Battlefield 2042 is going to deliver an unprecedented scale for the franchise. Playing on the new consoles and PC will put 128 players in a single battle, and the map sizes are reportedly multiple times the size of the average Battlefield map thus far. Other gameplay changes such as on-the-fly weapon customization and the introduction of Specialists will shake up the gameplay in 2042, but the outcome of a match is likely to still depend on coordinated squad play, maybe now more than ever.
The joint Xbox and Bethesda conference recently gave the first look at Battlefield 2042 gameplay, and it appears that the maximum squad capacity will be four players. Early games in the series, such as Battlefield 2, started the now-familiar squad system with a capacity of six. Since then, every Battlefield game has allowed squad sizes of either four or five players. The cap of four squad members hasn't been explicitly stated by DICE or EA, but the gameplay reveal never features more than four in a squad at one time, with each member's username listed next to the mini-map in the lower left corner of the HUD.
It's also unclear whether or not Battlefield 2042 will see the return of the Commander role - a player who has the ability to coordinate the various squads and use special abilities to turn the tide of the game. 16 squads per team is a lot, and some ulterior coordination might help organize the battle with so many sectors to capture on Battlefield 2042's seven large maps. Something like a platoon leader in charge of half or a quarter of the squads could be an interesting way to organize the teams.
Players will have to wait until Battlefield 2042 releases - or at least enters its open beta - to see how intact the squad gameplay remains. In previous entries to the franchise, the roles in the squad were clearly delineated by the separate classes: Engineers could repair vehicles and Medics were in charge of healing and reviving, for example. Battlefield 2042 appears to be blurring the line between classes, opting for the new Specialist system instead, where any player can use any weapon or gadget.
The newfound freedom that this will allow is at the same time enticing and worrying. Allowing players to use any weapon or gadget signals the erosion of the traditional Battlefield squad composition. However, the new scale being attempted with 2042 might make the fluidity necessary, with more coordinated squads able to adjust their loadouts for specific situations. The introduction of Specialists and their abilities have many concerned that the series is moving toward hero shooter territory, but judgment on this feature will probably have to wait until Battlefield 2042 is playable.
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