One of the most welcomed additions toBattlefield 2042in recent years wasn’t the arrival of a new map or game mode but, instead, a much-praised return to the roots of thefranchise. With the release ofBattlefield 2042’s Season 3: Escalation update,developer DICE retooled the contentious Specialist mechanic for character selection that had been included at launch, replacing it with the class-based system that had long been a serious staple. With the successor toBattlefield 2042likely moving along in development, DICE should let the overwhelmingly positive response to this decision guide its hand as it decides what form the nextBattlefieldgame will take.
Out of all the features that could carry over tothe nextBattlefieldgame, the class-based character selection system would arguably be one of the most popular. The selectable classes of Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon are not only a staple of the series, but their archetypical roles also make it easy for even new players to instantly know what sort of character they’re taking control of. Sticking with class-based loadouts for the next game could not only earn back the trust of those still upset overBattlefield 2042’s ill-received Specialist system but also make it easier for new players and series veterans alike to quickly get into the action.
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Battlefield 2042’s Specialist System Was Controversial from the Start
Ostensibly meant to give players more options when it came to deciding what sort of character they’d like to play,Battlefield 2042’s Specialists systemproved to be controversial from the start. Unlike the class-based system that had been a staple of the series since it began withBattlefield 1942, the Specialists system functioned similarly to the loadouts found in games likeCall of Duty: Black Ops 3. Giving each Specialist a unique name, look, and loadout, the system was meant to give players more freedom when it came to customizing their character.
While well-intentioned, the Specialists system was met with a mixture of confusion and frustration by many long-time players. Although it made some improvements over the old system, such as removing the weapon restrictions that had been associated with class-based roles inpreviousBattlefieldgames, it could sometimes be difficult to determine exactly which role each Specialist was meant to play. This not only led to frustrated players and likely played a role inBattlefield 2042’s rocky start, but also introduced unnecessary friction for those who simply wanted to quickly hop into battle.
A Class-Based System for Battlefield Makes It Easier to Get Into the Action
With EA and DICE now teasing what they claim will be areimagining of theBattlefieldfranchisewith its next entry, the series could be set for some major shake-ups. But as the developers begin the difficult task of determining which features to keep and which to abandon, the class-based loadouts reintroduced inBattlefield 2042’s third season are one feature that should be retained. Not only is the system familiar to fans of the franchise, but it also makes choosing a character and hopping into battle much faster for players uninterested in sorting through an array of Specialists.
Although each class still features multiple selectable Specialists, their archetypical roles make it easier for players to know exactly what sort of character and gameplay experience they’re choosing. Retaining character classes could help the nextBattlefieldgame avoid some of the controversies that plagued its predecessor, ensuring that players can quickly hop into a match without having to pore over the details of each Specialist to make sure that it handles the way they’d like it to.
DICE’s work to repair and recoverplayers’ perceptions ofBattlefield 2042shows that the developer is still willing to listen to its fans when it comes to the series. The overwhelmingly positive fan response to the return of class-based character selection inBattlefield 2042played a large role in that game’s comeback, and retaining that same straightforward system for the nextBattlefieldwill help ensure that the game can hit the ground running.
