It is no secret that the launch ofBattlefield 2042has not gone in the direction DICE and EA wanted it to go. Released only a few months ago,Battlefield 2042is already falling out of positive relevancy and hype due to the glitch-prone and bare-bones nature of its gameplay.
The negative critical reception to the game necessitates immediate changes to salvage a player base and increase longevity, as DICE will surely know. With2042rapidly declining in popularity, DICEmust capitalize and focus on the game’s most popular game modes, namely the popular Portal mode, which has provided a nostalgic saving grace for the controversial title. Of the options currently available to DICE, making the mode free to play could prove to be a lucrative one.
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The Tumultuous Battlefield 2042 Launch Explained
It is poignant, when discussing these unprecedented changes that DICE may have to make, to first outline what fostered this back-foot position. The pre-launch hype forBattlefield 2042was palpable, with fans having eagerly awaited a current/futuristic eraBattlefieldtitle for over 7 years following the release ofBattlefield Hardlinein 2015. With action packed trailersboasting and promising intensely saturated 128-player next generation gameplay, a high bar of expectation was inevitably set.
So,whenBattlefield 2042released laden with glitchesand being visibly less engaging than what fans were expecting, critical condemnation was bound to occur. This glaringly underwhelming state of release proved to be devastating for the retention of the game’s player base, with the 24-hour player count for the game consistently declining since the initial peak immediately after the game’s launch.
Another underwhelming aspect ofBattlefield 2042has undoubtedly been the much-anticipated Hazard Zone game mode. Billed to be a squad basedEscape From Tarkovstyle loot-and-extract survival mode that necessitated more cautious and perceptive gameplay, the mode also fell flat amongst gamers at launch and beyond. WithHazard Mode being one of the most anticipated aspects ofBattlefield 2042prior to launch, the lack of content and purpose in the final product was another blow to the game’s reception.
These factors have ultimately fostered the current state of the game, in which DICE is unable to feasibly carry out its long-term roadmap for the game in the way it would have wanted, with serious decisions now needing to be made to re-ignite the game in terms of relevancy and audience.
The Comparative Success of Portal Mode
The aforementioned Portal mode is one ofBattlefield 2042’sthree primary game modes, and undoubtedly the most well-received by gamers. Portal is a mode in which players can play online in a variety of older and iconicBattlefieldtiles, namelyBattlefield 1942,Battlefield Bad Company 2,Battlefield 3and of courseBattlefield 2042.Not only this, players can also mix and match assets and elements of these prior titles tocreate unique and entertaining custom game modes via Portal, providing endless possibilities and high replay value.
While it is somewhat ironic that the main success and allure ofBattlefield 2042is the ability to re-experience the enjoyment of older titles, it is an element of the current state of the game that DICE could and perhaps should capitalize on. Withrumors of DICE and EA moving to makeBattlefield 2042free to playincreasing in intensity, a less controversial middle ground could be achieved by limiting free to play to just the Portal mode.
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Why a Free to Play Portal Mode Makes Sense
With initial rumors positing that the entirety ofBattlefield 2042would be made free to play, fans who had spent $70+ on the game were rightfully annoyed. After all, a AAA title that launched at recommended retail price going entirely free to play not even four months after release is completely unprecedented, and will inevitably leave hundreds of thousands of paying customers out of pocket.
This critique of a free to play change can be partially yet effectively circumnavigated by limiting just the Portal mode to free to play. As previously mentioned, Portal being the most well received mode amongst fans will give it the pulling power and allure necessary to attract the highest amount of potential players. Additionally, its versatility of offeringgameplay of an array of beloved priorBattlefieldtitleswill increase this appeal to a much broader net of players, without compromising the gameplay and experience of2042itself.
To further preserve the integrity ofBattlefield 2042and the players who purchased it, additional content such as more maps and game modes within2042can remain exclusive to those who have purchased the title, giving deserved extras and benefits to paying customers whilst providing an incentive those who get hooked on a free to play Portal mode to consider purchasing the main game themselves. Whilst a sizable revenue stream could still be produced by this free to play model via the implementation of a battle pass that could span across, and give content for, the previous titles that Portal offers, a growth and maintenance of a player base as2042inevitably becomes more polished via updateswill see sales increase overtime. With the game currently shrouded in uncertainty, it remains that DICES next steps are absolutely crucial.
Battlefield 2042is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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