Highlights
- Battlefield 2042's cosmetic choices were considered over the top and contrary to the franchise's traditional feel, and the next release should avoid this to put the IP back on track.
- Battlefield should lean into the gritty and realistic aesthetics of its past titles to differentiate itself from Call of Duty's more eccentric cosmetics, which have pulled away from realism.
- Returning to grounded cosmetics would not only please fans but also give Battlefield a greater sense of identity and a potential advantage over Call of Duty in the ongoing competition between the two franchises.
It is fair to say that the next installment to the Battlefield franchise has a lot riding on it, especially with the controversy that surrounded Battlefield 2042 after it launched. While 2042 has done a lot recently in terms of adding a wide range of new content for players to enjoy, the game still possesses some issues that the next franchise project should learn from.
While it is unknown what kind of setting the next Battlefield project will adopt, there are a lot of widely applicable gameplay elements that 2042 got wrong that run the risk of being repeated. Although seemingly innocuous, the cosmetics of 2042 have been considered by many as over the top and contrary to the classic Battlefield feel, and this is something the next release needs to avoid entirely to put the IP back on the right course.
The Argument for Battlefield: Bad Company Remakes
With the franchise’s mainline entries failing to find their footing in recent years, now is the perfect time for a Battlefield: Bad Company remake.
The Next Battlefield Game Should Lean Into the Gritty Cosmetics of Past Titles
Battlefield has always thrived through its ability to offer huge online experiences that encompass the full breadth of warfare, with ground, tank, air, and even naval battles often occurring simultaneously. This has always allowed the franchise to market itself as a more immersive and realistic FPS compared to other giants of the genre like Call of Duty, which usually focus on more fast-paced small-scale gameplay.
Battlefield has always paid a lot of respect to the esthetics of its playable factions and camos, often pulling from real-world inspiration in its titles that are set within historical conflicts. For example, all the Recon soldiers in Battlefield 3 looked the same apart from some color swaps, and the same could be said for the other classes. This not only made it easy to recognize what class players were engaging with, but every soldier had a serious military vibe. This is something that has slipped with more recent installments to the IP, with Battlefield 5 famously attracting a lot of negative attention partly due to the creative liberties it took with wacky cosmetics of World War 2-era soldiers in its promotional material.
More recently, Battlefield 2042 has taken this a step further, although its fictional futuristic setting has made its eccentric cosmetics more passable in the eyes of some fans. Despite this, the foundations of Battlefield were founded on a dedication to gritty realism, at least in the appearance of its warring factions, and a return to this would do a world of good for the next franchise release.
A Change in Battlefield Cosmetics Could Create an Advantage Over Call of Duty
Regardless of what time period the next Battlefield game is set in, giving each faction its own distinct but grounded aesthetic would do wonders for giving the game a greater sense of identity. It is also worth noting that these criticisms are being echoed to an even greater level in Call of Duty, with recent operator skins featuring the likes of Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage completely pulling any sense of realism from the IP.
While a return to grounded Battlefield cosmetics would be welcomed by many fans, the monetary value of more eccentric in-game premium items may overpower this going forward.
It is no secret that Battlefield has always had to struggle against the huge presence of Call of Duty, and the former should use everything at its disposal to gain an edge over the latter. Camos and character skins can still be appealing and eye-catching while remaining grounded, and using this as the core tenet of Battlefield's future cosmetic approach would be a huge boost. The current state of the franchise's cosmetics is clearly alienating large portions of its player base, and a return to basics would also be a return to form going forward.
