Battlefield 2042 could be delayed to 2022 — and I’m actually pleased

Battlefield 2042 could be delayed to 2022 — and I'k actually pleased

(Prototype credit: EA)

Reports are surfacing that Battlefield 2042 will shortly be receiving a delay that could push the back game equally far as 2022; the year of delays looks fix to claims its next victim. While my first reaction was immeasurable disappointment and a surge to declare my 24-hour interval ruined, on reflection I'm actually okay with it.

Of course, nobody truly enjoys delays. For the developers, it means potential months of actress work. And for gamers eagerly anticipating a championship information technology means weeks more than waiting, merely some delays sting less than others. After a little bit of consideration, I'm definitely leaning towards a Battlefield 2042 delay existence a good thing.

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The rumors, and for now they are just rumors, of a delay surfaced before this calendar week when manufacture insider Jeff Grubb tweeted "more delays coming this week." He after clarified to he was actually referring to a single delay in this case. Other sources, including Nick Baker of Xbox Era, rapidly backed up the merits and suggested the game in question would exist Battlefield 2042.

Nick Bakery was quick to clarify that he's only heard the game is getting delayed rather than definitely being pushed into 2022. It could instead only receive a small-scale push into November or even Dec. Either way, it certainly appears that the odds of Battlefield 2042 hitting its currently scheduled October 24 release date are looking less probable.

A delay into 2022 would take the game out of competition with its high-profile contemporaries Call of Duty: Vanguard and Halo Space, both scheduled to launch before the year is out. Just that's not why I've embraced the potential delay. Permit me to explain why I'g actually pleased that Battlefield 2042 might be delayed.

Not quite set up for action

Battlefield 2042 wingsuit — (Image credit: Dice)

For a game that is supposed to be releasing in barely more than than a month, nosotros take seen very piddling of Battleground 2042. In fact, well-nigh two weeks ago the official Battlefield Twitter account posted a brusque clip of barely a minute and a one-half in length, and it was 1 of the most meaning looks at the game in action we've got to appointment.

This brusque social media prune stands alongside a cinematic reveal trailer and two high-edited gameplay trailers that run three minutes each. Such a scarcity of available gameplay footage isn't normal for a game due for launch in just a matter of weeks.

More gameplay. And more to come. https://t.co/3ga1HX6rYG #Battlefield movie.twitter.com/cq9hfecQ0eSeptember 3, 2021

For comparison, Call of Duty Vanguard is entering its 2nd beta this weekend which is open up to all players, and Halo Space had a playable technical preview back in August. Non to mention both these games also accept a wealth of unscripted game footage available to picket online.

Battlefield 2042 did concord a technical alpha of its own over the summertime, merely it was under strict NDA so any participants were forbidden from talking most their experience or sharing whatever footage. Perchance unsurprisingly, a few players opted against following these rules and leaked gameplay footage that looked pretty rough.

The few minutes of officially sanctioned gameplay footage nosotros've seen accept looked solid, but the dozen or then minutes of leaked video really don't paint the game in the all-time light. While the technical blastoff is nearly certainly an outdated build of the game at this point, all signs indicate that Battlefield 2042 could probably do with a picayune more than time to cook.

An open beta was also scheduled to be held this month, but no dates or further information have been provided by developer Die nonetheless. The Battlefield Twitter account did poke fun at the deluge of beta queries it receives at the start of the calendar month. But nosotros're halfway through September now and we've still heard zip; that could be an ominous sign.

Putting all the clues together, it's definitely starting to expect like Battlefield 2042 isn't quite gear up for prime time. If that is indeed the case I would much rather the developers accept the necessary time to smooth the game further and ensure that when it does release it'due south in good shape. I've waited since 2013 for a mainline Battleground game to render to a more modernistic setting, I tin wait a few extra months.

Avoiding the mistakes of the past

Another reason that I can get on board with a delay, is because we've seen what happens when a Battleground game is rushed to market. Battlefield four is now considered one of the best entries in the entire serial, simply that definitely wasn't the instance at launch.

Battlefield 4 was released in a borderline broken country. At launch, there was such an affluence of technical issues that many players literally couldn't play for weeks. I vividly retrieve that over the launch weekend I probably spent more time watching the matchmaking screen fail to connect than I did actually playing the game.

I'm certainly not keen to echo that experience when I finally get my hands on Battlefield 2042 either later this twelvemonth or in 2022. If the developers at Dice take deemed a delay necessary so it'southward likely considering they are desperate to avoid repeating the mistakes of the by.

Equally the one-time saying goes, skilful things come to those who await and that could well exist the case with Battlefield 2042. I'll certainly exist disappointed if October 22 rolls around and I'grand not deploying onto the battlefield. Simply I'm confident that in the long run beingness patent volition be lead to a better game, and that's a merchandise-off I'll happily make.

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Rory is a staff writer at Tom's Guide based in the Uk. He covers a wide range of topics including tech news, deals, gaming, streaming and more. When he'south not writing hot takes on the latest gaming hardware and streaming shows, he can be institute watching a borderline unhealthy corporeality of movies and being thoroughly disappointed by his terrible football game team.