Highlights

  • Battlefield 2042's unique near-futuristic setting may have to be ditched for the next installment to stand out.
  • The lack of advanced technology in 2042 disappointed fans, who were intrigued by the game's futuristic direction.
  • The next Battlefield game might need to look back to real-world historical conflicts to move past the controversy of 2042.

DICE recently made it clear that its resources are shifting to a new installment for the Battlefield franchise, with Battlefield 2042's recently launched Season 7 marking the end of its post-launch support. While no details are currently confirmed regarding the next project for the IP, it seems clear that it will need to make some striking changes from 2042 to truly stand out and recapture the attention of the franchise's fan base.

The near-futuristic setting of Battlefield 2042 made it quite a unique title for the IP, allowing the game to lean into sci-fi elements for its characters, weapons, equipment, and locations. It is true that this setting was a huge part of 2042's identity and one of its strongest gameplay elements, but the controversy surrounding the title and its long time in the Battlefield spotlight may mean that DICE needs to ditch this setting going forward.

Battlefield 4 News Image Mistake
Related
News Channel Accidentally Uses Battlefield 4 Image

Fans are calling out a news station after it accidentally selected an image straight from Battlefield 4's multiplayer for use in a story.

Battlefield's Next Project May Need to Be a Big Departure From 2042

The time setting of Battlefield 2042 is a massively important part of the game, with the release even being named after the year in which it is set. While the Battlefield franchise has explored a range of historical conflicts in the past, many fans were intrigued at the idea of the longstanding IP looking once again to the future with 2042, and how this would impact the themes and gameplay of the title.

To the disappointment of some fans, much of the equipment, weapons, and vehicles in Battlefield 2042 are grounded in modern reality, lacking the advanced technology that defined past franchise releases like 2006's Battlefield 2142. Instead, 2042's time setting greatly shapes the lore and overarching narrative of the title, with its disaster-stricken dystopian world being locked in a global battle for supremacy and remaining resources between the United States and Russia.

Of course, this allowed 2042 to take some great creative directions with its maps, with the post-launch addition of Redacted taking place in a classified research facility in the Scottish Hebrides. While there was a lot of narrative value in 2042's setting, the game's lack of a single-player campaign wasted a lot of the potential for world-building and a more complex story.

Battleifeld's Future May Look to the Past, Not the Future

It is no secret that Battlefield 2042 has faced a lot of controversy ever since its release, with its lackluster launch being one of the most criticized releases in recent memory. While 2042 has done well to repair its reputation via its post-launch seasons, the lingering stigma associated with the game makes it likely that the next entry to Battlefield will have to be a massive departure from the title.

As its semi-futuristic setting is the most identifiable characteristic of Battlefield 2042, it seems that the next installment for the franchise will have to do away with this, perhaps returning to a portrayal of real-world historical conflicts akin to Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 5. It is a shame that Battlefield 2042 did not give its unique setting the correct platform to flourish narratively, but it seems for the best that the next steps for the franchise begin on a completely fresh page.