The launch of Battlefield 2042 has been divisive to say the least, though the future of the franchise could prove even more controversial. Supposedly, the next entry in the series will expand on the Specialist system from Battlefield 2042, taking the form of a proper hero shooter like Overwatch or Valorant.
While this is certainly a bold claim, it comes from the well-known insider Tom Henderson. In the lead-up to the release of Battlefield 2042, Henderson was proven right on a number of occasions. From the weather-focused destruction mechanics to robot dogs and grappling hooks, many of the leaks that came from Henderson were spot on. As such, it is hard to question his info, meaning that his recent claim about a hero shooter Battlefield game could indeed be accurate.
According to Henderson, the next Battlefield game is an “enhancement” of Battlefield 2042’s Specialists. Specialists have proven to be one of the most controversial aspects of the new game, as they are a big departure from what players are used to. While some enjoy what they bring to the table, many others have major issues with the approach, as it does away with the original class system that the franchise became known for. However, with each specialist having a special gadget and ability just like the characters in hero shooters, it does seem like a lot of the groundwork has been done.
According to Henderson, these similarities are not a coincidence, as Battlefield 2042 was intended to be a “stepping stone” that brings the series closer to a proper hero shooter. While he points out that “it was executed poorly,” something echoed by Battlefield 2042’s critic reviews and user review scores, he does believe that a hero shooter is currently in the works. In a follow-up Tweet, Henderson clarified that the information was given to him last week, adding that the recent shakeup at DICE only adds weight to what he has heard.
While it is important for fans to take the leak with a grain of salt just like any other rumor, something that Henderson reiterates, he does seem confident that the next game’s vision will remain the same. Intriguingly, he also backs up fan suspicions by claiming that a Battlefield 2042 battle royale is in the works, though the big takeaway of the Tweets is undoubtedly the sequel’s surprising choice of genre.
It will be interesting to see how Battlefield fans respond to this leak, though given the negative reactions to Specialists, it seems unlikely that longtime players will be happy that the system is being doubled down on. For now, fans will need to wait for official info, which will likely not be shared for a while since Battlefield 2042 only just released.
Battlefield 2042 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
