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Battlefield 2042 release date, gameplay, and more

Everything you need to know about Battlefield 2042, from its gameplay to its content.

A soldier holding a gun in one hand looks back over his right shoulder

Battlefield 2042, known previously as Battlefield 6, promised all-out total warfare and never-before-seen battles. While it certainly one bombastic, it largely failed to meet expectations at launch. Years on though, BF 2042 has much more to offer.

With staggeringly large 128-player battles, packed with the roar of an army of tanks, jeeps, jets, and helicopters, there was still lots to love – and even more to love today. It’s become one of the best multiplayer games on the market.

Battlefield 2042 release date

Battlefield 2042 was released on Friday, November 19, 2021, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, as well as PS4, and Xbox One – though more on this later. Battlefield 2042 was delayed nearly a month from its original Friday, October 22, 2021, release date to ensure the teams working on the game were able to “deliver on the vision of Battlefield 2042 for our players,” as EA claimed.

There were three BF 2042 editions at launch: standard, gold, and ultimate, priced at $59.99 / £49.99, $89.99 / £79.99, and $109.99 / £99.99 respectively- with additional content for the more expensive tiers. Nowadays, Battlefield 2042 is often available on sale.

Battlefield 2042 release date: A helicopter flying towards a large cargo ship surrounded by explosions in the desert.

Battlefield 2042 platforms

Battlefield 2042 is available on PS4, Xbox One, as well as the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

However, the game was developed specifically around new-gen platforms, so if you’re trying to play on your trusty PS4 or Xbox One, don’t expect to be fully immersed. Last-gen consoles are limited to smaller maps and a reduced, 32v32 player count compared to the standard 64v64.

Battlefield 2042 gameplay

Broadly, Battlefield 2042 is a Battlefield game through and through, though with some big changes to shake up the experience. It has the big maps you would expect (check out all the Battlefield 2042 maps to find out more), vehicles, and destruction.

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However, BF 2042 introduced the specialists system. While this was later removed somewhat to closer reflect the traditional class system, 2042 uses a more defined set of characters, or operators, for its multiplayer. While you’re more free to tweak your loadout than at launch, their distinct personalities remain.

BF 2042 also added the vehicle call-in system, letting you airdrop certain vehicles like tanks to your position, bypassing heading back to the respawn screen to grab some armor.

Perhaps most of all though, Battlefield 2042 made the leap to 128-player matches. This doubled the team sizes of the previous games for even more chaos – though the maps were bigger as a result.

Battlefield 2042 release date: A soldier with a wingsuit evading a tornado chasing them.

Does Battlefield 2042 have single-player?

No, Battlefield 2042 does not have a single-player mode, making it the first Battlefield game to launch without a campaign since 2008.

If you’re not a fan of multiplayer, this game wasn’t and unfortunately still isn’t for you.

Battlefield 2042 release date: Soldiers, a tank, and a helicopter all moving towards the left through a battleground.

Does Battlefield 2042 have a battle royale mode?

Battlefield 2042 does not include a battle royale mode. It does, however, include multiple game modes online for people to play, like All-Out Warfare and Hazard Zone.

So, if you’re a Firestorm fan, bad news – it isn’t coming back. However, Battlefield Portal does offer some unique, community-made modes that might just hit the spot.

Well, that’s all there is to know about Battlefield 2042, one of the best FPS games thanks to its large-scale multiplayer and packed full of content thanks to post-launch content.