Though Season 3 for Battlefield 2042 began just about a week and a half back, that hasn't stopped DICE from talking about what's coming next for the game. Season 4 details were shared with fans, plus the studio confirmed that Season 5 will be coming in 2023. Perhaps the most enticing thing mentioned here is that the map set to arrive in Season 5 will be based on a map we last saw in Battlefield 4.
The following information is what DICE shared with fans in their latest Battlefield Briefing. We'll start first at the bottom with the things we know the least about. Those being what DICE shared about Season 5 and other content slated to arrive in 2023.
Battlefield 2042 Season 5
Season 5 will deviate a slight bit from the expected seasonal content that came before it. DICE says that there will not be a new Specialist in Season 5, but it will include the other usual addition of new content: A new map, new hardware, new Battle Pass, and more.Interestingly, DICE says that because their team is a mix of Battlefield veterans and fresh blood, they are going to "lean into previous games" to show how those sorts of environments could appear in the world of 2042. DICE says that the Season 5 map "will be a forgotten battleground that last saw combat in the Battlefield 4 era." This map will feature "an overgrown area, engulfed with vegetation and by the 2042 war." This map will also "encourage a combination of vehicular and infantry combat."
What that returning Battlefield 4 map could be is really anybody's guess right now. Battlefield 4 shipped with ten maps. Then there are the expansions which added several more maps with each release. Second Assault added four maps that were previously seen in Battlefield 3. China rising, Naval Strike, Dragon's Teeth, and Final Stand all added four maps each as well. There are a lot of potential options here as to which of these maps DICE is giving the 2042 treatment to.
Reworked Maps
In Season 3, Manifest and Breakaway will both be re-released with their reworked versions. DICE says that Update 3.1, currently coming later in December, will include the updated version of Manifest. This update will move the HQ flags closer to the action, bring some of the points a bit closer to each other, offer improved visibility, cover and sightlines, and add better pathing between flags.
Update 3.2, coming early in 2023, will offer the updated version of Breakaway. As part of the changes to Breakaway, the Oil Rig has been moved closer to the rest of the map. The ice shelf itself has been massively overhauled to now offer entirely new routes as well as new flags due to changes made to the Town and Refinery areas.
Classes Return in 3.2
Update 3.2 will also reintroduce the idea of distinct Classes to Battlefield. All of the current Specialists will be placed within defined roles. Each role gets a set of gadgets and equipment that fit each Class.The Season 4 Specialist wasn't fully revealed today. However, DICE says that they will be placed into the Recon class. This Specialist will also be the final Specialist added to Battlefield 2042.
Season 4's New Map
DICE didn't fully reveal this new Season 4 map, but they did reveal a couple of key details. They say that the Season 4 map will be "smaller, shorter, and linear." It will be "designed for up close and personal, close-quarters combat that Battlefield is famous for."Is it really famous for that though?
The concept art they provided coupled with their statement of "smaller, shorter, and linear" along with "close-quarters combat" is giving me severe Operation Metro vibes. I hope this doesn't turn out to be 2042's Metro, but...
As always, we will have more details on all of these things as they are shared publicly by DICE.
