It’s been three years since the last entry in theBattlefieldseries was released. Once one of gaming’s prime shooters and a hard-hitting competitor to theCall of Dutyseries,Battlefieldhas been stuck in a rut with a few of its recent entries. 2021’sBattlefield 2042was a notable example of this, struggling with major technical issues as a live-service game that upset the fans at almost every turn.
With2042’s struggles,theBattlefieldseries is in dire need of a refresh. Fans have been looking for a new must-playBattlefieldgame that could iterate and improve on the series in ways the last few entries have failed to, and EA should take this opportunity to start fresh. However, instead of trying to go bigger, it might be best for EA and DICE to scale back, and focus on revitalizing theBattlefieldseries with something smaller.
Battlefield Could Use A Smaller-Scale Refresh
A Destructible Battlefield Game Could Show The Power Of The Next Generation
One ofBattlefield 2042’s biggest issues was that it tried to be huge, but ended up too big for its britches. While its massive maps and 128-player multiplayer sounded fantastic on paper, the “bigger is better” approach became an albatross, so much so that DICE even admitted thatthe larger maps worked againstBattlefield 2042. With a new game, DICE should try to bring things down a peg and focus on fun gameplay variety as opposed to making everything bigger.
Beyond toning down the map size and player count in a single game, one thing that a newBattlefieldcan focus on is creating incredibly destructible environments. Destructibility was once a notableselling point for some ofBattlefield’s major games, and a newfound focus on that could help bring the franchise back to its former glory. What’s more, creating such destructive gameplay could help demonstrate the technical power of the current-generation consoles, resulting in aBattlefieldgame that’s fun to play and a crowning technical achievement for EA.
Battlefield Could Benefit From A Single-Player Game
A newBattlefieldgamecould also shake things up for the franchise by bringing back single-player gameplay.Battlefield 2042previously shifted to a fully multiplayer approach and removed the campaign entirely, which was heavily debated at the time of release. Sure,Battlefieldmay not necessarily sell itself with its stories, but that doesn’t mean those stories aren’t there, or the previous single-player campaigns weren’t good.
Whether or not aBattlefieldgame necessarily “needs” a single-player campaign, a new game should include one. DICE even has the perfect lane to do so now, given that Vince Zampella, who headed Respawn and helped create the fantasticTitanfall 2, is now in charge of theBattlefieldfranchise.Titanfall 2featured an amazing single-player campaign, and under Zampella’s lead, a newBattlefieldcould follow in its footsteps with a great single-player component.
A newBattlefieldgame could also shake things up for the franchise by bringing back single-player gameplay.
A great set ofBattlefieldgames with fantastic campaigns and destructible environments has been done before in the form ofBattlefield: Bad Company. Although the first twoBad Companytitles are among some ofthe best games in theBattlefieldfranchise, EA has never gone back to the well with this subsection ofBattlefieldsince 2010’sBad Company 2. Perhaps if Battlefield is aiming for a single-player title, a return to theBad Companylineage could be the push it needs.
No matter what direction it takes, a smaller-scaleBattlefieldgame could do wonders toget theBattlefieldfranchise back on its feet.Battlefield 2042proved that bigger does not equal better, and its struggles have made people forget about some of the franchise’s best titles. A more scaled-back experience could be just what the doctor ordered forBattlefieldand should help re-establish it as a cream-of-the-crop first-person shooter series.
Battlefield 2042
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield’s past and present.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
