Battlefield 2042: Release date, specialists, game modes, maps, new features
Battlefield2042 is the next installment in the massive FPS franchise, and fans are looking forward to taking their place as Specialists in a world on the brink. Here’s everything you need to know about the Battlefield 2042 release date, maps, game modes and so much more.
Alongside Call of Duty, Battlefield remains one of the most popular and long-standing FPS franchises on the market. The series has garnered a dedicated fanbase that enjoys large-scale battles fought across huge and expansive maps. They didn’t release a new game in 2020, so news that DICE was working on another game in the series for 2021 has fans very excited.
Previously leaving fans in the dark for months, on June 9, EA finally released the reveal trailer forthe gameand confirmed its official name.
Furthernew feature details were revealed at E3 2021, and not only that, EA even revealed the game’s scheduled release date, and there isn’t too long to wait.
Battlefield 2042 release date
During the reveal trailer on June 9, EA confirmed that Battlefield 2042 was set to release onOctober 22,2021,but the game has since been delayed. In a new update, DICE confirmed that the game will launch onNovember 19.
Before the full release, however, players were able to go hands-on for the first time with anearly Beta sessionthat launched on October 6.
Battlefield 2042 early access
Battlefield 2042 will have four different releases depending on whether you’re an EA Play member or have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription.
The release schedule for Battlefield 2042, including early access, is as follows:
Battlefield 2042 trailers
Battlefield 2042’s reveal trailer premiered on July 02, 2025, and unveils a range of new details on DICE’s upcoming title.
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AtE3 2021, we were treated to a first look at the gameplay trailer for 2042. Featuring in-engine footage captured with up to 128 players, high octane chases and immersive locations set the stage for what’s undoubtedly going to be an incredible experience.
Also featured in the trailer were storms, something that highlighted what devs mentioned as “an ever-changing battlefield” for the game.
During the EA Play Live event, we also got our first look at Battlefield Portal. The trailer showcased just how the new creative toolset works.
While no further gameplay has been revealed just yet, an August 12 update provided a deep dive into the narrative of BF 2042.
This short film marked the return of fan-favorite BF4 character Irish.
As with most new FPS games, DICE is giving players and early look into what Battlefield 2042 has to offer. Starting on October 6th, players who pre-ordered will be granted early access to the Battlefield 2042 Beta.
However, from October 8th-9th, the beta will be open for everyone to experience.
The third and final component,Hazard Zone, was unveiled on October 14. The new trailer gave us a rundown on how the intense mode works and just what players can expect to see at launch.
When and where is Battlefield 2042 set?
Battlefield 2042 is set in the modern era in the midst of a world war driven by a conflict between the USA and Russia. Shortages of food, energy, and clean water have led to countless desperate nations on the brink of crisis.
As the two biggest superpowers on the planet continue to forge war against each other, players join a group known as Specialists who fight for both sides and do not represent a flag.
Their goal is to fight for what matters and protect the non-patriated in this new war-torn world.
Battlefield 2042 maps and modes
Battlefield 2042 will launch with three separate standout multiplayer experiences for players to jump into. While fans of the franchise will recognize some returning features, DICE has certainly made somemajor additions to evolve the gameplay.
All-Out Warfare
All-Out Warfare is the next generation of fan-favorite modes Conquest and Breakthrough, featuring the largest maps ever for the franchise and hosting up to 128 players. Players will experience the intensity of war like never before with maps featuring dynamic weather, dangerous environmental hazards, and spectacular world events.
Hazard Zone
Hazard Zoneis a brand new squad-based game-type for the Battlefield franchise. Teams of four drop into the map and must retrieve as many Data Drives as possible. you’re able to’t get too greedy though as teams have to extract for their Data Drives to count, thus, everyone is fighting for not only the same objectives, but the same escape route.
Battlefield Portal
The third experience was confirmed to beBattlefield Portalduring the EA Play Live event. Portal offers an extensive toolset that allows players to build their own modes. With a variety of maps, weapons, and vehicles from previous Battlefield titles, the community can use a wide range of assets to bring their dreams to life.
In terms of maps, Battlefield 2042 is looking to raise the bar when it comes to scale and choices that players can make while exploring a landmass.
It’s obvious DICE wanted to create sandbox-enabling maps that change and evolve throughout a conflict. It’s worth noting the All-Out Warfare mode will host128players on the next-gen consoles and PC, but only64players on the PS4 and Xbox One. This is to ensure players on those systems still receive an optimized experience.
Similarly, Hazard Zone will host 32 players on next-gen consoles and PC, while previous-gen consoles will be limited to 24 players in each lobby.
Battlefield 2042 will launch with seven original maps that function across both Hazard Zone and All-Out Warfare:
Moreover, Battlefield Portal also marks the return of six classic maps, all of which have been revitalized for the latest hardware.
