Battlefield 2042 is out now in early access for players who purchased the Gold or Ultimate editions of the game and reviews are starting to slowly come in for the much-anticipated new installment that takes the series out of the history books and into other future. Before reading through everything here, one thing to note is that review access to the game was exclusively on PC and took place across three days with a total of ten hours of playtime across the game’s different modes. Our own review for Battlefield 2042 is still in progress and since we want to sink a lot of time into the game before we put out the article, you can expect to hear our thoughts be closer to the release of the full game next week.
The Battlefield series has spent the last two games in the past, with Battlefield 1 taking place during World War I and Battlefield V set during World War II. Battlefield 2042 pushes the series forward to the titular date and ditches the campaign mode to offer a fully multiplayer experience. The game features massive online battles with up to 128 players on next-gen systems spread across equally massive maps. Portal Mode lets you play on classic maps from Battlefield 1942, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Battlefield 3. Then there is Hazard Zone, which puts a Battlefield spin on the battle royale formula. At the time of writing, this seems more of a review-in-progress round-up but as more outlets lock in their scores, we will update the article to make sure the thoughts here reflect the thoughts of the outlets we are quoting.
Attack of the Fanboy | 8 out of 10
- Battlefield 2042 feels like a game made specifically for Battlefield fans. Multiplayer is fast-paced and chaotic, and while new modes like Hazard Zone and Portal are a mixed bag, they provide an excellent foundation for the game to build on going forward.
IGN | In-Progress
- After a dozen hours with Battlefield 2042, it’s clear not all of its new ideas are entirely successful, but the ones that are can be seriously impressive. The 128-player matches of its All-Out Warfare modes definitely feel like too much for their own good a lot of the time, but its more strategic new Hazard Zone mode is incredibly fun – and the customization tools Portal provides absolutely take the cake in terms of what could keep me interested long-term. I still have a lot more to play before I’m ready to put a final score on my review, but I’m at least excited to keep playing.
GameSpot | 8 out of 10
- What’s really impressive in Battlefield 2042 is the variety that’s on offer. It lets you play a bunch of different kinds of FPS experiences–in different game modes, in different Portal rule sets, and even in the same match as you switch between characters. Portal lets you relive the Battlefield games of the past, but on the 2042 side, DICE has cherry-picked from popular trends like hero shooters and battle royales. The best part is that, mostly, it has done a really effective job of curating those additions so that they bring more to what players already like about Battlefield, rather than change what already works.
Rock Paper Shotgun | In-Progress
- From my brief samples of everything Battlefield 2042 has to offer, I’ve come away with a good feeling. My gut tells me that this is a solid shooter with modes that’ll appeal to plenty of FPS fans. But, despite its comparatively poor showing in the hands-on, it’s Portal that I believe has the potential to be something truly special. Check back later for my full review, which will be with the benefit of play free from EA’s vice grip.
The reviews are all over the place, but long-time fans of the series will be happy to know that it is a return to form for the series. At its core, Battlefield 2042 provides solid gameplay backed by the Frostbite Engine’s amazing graphics. The real star of the show, however, is Portal Mode where players can revisit their favorite maps from the past with the game’s next-gen visuals. It should be noted that Battlefield 2042 is also releasing on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but it comes with some restrictions such as lower player counts. If you want to try the game out first, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play members can play ten hours of Battlefield 2042 starting today. Battlefield 2042 is out now for Gold and Ultimate edition owners and on November 19 for everyone else on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
