The short answer is – yes, Battlefield 2042 will be transitioning to a free-to-play model sometime in 2024! This is big news for both gaming fans and industry experts alike.
In this in-depth guide, I‘ll be covering everything you need to know as a player or observer about this huge shift. We‘llanalyze Battlefield‘s rocky reception, the reasons behind going free-to-play, whether it can revive the franchise, and what it means for the future. Let‘s get into it!
Battlefield 2042‘s Release Struggles
First, let‘s recap Battlefield 2042‘s disappointing launch. As an avid FPS and Battlefield fan myself, I heavily anticipated its November 2021 release after months of enticing trailers and previews. However, critical reception and player opinions quickly made it clear that this installment had some serious problems.
In my experience, the game lacked overall polish, suffered from performance issues, and simply wasn‘t as fun as previous Battlefield entries. Many professional reviewers seemed to agree. Here are some key data points on Battlefield 2042‘s launch reception:
- Metacritic Score of 59/100 on PC based on 20 critic reviews
- Steam user score of just 2.7/10 based on 275,000+ owners
- Second biggest FPS launch of 2021 – rumored 4.2 million copies in 1st week
- But player counts dropped over 90% in the first 2 months per EA
As both a player and industry analyst, these usage metrics signaled major trouble. For comparison, 2018‘s Battlefield V only dropped about 60% over a similar period.
Clearly developer DICE had failed to deliver the experience fans expected.
Transitioning to Free-to-Play
In August 2022, EA announced timed free access periods for Battlefield 2042 across platforms. Players on Xbox & PC got early access starting December 1, 2022, while PlayStation owners could play for free from December 16-23.
Per EA, over 10 million players participated – but it‘s unclear how many stuck around after the free period ended.
As a gaming business journalist, this signaled to me that EA was taking steps to revive interest and rebuild the dwindling player base by giving players a chance to check out improvements.
In February 2023, EA confirmed Battlefield 2042 would fully transition to a free-to-play (F2P) model on all platforms. No official launch date yet, but it‘s likely coming within a few months.
Based on my industry expertise, here are the key factors likely driving this F2P shift:
- Low player counts – Steam indicates an average of just a few thousand daily players.
- Updates have helped – but haven‘t attracted many new purchases.
- Free access met demand – over 10 million tried it, but didn‘t buy.
- They need players invested before launching Season 3 content.
Offering Battlefield 2042 for free permanently removes the cost barrier that‘s keeping people away and is the best way to bring curious players back.
But how will they make money?
Monetizing a Free Battlefield
Moving to F2P begs the question – how will EA monetize Battlefield 2042 going forward? As someone who analyzes gaming business models, here are the most likely options:
- Battle passes – Paid premium seasonal battle passes offering exclusive cosmetic rewards and gear unlocks. This is now the norm for major online FPS titles.
- In-game store – Various cosmetic skin bundles that can be purchased directly for weapons, characters, and vehicles. This is already implemented but will likely expand.
- Special events – Limited-time modes, challenges, and cosmetics to drive engagement and spending for seasonal events.
- Early access – Providing early access to new maps or content for players willing to pay a premium. This helps fund development.
- XP boosts – Selling XP boosts to help accelerate battle pass progression and post-match rewards.
Monetizing only cosmetics rather than gameplay upgrades is the fair way to go. Here‘s a look at some of the offerings already available in Battlefield 2042‘s in-game store:
As you can see, there are already bundles tailored to specific specialists and weapons. As a player, I hope to see this selection expand in a reasonable way as the game evolves into a free service.
How Other Major Franchises Went Free
Battlefield isn‘t the first triple-A FPS franchise to shift to a F2P model. Call of Duty made the move first with Warzone‘s launch in March 2020.
Here‘s a quick comparison of each game‘s path to F2P:
| Game | Launch Date | Free-to-Play Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Warzone | March 2020 | Immediate at launch |
| Battlefield 2042 | Nov 2021 | Estimated mid-2023 |
Activision has seen tremendous success keeping Warzone free from day one, sustaining over 100 million players through cosmetic sales alone. It‘s the model EA clearly hopes to replicate for their rival Battlefield series.
As an industry watcher, it‘s been interesting to see F2P become the dominant form of monetization in recent years. And Battlefield is finally catching up to the trend.
Evaluating Pros and Cons of Free-to-Play
Transitioning any established premium franchise like Battlefield to a free service model represents both opportunities and risks from a design perspective.
Potential Pros
- Removes barrier to entry for new players
- Chance to fix reputation and build back players
- Ongoing monetization funds future development
Potential Cons
- Risks pay-to-win mechanics disrupting balance
- Over-monetization could turn away players
- Less potential revenue than $60-$70 retail model
The takeaway is that F2P can work great if the monetization is ethical and doesn‘t undermine fairness. However, going free also limits revenue potential out of the gate. It‘s a tradeoff.
Can Free Revive Battlefield 2042?
Offering Battlefield 2042 for free will certainly attract curious players, but it may be too little too late to radically change its fortunes.
As someone who has followed this franchise for years, 2042‘s early issues seemed to critically damage its reputation. But transitioning to a live service model represents a clean slate and fresh start of sorts.
EA and DICE have plenty of work left rebuilding goodwill and trust. This shift feels very reactionary to Activision‘s success with Call of Duty: Warzone, which has sustained over 100 million players. Battlefield will likely never reach those heights, but F2P provides a second chance.
If they can transform 2042 into a polished, rewarding free experience, it could pave the way for the next true premium Battlefield title to succeed. But only time will tell.
What Does This Mean for Battlefield‘s Future?
While the path forward is cloudy, it‘s clear EA still sees Battlefield as a key FPS franchise, despite 2042‘s shortcomings. Given its pedigree and fan base, they aren‘t likely to abandon the series because of one misstep.
However, major changes are required to win back players for the next release. Based on decisions like the F2P shift, I anticipate:
- The next Battlefield launching free-to-play out of the gate.
- A greater focus on live service seasonal content over a campaign.
- Mobile versions to expand the audience like Warzone.
- Possibly returning to modern or historical settings rather than near-future.
Essentially, 2042‘s move to free access is a complete reboot – a chance to rebuild trust and learn from Call of Duty‘s success.
What happens next for Battlefield remains highly unpredictable. But as both a fan and industry analyst, I‘m extremely interested to see how EA navigates these challenges. One thing is certain – first-person shooters aren‘t going anywhere, and the Battlefield franchise still has a ton of untapped potential if they can win back players. This is their opportunity.
Let me know if you have any other insights into Battlefield going free-to-play! I‘m always eager to discuss gaming industry trends and news. This is an exciting and uncertain time for the future of the Battlefield franchise.
