Battlefield 2042 might not have a single player campaign, but DICE is still promising a multiplayer experience with a narrative backbone (though their statements on whether or not their climate change setting has anything important to say are a bit incongruous). And the new Specialists – an expanded take on classic Battlefield playable classes – are going to be one of the primary ways for the game to drive its ongoing narrative.
On the Battlefield website, details have been revealed on Specialists. Each based on Battlefield classes, Specialists will be defined characters, similar to something like Rainbow Six Siege, and while each will have their own unique Specialty and Trait, they will be fully customizable beyond that, giving players greater control over progression. Though at launch the game is going to have four Specialists, DICE says that eventually, there will be a total of ten. Of these, four are going to be added to the game over the course of Year 1.
And what about the Specialists that will be in the game at launch? There’s Webster Mackay, based on the Assault class. He can move faster while aiming down sights, and is equipped with a grapple hook. There’s Maria Falck, the Medic. She can revive downed enemies up to full health, and has a Syrette Pistol, which can fire healing syringes at friendlies from long range. When fired at enemies, the syringes do damage.
There’s Wikus “Casper” Van Daele, the Recon. He has a movement sensor that alerts the player when an enemy is approaching you, and he can OV-P Recon Drone, which can designate targets for lock-on weapons, spot enemies, and even fire EMP blasts. Finally, there’s Pyotr “Boris” Guskovsky, the Support. He has a sentry gun that automatically spots and attacks enemies around it, and he can immediately spot an enemy as soon as the sentry gun locks on to them.
Each of these Specialists is also going to have a defined personality, which makes sense, seeing as they’re going to be central to Battlefield 2042’s seasonal approach to storytelling. Mackay is “ex-military, lone-wolf survivalist” and “an ass-kicker with a conscience” who wants to “make right a regret from his military days.” Falck “has a strong will that cannot be shaken by danger, fear, or rank” and is driven to “find her son David among the non-patriated groups spread across the world.”
Casper is “a loner” and an introver, and is described as “the unflappable, calm presence on the Task Force” who “does not make acquaintances easily, but his determination to fight for a better world is rock solid.” Finally, Boris is “a very experienced weapons expert on the Task Force, although his true attachment to the team is suspect.” He is described as a “self-motivated and self-fulfilling” soldier who “seeks to acquire power and control in a chaotic world.”
Meanwhile, details on the seven maps that the game will be launching with have also been revealed. Head on over here to find out what to expect from each of the maps. On PS4 and Xbox One, Battlefield 2042 will have reduced map sizes and player caps.
Battlefield 2042 launches on October 22 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can expect to hear a lot more about the game in the coming weeks. A gameplay reveal is scheduled for the Microsoft E3 presser on June 13, while more details are also going to be revealed at EA Play Live on July 22. Meanwhile, a technical playtest is also scheduled for next month.
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