Battlefield 2042: Release date, multiplayer, Portal, Hazard Zone, Specialists, more
Battlefield 2042 is edging ever-closer, and we have everything you need to know about EA and DICE’s next entry into the legendary franchise, including release date, the game’s story, Portal mode, Hazard Zone, and a lot more.
The Battlefield franchise has remained pretty quiet since the release of Battlefield V back in 2018, but it remains one of the most popular FPS titles on the market. The series acts as the perfect alternative to the close-quarters combat of Call of Duty, bringing massive battles fought across vast locations throughout history.
Finally, Battlefield 2042 was officially announced on June 9, 2021, giving us a look at some major things coming to PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS4 & PS5 later this year.
Here’s everything you need to know about Battlefield 2042, including its multiplayer, Portal mode, Hazard Zone, maps, weapons, and more.
Contents
- Release date
- Storyline
- Multiplayer & All-Out Warfare
- Portal
- Hazard Zone
- Specialists
- Maps
- Guns and weapon attachment Plus System
- Vehicles
- Anti-Cheat
- Cross-platform and cross-progression
- Does Battlefield 2042 have a battle royale?
- Will the game be on Xbox One and PS4?
- All Battlefield 2042 trailers
Battlefield 2042 release date
Battlefield 2042 will be released on consoles and PC on November 19, 2021. Although DICE had originally announced an October release date for Battlefield 2042, they confirmed on September 15 that it had been delayed.
Players who buy the Gold or Ultimate editions of Battlefield 2042 will be able to play a week earlier on Friday, November 12.
Originally, the developers had said we could expect a Holiday 2021 release, leading many to think it would be late November when it would launch, which is now a reality.
Battlefield 2042 storyline
As you have probably guessed from the title, Battlefield 2042 is set in the future, with the world on the brink. Food, energy, and clean water are in short supply, and failed nations have created “the greatest refugee crisis in human history.”
With the United States and Russia at war, Non-Patriated, or No-Pat Specialists join both sides, “not fighting for a flag, but for the future of the Non-Patriated in this new world.”
Of course, the game is set to be full of high-tech guns and gadgets. One of these futuristic weapons is the combat robot dog that industry insider Tom Henderson had leaked. These are in use by the military today, but will perhaps be even more powerful in the near future setting of Battlefield 2042.
Battlefield 2042 multiplayer: All-Out Warfare
Multiplayer is the focus of Battlefield 2042, with three modes launching with the game in November.
Battlefield 2042 will of course bring back the traditional multiplayer experience with All-Out Warfare. This will feature classic Battlefield gameplay with modes such as Conquest and Breakthrough at the front and center.
Next-gen consoles will get to experience 128-player action across the seven multiplayer maps, some of which are set to be the biggest ever. These will feature weather events and destruction that will shake up gameplay and alter the course of the match.
Battlefield 2042 Portal mode
At EA Play 2021 on July 22, the world was treated to the official unveiling of Battlefield 2042’s Battlefield Portal mode.
A combination of previous Battlefield games, Portal looks set to offer the franchise’s most ambitious and frantic game mode ever! In Portal, players can build their own custom game modes using a ton of different maps, weapons, and vehicles from previous Battlefield games.
It will feature the following:
- Content from Battlefield 1942, Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3, and Battlefield 2042
- You can play ‘Official Experiences’ or ‘Community Experiences’
- Confirmed maps: Battle of the Bulge (BF 1942), El Alamein (BF 1942), Arica Harbor (Bad Company 2), Valparaiso (Bad Company 2), Caspian Border (Battlefield 3), Noshahr Canals (Battlefield 3), and BF 2042 maps
- Numerous weapons and gadgets from the mentioned games
- Over 40 classic vehicles from the respective time periods
- Custom game mode builder
Battlefield Portal looks like it has the potential to be one of the most fun modes the series has ever created.
Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone mode
Battlefield 2042’s final mode, Hazard Zone, was revealed on October 14, 2021.
This mode appears to be heavily inspired by games such as Escape from Tarkov and Hunt Showdown, where the emphasis is on extracting from the map with Data Drives, rather than being the last man standing.
The mode will take place across all seven of the multiplayer maps, and players can use Credits to purchase weapons, Gadgets, and Tactical Upgrades to help them fight and survive.
The team that extracts with the most Data Drives wins, so it appears that tight squad play will be necessary for the win.
Battlefield 2042 Specialists
For the first time, Battlefield 2042 introduces Specialists, who each come with their own skills, traits, and abilities – like Rainbow Six Siege. There will be 10 at launch, with EA and DICE set to add a new Specialist every season.
Here’s every confirmed Specialist and their gadgets so far.
Mackay – Assault
Mackay uses a Grapple Hook Gadget to reach high places and quickly navigate around the map. He also has the Nimble Trait which allows for increased mobility when ADSing and on ziplines.
Falck – Support
Falck plays the medic role in her squad, using the S21 Syrette Pistol to quickly heal teammates and herself. She also has the Combat Surgeon Trait, which allows her to revive allies to full health.
Casper – Recon
Casper’s role is all about gathering intel for his squad and team. The OV-P Recon Drone can spot enemies and emit an EMP blast, and his Movement Sensor Trait alerts him to nearby enemy movement.
Boris – Engineer
Boris holds down positions for his team with the SG-36 Sentry Gun, which auto-targets any nearby enemies or vehicles. And his Sentry Operator Trait allows the Sentry Gun to live ping any targets it spots.