Battlefield 2042 minimum & recommended PC specs
It doesn’t seem to matter too much if your PC is a bit old compared to the newer Nvidia 3000 series cards, as EA have outlined the minimum and recommended specs for PC users. These can be viewed down below.
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Battlefield 2042 features
At E3 2021, players got a new look at all the features that will be making their way into the title. We’ve compiled them below:
Despite these fantastic reveals, it could be that the best is yet to come. During Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek’s co-stream of E3 2021,the streamer spoke about the trailer’s content, adding that “there’s definitely more [Battlefield 2042] that DICE and EA are going to show. There’s a lot more.”
Battlefield seasonal content
Like most other games nowadays, BF2042 players can expect seasonal launches dropping with plenty of content.
A 100-tier battle pass, six to eight new weapons, and new maps and specialists in every update are what players should expect, according to insider Tom Henderson.
Each#BATTLEFIELD2042Season;– 1 Specialist– 2 New Maps– 2 Portal Maps– Hazard Zone Update (Story-driven)– 6-8 New Weapons (for each mode)– 2-3 New Vehicles (for each mode)– 100 Season Tiers
Battlefield 2042 will be a “service”, not just a game, says EA
That’s in the words of EA CEO Andrew Wilson,who told investorsthat “you should think of Battlefield as a service”.
It follows the popular model of EA’s other big hitters, FIFA and Apex Legends. Whether it’s pure live-service (Apex Legends) or with yearly releases (like FIFA), Battlefield 2042 will fall into the same basket.
That means players shouldn’t just expect one launch and that’s it. Constant patches, updates, DLC content, and more are all part of BF2042 — as much as the game’s initial launch.
Will Battlefield have crossplay?
On July 14, it was confirmed thatcrossplayis currently being built and tested for Battlefield 2042.
The first taste of this crossplay functionality was on display during a recent technical playtest. Players across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 were able to experiment with the feature for the first time as it’s still in early development.
Although it wasn’t a guarantee at first, EA soon confirmed that crossplay is indeed locked in for launch.
The developers intend on crossplay working out of the gate as follows:
Weapons and vehicles in Battlefield 2042
When it comes to weapons, DICE is giving more freedom to players in terms of customization than ever before. The new Plus System will allow Specialists tochange up their weapons in real-time, and adjust them to fit the scenario that they’re in.
Of course, attachments aren’t important unless the guns are fun and satisfying to use. Luckily, thanks to a recent leak from Twitter userCODBF2042Leaks, we’ve nowbeen given our first look at how a number of weaponswill look and fire in-game.
According to the leaker, the clips were captured during the playtest and showcase gunfire and reload animations on a select number of guns.
Don’t forget, if you want to see a full list of the arsenal of weapons available in Battlefield 2042. check out ourdedicated gun list.
Moving on from the weapons, vehicles in Battlefield 2042 are going to be more focused on team collaboration and will have individual seats. Each of these seats will be allocated to a specific job, such as gunner seats, spotters seats, anti-air seats, and more.
This means in order to make the most out of vehicles in Battlefield 2042, players will have to work together and co-ordinate with each other.
Specialists in Battlefield 2042
Players will step into the boots ofSpecialists in Battlefield 2042, each with their own Specialist Trait and Specialty that they can use to their advantage.
It’s worth noting that alongside their specific abilities, Specialists will have fully customizable loadouts for players to tweak and perfect.
So far, EA has revealed four of the ten Specialists that players can expect to see at launch. You can check them out below:
Wikus “Casper” Van Daele
Webster Mackay
Maria Falck
Pyotr “Boris” Guskovsky
Battlefield 2042 leaked “gadgets”
On top of the specialists, there’ll reportedly be access to gadgets to even further personalize your loadouts.
From support items like Recon Drones and Stim Pistols to supply drops and throwables, the gadgets should allow you to customize your playstyle to the extreme.
How many you’ll be able to equip — or whether you will be able to — remains to be seen. However, you may findthe full list here.
Battlefield 2042 open beta and editions
There are three different Battlefield 2042 editions available to purchase and each of them offers a series of exclusive rewards and bonuses:
EA has confirmed that players whopre-order Battlefield 2042ahead of the release date in October will receive access to the open beta at an unspecified date in September.
On top of this, EA Play members can try out the game on October 15 for a10-hour trialperiod and receive10%off their pre-order.
Battlefield 2042 battle royale mode
While it’s still possibleBattlefield 2042 feature a BR mode down the line, it seems very unlikely to be coming any time soon.
With the focus on All Out Warfare, Portal, and Hazard Zone, EA has made no mention of a possible BR experience at this stage.
Keep checking back often, as we’ll ensure to keep this article up-to-date with all the latest Battlefield 2042 release date news, leaks, and updates.
For more release hubs, check out all we know on the following games:CoD 2021|The Elder Scrolls 6|Halo Infinite|GTA 6|Forza Horizon 5|Diablo 2 Resurrected|Overwatch 2| Far Cry 6 |
