It looks like Battlefield 2042 developer DICE is learning the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” lesson a little late. After making a lot of changes to the formula of the series in last year’s shooter, the team spent the whole year not only fixing the game, but now making it look like the old games.
“IN Battlefield 2042 In Season 5, you’ll see how we take a look at previous games and how they might come into the world of 2042,” Senior Producer Ryan MacArthur said in roadmap blog post (opens in a new tab).
Season 4 is set to launch in late December 2022, and Season 5 will kick off the new year in early 2023. According to DICE, it will be “a mix of veteran developers along with those working on their first game to breathe new life.” [into Battlefield 2042]”.
See what’s coming to #Battlefield 2042 next year⛑️ Class introductions🗺 Upcoming map reworks👀 Season 4 and Season 5 first details Full details 👇 pic.twitter.com/smZqnGzIvzDecember 1, 2022
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A key part of this is the return of classes, a classic feature of the series that was removed in Battlefield 2042 and replaced with Specialists: characters with unique abilities that didn’t fit into class roles. With Update 3.2, DICE assigns all current Specialists “defined roles with a set of gadgets and gear that best suits their battlefield goals,” writes MacArthur.
There will be one more Specialist in season 4, and DICE plans to add him to the Recon class. “With the return to classes and our roster totaling 14, we’re pleased with the amount of Specialists and gameplay variety they’ll allow you to experience.
“So our goal will be to continue listening to your feedback to expand the sandbox in other ways, making changes to the design and balance of class-based combat, and further developing skins and cosmetics to give you more ways to stand on the battlefield.”
In addition to the ultimate Specialist, the next update introduces a new map that MacArthur describes as “smaller, shorter and linear designed for the close and personal close-range combat that Battlefield is famous for.”
While MacArthur is withholding details of Season 5, he says that “the upcoming new Season 5 map will be the forgotten battleground that was last fought on in the Battlefield 4 era. An overgrown area, engulfed in vegetation and the 2042 War.” encourage combining vehicle and infantry combat, which means teamwork is the key to victory.”
We can expect it in 2023.