and exciting addition to the game and should become a series mainstay moving forward. And while Battlefield should never abandon the large-scale shootouts that helped the franchise become a fan favorite, embracing and expanding Strike Team’s speedy, strategic gameplay for its next entry could keep the series feeling fresh for years to come.