Summary
In the weeks and months leading up to the launch ofBattlefield 2042much of the pre-release media for the game focused on the impressive size and scale of its maps. Given developer DICE’s long legacy of providing players with some truly colossal virtual battlefields on which to take down their opponents this seemed, at first, like a natural progression for the series. But as players got their hands on the game and began to exploreBattlefield 2042’s massive mapsit soon became abundantly clear that, even in a series famed for the sprawling size of its stages, bigger doesn’t always mean better.
From capture points that were too far apart to layouts that made traversal without a vehicle an exercise in tedium, players had numerous complaints aboutBattlefield 2042’s initial set of maps. Although DICE did its best to respond to these complaints, eventually reworking the launch maps and adding smaller levels in DLC releases, the negative buzz aboutBattlefield 2042’s overly massive maps made the game’s already troubled launch that much more difficult. With thenextBattlefieldgamecurrently in development, the lessons learned from these early map-based missteps should serve as a roadmap for DICE as it seeks to strike a balance between form and function.
Battlefield 2042’s Launch Maps Proved Bigger Isn’t Necessarily Better
Almost immediately after the launch ofBattlefield 2042,many players began expressing their displeasure with the initial batch of maps included in the game. Even though they were technically impressive they were also, in many cases, simply too large to lend themselves to the sort of fast-paced action that made the series famous. Whereas some ofthe bestBattlefieldmapsthroughout the years subtly funneled players towards areas tailor-made for intense mechanized and infantry combat, many ofBattlefield 2042’s maps were so spread out that players could go minutes without encountering enemies.
The intense backlash against this initial set of maps led DICE to take action, responding to players’ concerns by going back to the drawing board. Beginning in 2022, theoriginal maps inBattlefield 2042were reworked to better accommodate the series’ trademark blend of on-foot and vehicle combat. By tweaking the positions of flags and bases, adding new cover spots, and lowering the player count for the Breakthrough mode DICE was able to create an experience more in line with previous franchise entries. This refocused approach to map design continued with the game’s DLC and can provide a roadmap for the nextBattlefieldtitle.
Battlefield 2042’s DLC Provides a Roadmap for the Franchise’s Next Entry
This renewed focus on fun rather than just sheer size carried over into the numerous free DLC maps forBattlefield 2042that were released in the nearly two years since the game’s launch. Using the samefeedback fromBattlefield 2042playersthat influenced the reworked originals, these new DLC maps typically featured smaller settings and layouts designed to enhance the pace of play.
WithBattlefield 2042maps like Spearhead andthereworked Hourglass, DICE managed to strike a healthy balance between giving players plenty of room to roam and subtly directing the flow of gameplay. This sort of design should carry over intoBattlefield’s next entry, with maps that deliver the sense of scale the series is known for while still ensuring that the action flows smoothly throughout a match. By mixing large-scale spectacle with layouts designed to focus the action and ensure a fight is always only seconds away, the nextBattlefieldgame could benefit from its predecessor’s early missteps.
WhileBattlefield 2042delivered the largest maps in franchise history, this increase in size came at the cost of the tightly focused action that put the series on the map. By learning from this miscalculation, DICE eventually shaped the game into one that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its predecessors. Carrying these lessons forward into the future should ensure that the nextBattlefieldnot only avoids making the same mistakes, but alsolives up to the iconic series’ long legacy.
The nextBattlefieldis in development.
MORE:Battlefield 2042 Once Again Proves DICE is The King of Comebacks
