It's no secret that Battlefield 2042 didn't do quite as well as EA had hoped for. Released back in October 2021, Battlefield 2042 was practically dead on arrival, with those having shelled out the extra cash to play it early warning the rest of the gaming world against picking it up altogether. A lack of content, baffling map design, disappointing progression systems, and a severe lack of features from previous entries all led to Battlefield 2042 failing to appease both long-time fans and newcomers, and EA didn't even try to hide its disappointment.
While DICE has spent the last year or so trying to revive Battlefield 2042's dwindling player-base with a handful of free content updates, it hasn't been enough to keep the franchise afloat. But this isn't the first disappointing Battlefield game. In fact, Battlefield 2042 is just the most recent in a long line of disappointments for the once-great franchise, with Battlefield Hardline and Battlefield 5 contributing to a steady decline for the series. Now, it seems the only way Battlefield can remain relevant is to do something drastic, like create Battlefield 2143.
Battlefield 2143 is the Best Next Step for the Franchise
One of the biggest overarching issues of Battlefield 2042 was that it tried to be everything all at once. With EA viewing that last few games as losses, Battlefield 2042 needed to be a definite win for the company, and that meant ticking all the boxes for all demographics. That, however, is impossible in the gaming landscape, and it's exactly why Battlefield 2042 feels like such a confusing mess.
Battlefield 2042 is simultaneously trying to hearken back to the golden age of the franchise while trying to push things in a new direction. It tries to introduce complex new mechanics, but doesn't want to alienate new players or push away fans of the earlier, simpler games in the series. It wants to give players the biggest multiplayer maps ever seen in a military shooter, but it doesn't want to overwhelm players by populating its map with more players or points of interest. On the whole, Battlefield 2042 doesn't know what it wants to be, and that confusion has led to it feeling like the most incomplete and incoherent game in recent franchise history.
For EA and DICE's next Battlefield entry, one sole vision is needed to guide the project forward and ensure that it feels complete. Even if that one idea isn't outstanding, it's necessary to ensure that the next Battlefield at least attracts one particular crowd and keeps it. The best direction for the Battlefield franchise to go in now is a bold one, and a futuristic game like Battlefield 2143 could offer exactly that.
One of Battlefield 2042's most lackluster elements was its setting. Set in the titular year of 2042, fans expected some high-tech weaponry and vehicles. Instead, what they got was just another run-of-the-mill modern-day military shooter, with the only futuristic element being the inclusion of unpredictable weather disasters. For EA and DICE's next entry, they should give fans what they wanted and take the series to the year 2143. Rideable mechs, hover gunships, laser weapons, and futuristic gadgets are all just a few examples of how the next Battlefield game could stand out from the crowd. With Call of Duty - Battlefield's main competitor - moving away from futuristic settings, Battlefield 2143 could stand out from the biggest name in the FPS genre.
With Battlefield 2142 having released 17 years ago, the groundwork has already been laid for the in-universe lore and some vehicle and weapon designs. The next Battlefield needs to do something to stand out from the rest of the market, and a bold direction may be the only way it can bring back the attention of the wider gaming market.
Battlefield 2042 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.