I‘m sure you‘ve been wondering – is there a way to play EA‘s latest Battlefield 2042 shooter for free? The answer is yes! Let me walk you through everything you need to know about playing this recent multiplayer release at no cost.
As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I‘ve got all the details to share with you in this comprehensive guide.
Battlefield 2042 Free Trial Now Live on Steam!
EA has made Battlefield 2042 free-to-play from March 13-16, 2023 on PC via Steam! All you need is a Steam account and you can download the full game at absolutely no charge.
I know you don‘t want to miss out on this cool opportunity to try Battlefield 2042 risk-free. Here‘s a quick 1-2-3 on how to get it:
Step 1) Open the Steam client and login to your account.
Step 2) Search "Battlefield 2042" and select the Standard Edition.
Step 3) Click the big green "Play Game" button to add it to your library and start downloading.
Once installed, you‘ll have unlimited access to the full Battlefield 2042 experience during the free period. That means all the maps, modes, weapons, vehicles – everything except cosmetics and the Battle Pass.
According to the experts at EA, the free trial will run until March 16, 2023. So you‘ve got a good week or so to check it out.
I‘d recommend downloading it ASAP so you can get the most playtime possible before the promo ends!
Free Access Only on PC Currently
Now I don‘t want to get your hopes up here, but this Battlefield 2042 freebie is only on PC right now. Gamers on Xbox, PlayStation, and Origin unfortunately can‘t participate.
EA has run free trials like this before on consoles, so hopefully it expands to them soon! But for now, it‘s just us PC gamers that can enjoy the free-for-all.
Here‘s a quick glance at the need-to-know dates:
Start date: March 13, 2023
End date: March 16, 2023
So about 1 week of playtime for us. Let‘s make the most of it!
Everything You Can Experience for Free
Since you get full access to Battlefield 2042 during the trial, here‘s a rundown of all the content available for $0:
All 7 Maps: Orbital, Discarded, Manifest and more
4 Game Modes: Conquest, Breakthrough, Rush and Hazard Zone.
10 Specialists: Characters like Boris, Casper, Falck, and Mackay. Each has their own traits and abilities.
Weapon/Vehicle Progression: Unlock new gear and upgrades as you rank up and earn XP. There‘s over 30 primary weapons, sidearms, and throwables. Plus all the vehicles like tanks, helicopters, jets etc.
Cosmetic Customization Locked: You can preview skins but not equip them.
Battle Pass Inaccessible: No progress or unlocks for the premium pass during the free period.
So in a nutshell, you get the full Battlefield 2042 multiplayer experience minus cosmetics and Battle Pass perks. Tons of content for a completely free trial!
Major Improvements Since Rocky Launch
Now, you may remember Battlefield 2042 had a bit of a rough go when it first launched back in November 2021. There were some technical hiccups, balancing issues, and missing features that made the initial reception a bit mixed.
However! The team at DICE hasn‘t been twiddling their thumbs since then. They‘ve worked hard to address player feedback and radically improve the game over the past year.
Here‘s a highlight of the major changes they‘ve made:
| Changes | Details |
|---|---|
| New Maps | Exposure, Stranded, Manifest, Breakaway, and Spearhead |
| New Modes | Free-for-all, Team Deathmatch, Gun Master |
| Vehicle Balancing | Air vehicles and transport nerfed |
| Map Reworks | Better cover and terrain on maps like Kaleidoscope |
| Weapon Adjustments | Buffs to SMGs, LMGs, and pistols |
| Specialist Changes | Classes reintroduced, abilities restricted |
| Technical Fixes | Hundreds of bug fixes and performance upgrades |
| Quality of Life | Progression, menus, spawning improved |
As you can see, DICE has really turned things around compared to how it played at launch. There‘s more content, better balancing, smoother performance – big steps in the right direction!
The free trial is a great opportunity to experience these improvements firsthand. I think you‘ll be pleasantly surprised with how much more polished Battlefield 2042 feels nowadays.
All the Game Modes Available
There are 4 action-packed multiplayer modes enabled for the free trial that we can dive into:
Conquest
The classic Battlefield mode where teams battle to control strategic points on the map to drain the enemy‘s respawn tickets. All-out vehicle warfare blended with frenetic infantry combat.
Breakthrough
One team attacks objectives while the other defends. Attackers have limited respawns so teamwork is key to advance across sectors and achieve victory. Very cinematic tug-of-war matches!
Rush
A timed bomb/defuse mode where attacking teams must arm objectives then defend them from being disarmed. Fast and explosive close-quarters engagements.
Hazard Zone
A tactical squad-based mode focused on hunting for data drives then extracting by helicopter. High risk but high reward!
Solid variety there to suit different playstyles. You‘ve got the huge conquest maps for vehicle battles, Rush and Breakthrough deliver focused objective modes, and Hazard Zone provides a unique experience.
Plenty of gameplay to sink our teeth into during the freebie period.
Maps Galore
In addition to full access to all 4 modes, we can also play across these 9 multiplayer maps:
Orbital – Set in France with a rocket launch site and assembly building as key objectives. Open fields for vehicle combat and interior spaces for CQC.
Discarded – A massive beached shipyard in India ideal for frenetic infantry shootouts across derelict interiors and exteriors.
