No more updates for the Zone
As DICE keeps ramping up to the launch of Season 1, another Battlefield 2042 mode is taking a backseat. The studio confirms today that it’s shutting down future development on Battlefield 2042‘s Hazard Zone mode.
The new mode, an Escape From Tarkov-like experience in the Battlefield setting, was one of Battlefield 2042‘s major pillars going into launch. Today though, EA and DICE are saying that future development will cease on the mode.
“All of us on the team had great ambition and high hopes for this new Battlefield experience throughout our development, but we’re the first to hold our hands up and acknowledge that it hasn’t found the right home in Battlefield 2042 and that we’ll benefit greatly from letting our focus and energy stay on the modes we see you engaging most with,” reads today’s blog post.
Hazard Zone will still be available to play in Battlefield 2042. But aside from “addressing critical errors and odd behaviors” that may pop up, no more content will be rolling out for the mode. New maps released in future seasons will not be supported in Hazard Zone, either.
The long war
Several other changes are planned, as DICE is building up towards its Season 1 launch in June. Animation and traversal improvements are planned, as well as an overhaul to the Kaleidoscope map. Plus, a new map, Specialist, and Vehicles, as well as a Battle Pass.
In terms of game modes, Breakthrough is moving to 64 players as previously announced. Conquest will still have the 128-player option open on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. And DICE says it’s also looking at including Rush, the 32-player experience, into the official mode fold during Season 1.
It all feels like DICE is trying to reset, slim down, and move forward, as Battlefield 2042 hasn’t been the smoothest of launches. Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson said Battlefield 2042 “did not meet expectations” on an earnings call in February. We’ll see if dropping Hazard Zone from the priority list helps the team move 2042 forward.
