EA has lifted the curtain on Battlefield 2042‘s mystery mode, Battlefield Portal, which will feature remastered maps from classic Battlefield games and allow players to create custom game modes with complex editors. This mode is a pretty big leap from the traditional action at the core of Battlefield 2042 and is a very unexpected addition to the series, but one that will likely be very appreciated by fans.
It was previously rumored that Battlefield 2042 would feature remastered maps, but it wasn’t clear exactly what that would entail at the time. Many took it to mean the maps’ inclusions would be a repeat of what the series has done in the past, with the classic maps being ported over with some new additions and features. Now, though, it seems as though something much larger in scale is being done with them in the full game.
At EA Play Live 2021, the publisher revealed Battlefield Portal, a mode with six maps from three past Battlefield games. Not only have these maps been remastered, but players can create their own game modes using settings sliders or a very deep, layered game logic editor to modify how they’re played. It’s clear Ripple Effect’s work on Battlefield 2042 is very special and will take advantage of fans’ nostalgia in a pretty powerful way. Battlefield Portal’s maps will include Battlefield 3‘s Caspian Border and Noshar Canals, Battlefield: Bad Company 2‘s Arica Harbor and Valpriso, and Battlefield 1942‘s Battle of the Bulge and El Alamein. These maps have been rebuilt with new assets, but nothing major has been added aside from destructibility to Battlefield 1942‘s maps.
Similarly, players can also use weaponry, vehicles, gadgets, and more from these classic Battlefield games, all of which can be utilized in creative ways with the game editor. Some possibilities for game modes include pitting the different eras of Battlefield against each other, like 2042 soldiers versus 1942 soldiers, or even wackier concepts such as 20 EOD repair bots against one tank. It looks like a very free experience and a way for players to express their creativity in a very new way to the series. It’s unclear if more remastered maps will be added to Battlefield 2042, but co-developers DICE and Ripple Effect plan to update the mode according to fan feedback.
With these remastered maps, Battlefield 2042 will launch with at least 13 maps. More maps are expected to be added to the game for free as part of DICE’s seasonal content plan, but no further details have been given regarding those. DICE seems to be doing all of the right things for this entry, which is critical after the misstep that was Battlefield V. It’s very clearly fan-focused while still doing its best to evolve the series in as many ways as possible, ensuring it doesn’t feel like it’s pandering too hard.
There’s one more key pillar that still needs to be shown, but EA is ensuring it’s a closely-guarded secret. Battlefield 2042‘s Hazard Zone mode aims to be something distinctly different from other modes in the series, but DICE has strongly emphasized it’s not a battle royale. Still, the fact that the developer is even saying that seems to indicate it will have traits similar to a battle royale. It’s tough to say what it will be right now, but DICE appears to be making a very well-rounded game in Battlefield 2042.
Battlefield 2042 will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.
