Battlefieldisn’t quite the franchise it once was. Making a sizable splash in 2002 with its debut titleBattlefield 1942, theBattlefieldfranchise offered something that no other military shooter could at the time. WhileCall of Dutyhad great ground combat,Steel Beastshad solid tank gameplay, andCombat Flight Simulatorlet players take to the skies,Battlefieldlet players do it all at once. That expansive approach helpedBattlefieldcontinue to stand out in an ever-growing market, but the franchise has somewhat lost its luster.
After the phenomenal successes that wereBattlefield 3and4, EA decided to go in a new direction, delivering a cops-and-robbers style experience inBattlefield: Hardline. Failing to live up to expectations,Hardlinewas the first big miss for the franchise, and the losses only continued withBattlefield 5and nowBattlefield 2042both being critical and commercial disappointments. But theBattlefieldfranchise won’t give up that easily, as EA and DICE have already put their 2023 plans out there.
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DICE Will Continue to Support Battlefield 2042 in 2023
DespiteBattlefield 2042being one of, if not the franchise’s biggest failure, EA and DICE seem committed to keeping it going. Since its launch over a year ago,Battlefield 2042has received a few major updates adding new Specialists, weapons, vehicles, and maps to the game. For the most part, these additions have been welcomed by those still playing, though they haven’t really been enough to draw in any new crowds or encourage players to return.
Still, that lack of audience reception doesn’t seem to have deterred DICE, as it plans on continuing to updateBattlefield 2042throughout 2023. Season 4 ofBattlefield 2042doesn’t have a release date set in stone just yet, but reports seem to suggest a July 12, 2025, launch. Season 4 is set to bring another new Specialist to the game, along with a map and “Assault” game mode that’s designed to offer more fast-paced, intense battles. It has also been reported that fan-favorite mode “Rush” is going to return with Season 4, which is something fans have been asking for since day one.
On top of Season 4, EA and DICE have already confirmed that Season 5 ofBattlefield 2042is in development and will be released in the near future. So despite the rough reception and general lack of interest, it seems as though EA and DICE can’t afford forBattlefield 2042to be a total loss, and they’ll attempt to keep it going by any means necessary. With live-service failures likeMarvel’s Avengersfinally admitting defeatand closing their doors,Battlefield 2042could be not long behind it.
According to a recent blog post onBattlefield 2042’s official website, EA and DICE are “all-in” on the game, and the confirmation of more updates in 2023 does seem to suggest that’s true. For those who are holding out hope for a newBattlefieldgame in 2023, the odds don’t look great. While it’s certainly possible that a smaller spin-off likeaBattlefield: Bad Companysequelcould be in the works and revealed later in the year, there haven’t really been any rumors or leaks to suggest that’s true. At this point, it’s likely that fans will be waiting a long time for a newBattlefieldgame to hit shelves, so2042will have to make do.