Irish – Engineer
Kimble “Irish” Graves is well-known to Battlefield 4 fans, and now he makes his way to Battlefield 2042. Using his Fortification System, he can put down DCS Deployable Cover and the APS-36 Shootdown Sentinal, which is essentially a trophy system. And for his Trait, Irish has Veteran which allows him to provide armor “with additional bonuses from downed enemies.”
Battlefield 2042 maps
Battlefield 2042 will feature seven All-Out Warfare maps at launch, with another six remastered from previous Battlefield games for Portal.
Here’s every map in Battlefield 2042:
- Hourglass
- Discarded
- Manifest
- Kaleidoscope
- Orbital
- Breakaway
- Renewal
- Battle of the Bulge (Portal)
- El Alamein (Portal)
- Arica Harbor (Portal)
- Valparaiso (Portal)
- Caspian Border (Portal)
- Noshahr Canals (Portal)
Battlefield 2042 guns & weapon attachment Plus System
A highlight of playing a new FPS game is getting to try out all the new weapons the devs have built from the ground up.
Battlefield 2042 is set to feature an extensive selection of firearms to try out, and we have many of them below.
Here are all of Battlefield 2042’s guns that we know of from the Beta and trailers.
Assault Rifles
- M5A3
- AK12
- 4v9 (DDM4V7)
- SCAR-H
SMGs
- PBX-45 (LWRC SMG 45)
- K30 (KRISS Vector)
LMGs
- PKP Pecheneg
- LCMG
Sniper Rifles
- SWS-10
Handguns
- G57 (Glock 19)
- M44 (Taurus M44)
Marksman Rifles
- Chukavin SVCh
- DSR-1
- TG-24 (Sako TRG)
Shotguns
- MCS-880
Launchers
- Recoilless M5
- FN40GL
As well as an extensive armory of weapons to try out, players will also be able to take advantage of Battlefield 2042’s new attachment Plus System.
This allows players to swap out attachments for their gun on the fly, meaning you could be mid-battle, and switch your weapons scope, magazine, barrel, and grip.
Battlefield 2042 Vehicles
But what’s the need for weapons when you can commandeer one of Battlefield 2042’s many big, cool vehicles!
Featuring destructive attack helicopters, bulldozing tanks, and a lot more, Battlefield 2042 has all the tools to fit the situation.
These are the vehicles that have been outed for BF 2042 so far:
- AH640GX Apache Warchief Attack Helicopter
- E6-JGR Recon
- F-35E Panther Jet
- Futuristic Three-Wheeled Auto Rickshaw
- Hovercraft
- M1A5 Tank
- MD540 Nightbird Helicopter
- MV38-Condor
- Quad Bike / ATV
- SU-57 Elon Jet
- T28 Tank
Battlefield 2042 anti-cheat
Given how much notoriety there has been surroundings other games such as Warzone when it comes to cheating and hacking, DICE announced that Battlefield 2042 will have Easy Anti-Cheat.
This is the same anti-cheat used in other popular games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends, and the team confirmed that they will continue to monitor it post-launch.
Battlefield 2042 cross-plaftorm & cross-progression
DICE has confirmed that yes, Battlefield 2042 will feature cross-play and cross-progression! In a briefing on July 14, DICE revealed that they are working on a cross-play system, which was tested this summer.
The following systems will be able to matchmake together:
- PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 consoles
- PC and console can opt-out from playing together
- Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles
Battlefield 2042 will also feature cross-progression, allowing you to keep your progress and purchases when switching systems. The example they gave was that a player could switch from PS4 to PC and keep everything they unlocked, and vice versa.
Will Battlefield 2042 have a battle royale?
The appetite for a battle royale is certainly there, with popular streamer Dr Disrespect clearly excited by the prospect, but unfortunately, EA and DICE have confirmed that Battlefield 2042 does not have a battle royale at launch.
Whether they will add one further down the line remains to be seen, but for now, we’ll have to wait and see if any further announcements are made. In the meantime, it appears that Hazard Zone will provide a similar, but quite different, experience.
Will Battlefield 2042 be on PS4 and Xbox One?
Yes! In an investor earnings call on May 11, EA boss Andrew Wilson said that “Battlefield will be available for both current-gen and next-gen.”
After DICE said the game will be “brought to life” with the “power” of next-gen consoles, many presumed that the game would only release on the Xbox Series X|S and PS5, but we now know this is no longer the case.
Playing on a last-gen console does come at a cost though, as EA and DICE have confirmed that players on Xbox One and PS4 will play in smaller lobbies and on scaled-back versions of the maps. However, it will still feature the same classes, gadgets, and game-changing weather effects.
To be clear, the game will drop on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
All Battlefield 2042 trailers
Battlefield 2042 was officially revealed on June 9, revealing the game’s setting, maps, vehicles, and more. Since then, we’ve had trailers for the many other aspects of the game such as Portal and Hazard Zone.
Here are are the Battlefield 2042 trailers so far.
Reveal trailer
Gameplay trailer
Portal trailer
Exodus short film
Specialists trailer
Open Beta trailer
Hazard Zone trailer
That’s everything we know about Battlefield 2042! Once the game officially releases in November, we’ll know everything the latest entry has to offer.
Stay tuned to Charlie INTEL and follow @BravoINTEL on Twitter for all Battlefield 2042 updates.
Image Credits: DICE / EA