The last few years have seen plenty of innovation in terms of what online multiplayer shooters can be. Games likeApex LegendsandFortnitepopularized the battle royale genre with their free-to-play models that changed the idea of what a live service game is. When it launched in 2020,Call of Duty: Warzonequickly established itselfas one of the biggest names in the online shooter market, and now thatBattlefield 2042is set to release later this year, it seems like all the major AAA shooter franchises will be trying their hands at perfecting the live service title.
While comparisons betweenCall of DutyandBattlefieldhave existed for quite a while, as the two series have always done similar things, it seems like the franchises are going down different paths in how to best capitalize on the online shooter market.Warzoneis sticking to the free-to-play battle royale scene, whileBattlefield 2042will still be a paid experience that doesn’t include a battle royale mode, focusing on more traditional gameplay instead. Wisely, both games have also set themselves up to be the definitive places to experience each franchise, leaning heavily into a live service model and featuring content rollouts inspired by games of the past.
RELATED:Battlefield 2042’s $70 Price Tag Will Lead to a Better Experience in the End
Embracing the History and Future of Call of Duty in Warzone
BecauseCall of Duty: Warzonehas been out for over a year, understanding the direction that the game is takingCall of Dutyin is a little bit easier than withBattlefield 2042, as that game isn’t out yet. So far, the timeline forCall of Dutyhas been easy to follow sinceWarzone’s release. March 2020 saw the launch of the battle royale shooter, November 2020 saw the launch ofCall of Duty Black Ops: Cold War, and all throughout 2021 rumors of the next entry in the series,potentially calledCall of Duty: Vanguard, have made the usual internet rounds. All the while,Warzonehas been receiving constant updates and seasonal content, some of which have directly corresponded withCall of Duty Black Ops: Cold Warand other older entries in the franchise.
AsWarzonehas continued growing, it’s added plenty of content for those looking to get a taste ofCall of Duty’s past, with fan-favoriteOperators like Soap, Price, Woods, and more releasing. Throwback maps, weapons, and other gameplay mechanics have been added as well, with some being permanent additions and others existing as fun throwback events. In short, much of the history ofCall of Dutyis being preserved inWarzone, as it serves as the perfect place to reuse popular ideas from the franchise’s past while also keeping things fresh and new.
Inevitably, moreCall of Dutygames are on the horizon, with the rumoredCOD Vanguardsupposedly launching later this year. As shown byCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,Warzonewon’t be hitting the breaks when more titles release, with the opposite happening instead. The release of new games is the time whenWarzonewill be putting the pedal to the metaland promoting them inside the game, with specific skins and events linked to the new release. While moreCODgames will be coming out from year to year,Warzoneis where the real preservation and future of the franchise will be.
RELATED:Future Call of Duty Games Need To Have This Battlefield 2042 Feature
The Sandbox of Battlefield 2042’s Portal Mode
In a similar way toWarzone,Battlefield 2042seems like it’s also looking to preserve the history of its franchise while also breaking new ground. There’s plenty of talk about the many new and interesting features coming to the series inBattlefield2042, but thenewly announcedBattlefieldPortalmodethat seems to be all about preserving the series' past.
InBattlefield Portal, players get to create their own game modes using assets and ideas from three main staples of theBattlefieldseries:Battlefield 1942,Battlefield Bad Company 2, andBattlefield 3. Essentially, the mode serves as something of a game mode editor that’s full of player-driven potential. BecausePortalis relying so heavily on past entries in the franchise, it seems like DICE and Ripple Effect Studios are looking to keep the memories of those games alive by including them inBattlefield 2042. This sort offranchise preservation inBattlefieldfeels like it’s using a similar idea asWarzone, but it’s being implemented in an entirely new way.
In last month’sBattlefield Portalpreview event, Ripple Effect Studios General Manager Christian Grass confirmed that the game will be a part of the larger live service plan that the franchise is following. That means that it will be receiving seasonal updates and having additional content rolled out, some of which will likely be behind a paywall like many other live service games. The content in question will likely be linked to olderBattlefieldtitles as well as new ones when they release.
The Future of Multiplayer Shooters with Battlefield and COD
Based on the current trajectories forWarzoneandBattlefield Portal, both major FPS franchises are looking into ways to keep their histories alive. Luckily for fans of both series, the way that those ideas of preservation are being implemented is through differing game modes.Battle Royale fans can stick withWarzone,while those looking for a more traditional FPS experience can playBattlefield Portal. Either way, it’s easy to see how both games can complement each other and help the market as a whole while still being drastically different.
AsWarzonecontinues growing and asBattlefield 2042finds its footing after launch, it’s going to be interesting to see how long each title is supported. Obviously, the studios behind them are pouring plenty of resources into them, so it wouldn’t make sense to let them go anytime soon. Still, it remains to be seen how long each game will last. Either way, they should both inspire other major franchises to really lean into their pasts and embrace their history while innovating at the same time.
Battlefield 2042is set to release on October 22 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.
MORE:What Battlefield 2042 Should Learn from Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
