Battlefield 2042 had no shortage of issues at launch, from severe server and latency issues, to the removal of major franchise features, to the divisive replacement of classes in favor of Specialists, to a lack of maps and modes. And that’s just scratching the surface. Though a lot of these issues were eventually fixed or at least made better via post-launch updates, Battlefield 2042 left a lasting impression on many fans. There’s a lot of pressure on Battlefield 6 to right those wrongs.
According to EA’s statements so far, it seems as though Battlefield 6 is striving to be a return to form for the series, one that takes the franchise back to its roots. This is undoubtedly the best move for the franchise, but it shouldn’t mean that Battlefield 6 forgets everything that’s come before it. And there’s one promising feature from Battlefield 2042 that deserves one more shot.
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Battlefield 6 Should Revisit 2042’s Dynamic Weather Feature
Battlefield 2042’s Dynamic Weather Still Has So Much Untapped Potential
Before launch, Battlefield 2042’s dynamic weather effects played a pivotal role in the game’s marketing, with various pre-release trailers showcasing a gigantic tornado tearing through city streets. Being a primary part of the game’s marketing, many fans naturally assumed that Battlefield 2042‘s extreme weather effects would play a substantial role in its moment-to-moment gameplay.
However, at launch, many found Battlefield 2042‘s dynamic weather to be rather lackluster. The tornado showcased in so many trailers didn’t have much of an impact on gameplay at all, simply hindering players from accessing one small part of the gigantic 128-player map. The tornado didn’t really affect nearby air vehicles, and didn’t really lead to any trademark “Battlefield Moments” that were teased in the marketing. The tornado was also the only major weather effect in the game, with it being reused across several maps.
Battlefield 6 Could Finally Fulfill 2042’s Dynamic Weather Promise
After the infamously rough reception to Battlefield 2042, there’s surely a temptation for EA, DICE, and the other attached studios to wipe the slate clean for Battlefield 6. But there are ways to make Battlefield 2042‘s dynamic weather feel like the groundbreaking feature it always should have been.
For a start, Battlefield 6 could introduce more varied types of weather effects that actually fit the maps they appear on. Sandstorms should appear on desert maps, blizzards should cover a snowy battlefield, and rain should pelt the ground on a forest map. These weather effects also need to add something substantial to the moment-to-moment gameplay experience rather than take something away.
For example, a sudden lightning strike could cause trees to block a vital road, rainfall could cause a landslide that forces players to dodge oncoming boulders, and a blizzard could obscure vision and encourage the use of thermal equipment. These effects would change how the game is played and challenge players to adapt, as opposed to simply stopping players from accessing a part of the map for a set amount of time.
The hypothetical new and improved version of dynamic weather would pair wonderfully with the rumored return of physics-based destruction mechanics for Battlefield 6. Severe hail could break windows, falling trees could collapse roofs, and tornadoes could leave a proper path of destruction in their wake, drastically affecting the gameplay experience.
- Released
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November 19, 2021
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts