Battlefield 2042 was released in 2021, plagued by technical issues and received a lukewarm response from the community. With the upcoming installment, everything is supposed to be better. Studio head Vince Zampella reveals to IGN how the new Battlefield will differ from its predecessor.
Where is the information coming from? Although the new Battlefield game has not been officially announced yet, Vince Zampella, the head of Battlefield and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment (Titanfall 2, Apex Legends), has revealed some details about the future of the franchise to IGN.
According to Zampella, Battlefield is set to return to form with the upcoming installment and bid farewell to some unpopular changes from Battlefield 2042.
Battlefield is set to return to its roots
What will change in Battlefield? With the still-untitled upcoming installment, Battlefield is expected to return to a modern-day setting and leave behind the world wars and distant future. This is intended to restore the series to its former glory and connect with previous highlights:
I mean, when you look back at the peak of Battlefield, it’s the era of Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, when everything was modern. And I think we have to return to the core of what Battlefield is, do that outstandingly well, and then we’ll see where it goes from there.
According to Zampella, Battlefield 3 and 4 are the installments that best embody what the series represents, the “peak of Battlefield-ness.” For players, it evokes nostalgia, but also for him personally and for the teams behind the scenes.
Unpopular features from Battlefield 2042 will not return
However, it’s not just the setting from which they want to distance themselves from the problematic predecessor, Battlefield 2042. They also plan to phase out some features that were not well received by fans:
Battlefield 2042 launched with 128 players per map and eventually reverted to supporting maps with 64 players. The upcoming installment is expected to maintain that. Zampella states: “Yes, the 128 players, did that make it more fun? […] We test everything based on what is the most fun.”
The maps would be different once they reach a certain size, according to the studio head. It’s a different playing field that must be taken into account during design. Now they are creating something that is more in line with the earlier Battlefields.
The “specialists” from Battlefield 2042 were also not well received by players. In the new installment, they plan to return to the proven class system. Zampella explains that he was not involved in Battlefield 2042 and is not aware of the background.
However, he assumes that the team wanted to try something new. Not everyone liked that, but one has to try such things. “It didn’t work. It didn’t fit,” he summarizes. Classes are the core of Battlefield, so they return to that.
Head shows first image of the new Battlefield
What is known about the new Battlefield? While Zampella has a lot to say about how the upcoming installment should not be, EA has remained tight-lipped about details regarding the new Battlefield. However, the studio head shows the first official artwork of the game, from which fans can already draw some conclusions.
It exudes a certain Mediterranean flair, so it could possibly take place in Italy or France, among others. The burning forest could indicate that natural disasters will play a role in the upcoming installment.
Additionally, ship-to-ship battles and helicopter battles are hinted at in the background, which could again be part of the game.
While there is currently no release date, a program is set to be announced next year that will involve the community in the development. They need to win back the community and regain their trust, Zampella states.
With the upcoming installment, EA is planning a significant departure from Battlefield 2042. The announcements come just before the 3rd birthday of the shooter. You can read about what the situation looked like nearly a year ago here: Battlefield 2042 will turn 2 years old in November – Has the shooter made a comeback?
