How exactly do you make a bad game good? According to DICE, rework the whole thing and mark it down to absolutely nothing.
Battlefield 2042 was first released in 2021, to little acclaim. Longtime players of the Battlefield franchise found themselves underwhelmed. After paying about $50 USD for a game that was no more than a recolor of the previous, fans flocked to the forums.
They complained of buggy gameplay, lack of new features, and changes to core gameplay. Most notably, Battlefield 2042 lacks a single-player campaign, unlike all of the previous releases in the series. Developers DICE and Electronic Arts (EA) realized that their bestselling game was no longer bestselling, and decided to make some changes.
Battlefield 2042 was Steam’s most played game on launch day, but the savage attacks from annoyed fans led the game into a spiral. DICE and EA had to problem solve, and fast. The game was becoming a money pit, and with plans to release a new Battlefield game in 2026, something had to give.
At first, EA attempted to blame COVID-19 and the need for remote work on the poor quality of the game, but fans refused to buy it. Although EA still stands by it, the community still disputes it. In September 2022, Vince Zampella, head of Respawn Entertainment and the Battlefield series, stated that the game had “strayed a little too far from what Battlefield is.”
DICE quickly launched into a rework of the game, starting first with all of the reported bugs. After getting obliterated online for removing fan-favorite game mode Rush, they implemented all of the most popular game modes to be permanently in rotation.
Now, there is a weekly Game Mode that is either a less popular or a more fun rework of a popular mode, like Conquest XL or Rush XL where the teams are doubled.
They listened to the fans and the critics. They fixed the bugs and updated the game to be more user friendly. They gave the fans exactly what they wanted. But, what of those who tried the game, hated it, and got it refunded? Why would they be willing to shell out another 50 dollars to try a game they already disliked? Then, the infamous Steam Winter Sale rolled around.
For those of you who use console, Steam is essentially the App Store or Google Play store for those who use gaming PCs. Throughout the year, Steam hosts major sales with a special section for major discounts.
Here, you could find 70 dollar games marked down to 20. During the 2024 Steam Winter Sale, Battlefield 2042 was marked down by 90%. Yes folks, EA and DICE sold the game for 5 dollars.
I was one of the people who bought the game at this time. Although I hadn’t played any of the previous Battlefield games, I was itching for a new FPS that didn’t make me want to rip my hair out like Call of Duty. I bought the game and fell in love with it instantly.
I wasn’t the only one. Thousands of new players flocked to the game. New players jumped at the opportunity to buy an expensive game for cheap, and old players decided to give it one last go to see if EA and DICE had fixed the issues. They did.
The guns were updated to be still slightly difficult, but all the more satisfying when they worked. Gameplay was now fluid and tolerable. Bugs were gone. The best game modes were constantly in play. Simply put, EA and DICE proved that they were willing to listen to the fanbase.
So, if all of this happened in December 2024, where are we now? In March 2025, what does the fanbase look like now?
The game is still bustling with players, with most opting for the special game mode on weekly rotation. Although there are dry spells during the day, the game comes alive in the afternoon and evening with players from all over the world.My personal favorite game mode, Breakthrough, is usually filled most times of day. The fanbase is alive again.
Although the Steam sale helped bring Battlefield back into the mainstream, many gamers are quick to cast a game to the side if it isn’t fresh. Many games will battle this by constantly releasing new guns or characters to play. Sometimes, they’ll even release new game modes. Battlefield is doing all of this, and then some.
As of March 18th, 2025, Battlefield 2042 is unleashing one of the largest events that the game has ever seen. Dubbed War Machine, the event introduces three completely new game modes along with a complete event pass with free goodies for the cheapskates like me, but even more skins and gun buddies for those willing to pay.
Domination is a 16 v 16 battle where two teams fight for control of three separate objectives, somewhat similar to Battlefield’s longstanding Conquest mode. This mode is significantly smaller than the other modes, and doesn’t allow players to ‘drop’ or spawn in on captured objectives like other BF modes. Domination is also infantry only, meaning that players cannot call in vehicles, tanks, or jets to help in the battle.
Override is a 4 player gamemode where you and three other unlucky souls must battle a hoard of evil AI-powered robots in order to wipe them all out. Four of us against the world sounds pretty daunting.
Domination and Override have already been launched as of March 18th. However, EA and DICE are keeping players on their toes by waiting until April 1st to release one of the most well-loved game modes in FPS history: King of the Hill.
By constantly adding new events and new game modes to the core game, EA and DICE are keeping players interested. Every week, there’s a new game mode to explore. Every few months, there’s a new major event with new freebies to unlock.
With character skins, gun buddies, and XP boosts galore, who can part ways with Battlefield for longer than a few days? With a vibrant, bustling new fan base and a developer who listens to the players, all I know is that I am hesitant to leave.