Renewal – High-tech desert research facility in Egypt. Long sightlines and ziplines enable flanking maneuvers.
Hourglass – Vibrant city environment in Qatar with urban combat across streets and skyscrapers.
Breakaway – Antarctic research station added after launch. Intense interior battles across multiple structures.
Exposure – Canadian mountains complete with a rocket silo bunker. Diverse engagements across long and short ranges.
Stranded – Indonesian ship graveyards perfect for ranged snipers and run ‘n gun SMG users.
Manifest – Chaotic container yard in Singapore added post-launch. Fast and frenetic skirmishes.
Kaleidoscope – Futuristic South Korean cityscape with destructible skyscrapers.
That‘s 9 unique environments with solid variety between close-quarters and long-range gameplay. And remember, they‘re all free to experience during the trial!
Hardware Needed to Run Battlefield 2042
Before downloading the trial, make sure your gaming rig meets the minimum and recommended system requirements:
Minimum:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5 6600K
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: AMD RX 560 4GB or Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
- Storage: 100GB HDD
Recommended:
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X or Intel Core i7 4790
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: AMD RX 6600 XT or Nvidia RTX 3060
- Storage: 100GB SSD
As you can see, Battlefield 2042 demands a respectable gaming PC, especially in the GPU department. The minimum targets 1080p 60 FPS gameplay, while recommended specs aim for 60+ FPS at 1440p resolution.
Using upscaling tech like Nvidia DLSS or AMD FSR can help boost performance if your hardware is borderline. But with recent optimizations, the game runs very smoothly now provided you meet the specs.
Tips from a Battlefield Veteran
If you‘re new to the Battlefield franchise, here are some handy pro tips to help you thrive during the 2042 free trial:
Play the intro bootcamp to get familiar with mechanics
Stick with teammates – lone wolfing leads to quick deaths
Capture objectives – it gives score/drains enemy tickets
Spot enemies frequently by aiming at them and pressing Q or RB
Experiment with all classes to find one that suits your playstyle
Use cover wisely when on foot to avoid vehicle bombardments
Play the objective but use strategy – don‘t just zerg blindly
Most importantly – have fun! It‘s a free game so enjoy yourself and try everything out.
Follow those tips and you‘ll be dominating the battlefield in no time even as a new player.
Is Battlefield 2042 Worth Buying?
After the free trial ends, you might be wondering if Battlefield 2042 is worth buying to continue the fun. At launch, it was a bit hard to recommend. But after a year of updates and bug fixes, the game is now in a really enjoyable state.
Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros
Core gameplay is highly enjoyable, especially with friends
Excellent map variety and roster
Major technical issues have been fixed
New content like maps, modes, weapons added
Well optimized for smooth performance now
Balancing and mechanics improved
Cons
Still has some minor bugs
Specialists system not fully refined yet
Small number of fully featured maps
Missing some legacy features like a scoreboard
Lower player population than older BF titles
Overall, Battlefield 2042 has gone from a buggy mess at launch to being just a bit rough around the edges now. The core gameplay experience and large-scale battles are super enjoyable.
At $30-40 on sale, I think it‘s worth picking up after the free trial ends if you want to keep playing. Just be aware the player population is lower than older titles like BF4 or BF1, so matchmaking can take longer.
But continued support is planned well into 2023 and beyond. If you have a good time during the free period, grabbing the full game on sale could let you continue experiencing that fun.
Year 2 of Content and Improvements Confirmed
In some very positive news, EA DICE has confirmed they will continue developing Battlefield 2042 through 2023 and into a Year 2. This shows their long-term commitment to improving the game.
Here‘s what they have planned:
Season 4 – Launched March 2023. New map Spearhead and Sweden location, new specialist, weapons, vehicles, and over 100 other fixes/upgrades.
Season 5 – Releasing late 2023. Details still unannounced but likely brings more maps, weapons, specialists, and quality of life features.
This Year 2 content roadmap demonstrates DICE is dedicated to correcting 2042‘s launch issues and expanding it into the polished Battlefield title we all want.
The fact you can play for free now is part of enticing players back to grow the community again. While the player population may never reach past Battlefield game heights, Year 2 shows EA‘s commitment to ongoing support rather than abandoning 2042 anytime soon.
There‘s plenty more to look forward to!
Free Trial Closing Thoughts
The opportunity to check out Battlefield 2042 completely free is an exciting one for FPS fans like us. It‘s a great chance to experience the large-scale vehicular warfare the series is known for at zero cost.
The game has improved considerably since its rocky launch state thanks to a year of updates, balances, and bug fixes by DICE. It feels way more polished and optimized now.
If you have any interest in Battlefield‘s signature blend of land, air, and infantry combat, I‘d absolutely recommend downloading the trial from Steam and giving it a shot while you can.
You‘ve got nothing to lose but a bit of hard drive space. And who knows – you might just find a new favorite multiplayer shooter.
Once the free period ends, consider grabbing the full game at a discounted price if you really get into it. That way you can keep enjoying the large battles as even more exciting updates and content drops arrive over the course of 2024 and beyond.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat more about gaming news and opportunities with a fellow player like you. Enjoy the Battlefield 2042 free trial!
