When it comes to salvaging theBattlefieldfranchise, gamers have varying opinions about what approach would be best. Most despise the idea of aBattlefieldhero shooter, hoping that the rumors do not prove true about such a game being next in line for release. Many have said to look to the past, arguing in favor ofBattlefield 3andBad Company 2remasters. Others have even pushed for another World War 1 game given the love forBattlefield 1. However, Close Quarters might just be worth looking at when crafting the nextBattlefieldgame.
For well over a decade,Battlefield’s identity has been defined by massive maps with vehicles in play, as combat in tanks and planes is often just as prominent as infantry-based encounters. However, theBattlefield 3expansion Close Quarters took a risk by stepping away from both of these things, introducing small maps without vehicles and keeping the focus on infantry combat. This risk paid off, with many remembering the DLC fondly, and with its next game DICE should cater to fans of both small- and large-scale warfare.
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What The Next Battlefield Should Take From Close Quarters
Though aBattlefieldgame with only small maps would be hugely unsatisfying, as much of the series’ personality comes from its huge battles, Close Quarters came at a time when fans already had several large maps to pick from. By dropping as DLC, it was not replacing the core gameplay ofBattlefield, only expanding on it to add a new style of play. Having a few small maps in addition to several large would be the right move, and DICE could even wait to add them until the nextBattlefieldgame’s post-launch seasonscommence.
To make a Close Quarters-style experience work,DICEwould need to ensure the maps feels as good to play asBattlefield 3’s smaller locations. Every Close Quarters map was iconic; Donda Fortress had its catacombs where gamers placed C4 traps, Ziba Tower’s penthouse was visually stunning and had good verticality, Scrapmetal provided some fun ranged gunfights, and Operation 925’s winding paths ensured danger lurked around every corner. If small maps do return, each needs a distinct look and unique gameplay experiences like the Close Quarters maps provided.
A lack of vehicles was also important, as having helicopters on a tiny map like Ziba Tower would be frustrating. Sometimes, players just want to focus on gunfights, and there is a section oftheBattlefieldcommunitythat does not have interest in engaging with vehicles at all. If theBattlefieldseries starts to provide infantry-focused content more often, players may not seek out competition likeCall of Duty.Battlefieldcan and should aim to have the best of both worlds in all of its games.
Assuming thatBattlefield 2042’s successful Portal modeis one thing that is actually kept from the struggling game, DICE could insert Close Quarters maps into the classic pool, giving players a way to relive their battles on Ziba Tower. However, Portal should not become a crutch for theBattlefieldseries like map remakes have forCall of Duty, as entirely new small-scale experiences would be preferable.
Battlefieldexperiences that take place in tight corridors and small spaces have occasional appeared outside of Close Quarters, asBattlefield 4’s Operation Lockerhad a similar gameplay loop. This resulted in numerous 24/7 servers for the map, letting players enjoy the endless gunfights and grenade spam for as long as they liked.Battlefield 2042went too far in the opposite direction, only featuring massive maps and leaving fans of experiences like Operation Locker or Close Quarters with nothing to enjoy. Hopefully, the nextBattlefieldgame will provide a better mixture of small and large play spaces.
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