Return to the Battlefield

BATTLEFIELD 2042 PS4, also PS5, PC, Xbox One & Series ★★★

AS we span this generational transition, some games are attempting to cater to the divide.

Battlefield 2042 does this by pushing the envelope through visuals and a 128-player count on the new machines, while making some unfortunate trade-offs to allow those without to play too.

After a bumpy launch, it’s settling down to prove a familiar, if contentious entry for the series.

There are still plenty of bugs to iron out but when it works it succeeds in delivering that chaotic sandbox experience the series is loved for.

Unfortunately bugs aren’t the only issues as the experience here feels stripped back compared to previous titles, which is surprising considering the multiplayer-only focus.

Eschewing single player makes for a harder sell too, as similar games are mostly opting for the free-to-play model.

Of all the changes, replacing the Class system with customisable Specialists seems the most misjudged, essentially turning Battlefield into a hero shooter.

Now it’s harder to parse the makeup of your squad or what tools you’re facing up against.

There seems to be less focus on squads now too, with less options to group up, while the larger maps and the new focus on heroes means it’s more common for players to just be off doing their own thing, undermining the core Battlefield experience.

In all it’s a messy affair, especially on older consoles hobbled by a 64-player count that feels lost on these larger fields.

At its best it can still deliver some unique large-scale combat but there’s still a lot of work to be done.