Players have to wait until October 22, 2021 to play EA’s upcoming Battlefield 2042, but it seems that some fans can quench their thirst in the meantime by returning to Battlefield 4. Fans were treated to the reveal of Battlefield 2042 earlier this month, as well as its release date. The game supposedly has the largest development team of any Battlefield game, and 2042 is slated to be a huge addition to the series overall.
As the developer of the Battlefield franchise, DICE has teased this next entry for some time. This will be the first new game in the series since the release of Battlefield V in 2018, which DICE halted major production on in early 2020. Battlefield 2042 will explore a near-future setting, which is something the title has in common with Battlefield 4, though the franchise has shifted away from such a setting since. Recent Battlefield titles have favored campaigns taking place in more familiar time periods, such as World War I and II and modern times. However, the Battlefield 2042 gameplay trailer from E3 showcased the futuristic weaponry and setting that fans can expect, sending many back in time to experience old memories again.
This past Friday, EA posted to the Battlefield 4 section of its Answers HQ, saying “many of you have jumped back into Battlefield 4…” following the Battlefield 2042 announcement. Fans have decided that they would like to “get a taste of the return to all-out-warfare” in preparation for the game’s release. While this new traffic is likely a good sign for 2042, it’s been a technical struggle for Battlefield 4’s servers. According to EA’s community manager, “[Battlefield 4] queue times in the US West region were far longer than in other regions” recently, leading to the company’s decision to “[increase] server capacity for this region…”
The Battlefield 2042 trailers have clearly had a great impact on players, but it’s possible that this new surge of players in older games may come to an end fairly soon. Diving into past games is great in its own respect, but it can hardly satisfy the urge to experience new mechanics and features. For example, the recent gameplay trailer from E3 showed off the ability to customize weapons in-game in Battlefield 2042, which is a mechanic many players are likely excited to try out.
That being said, it’s hard to deny that it makes sense to increase server capabilities while players flock back to the franchise. While such a surge may not last long, EA has made a smart decision by recognizing long queue times and improving them so that fans can quench their thirst with Battlefield 4 prior to the release of the hotly anticipated Battlefield 2042.
Battlefield 2042 releases for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on October 22, 2021.
