Is Battlefield 2042 Going Free-To-Play?

Is Battlefield 2042 going free-to-play? We all know that Battlefield 2042 wasn't all that it was cracked up to be, and the highly anticipated shooter solidified itself firmly as one of the biggest disappointments of 2021. However, that disappointment was supposedly felt by EA and DICE as much as it was the fans, which sprouted rumours that the game may go free-to-play. But is Battlefield 2042 really going free-to-play? We've got a breakdown of everything we know about where Battlefield 2042 is going free-to-play. 

• Find out why we thought the game was a disappointment with our Battlefield 2042 review. 

Battlefield 2042 Free-To-Play: Is Battlefield 2042 Going Free-To-Play? 

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Before we get into the rhyme or reason of these rumours that are circulating, is Battlefield 2042 going free-to-play? At this point, nothing official has been revealed, and until then we likely won't know for sure. If a free-to-play switchover is on the horizon, it likely won't arrive for a little while. At the time of writing (January 2022), Battlefield 2042 is just two months old, and angry fans would only become all the more angry if they found out that the game they paid £50+ for is now available for free. 

While a free-to-play base game wouldn't be a smart decision at this stage, there are rumours that parts of the game like Battlefield Portal could be split from the All-Out Warfare and Hazard Zone. This comes from industry insider Tom Henderson, who has a track-record of EA reporting, and this sounds far more feasible at this rate. 

However, that doesn't mean that the game won't at some point in the future. We've seen games like Destiny 2 ditch their paid model in favour of free-to-play, and as is evident from releases like Halo Infinite Multiplayer and Apex Legends, free games sell. However, at this point, we'd be inclined to say the timing just doesn't feel right. 

Battlefield 2042 Free-To-Play: How Did The Rumours Come About?

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Rumours of Battlefield 2042 going free-to-play were also sourced from Henderson, who reported that EA hadn't been happy with the performance of the game overall. 2042 launched to a barrage of negative reviews, quickly becoming one of the lowest rated games on Steam and now has fewer players than its predecessors, Battlefield V and Battlefield 1. 

The issues raised by fans range from performance related to broken balancing. DICE only just added a proper scoreboard - something fans have clamoured for since launch - and then pulled a fan-favourite zombies mode just one day after it launched. So two months on, evidently things haven't been going how EA had hoped. We'll likely hear more concrete information on the game's financial disappointment after the EA earnings call in the beginning of February. 

Battlefield 2042 Free-To-Play: Would Battlefield 2042 Work As A Free-To-Play Title?

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We've discussed why and whether Battlefield 2042 will go free-to-play, but should it? As mentioned, games like Apex Legends are as popular as ever, thanks largely to its free-to-play nature. However, at this stage, 2042 would be very unlikely to see that same success, as its main issues aren't based around convincing players to pay for the game, but providing the players that do, with a fun gameplay experience. DICE has an assortment of kinks to iron out in the base experience before anyone would bother. 

Secondly, there is the issue of content. The key to a successful free-to-play game is a steady release of additional content. Since its launch in November, Halo Infinite Multiplayer has featured several events, as well as its battle pass. The Apex Legends Dark Depths event launched less than a month before its 12th season began. Even Warzone held its Festive Fervour event, which fans sort of hated. These are all things that have happened within free-to-play games over the last couple of months, but over in 2042 land, the most exciting thing to happen was the inclusion of traditional Rush and 64-player lobbies - the first of which was only available for a limited amount of time. And with all of that we are still a good couple of months away from the launch of its first season. Without the content to back it up, a free-to-play Battlefield 2042 would lose its players quicker than it already is. 

That's everything you need to know about Battlefield 2042 free-to-play. If more news on the matter is revealed, check back with this article as we will update it with any new information.