Battlefield has always been about all-out warfare on the largest maps imaginable, and Battlefield 2042 is no exception.
In a recent developer interview, DICE has disclosed exactly how large we can expect each of the seven maps to be when Battlefield 2042 releases later this year. Let’s go through them all from smallest to largest and find out whether we’ll need a buggy to get where we’re going. From the looks of things, we should probably just start walking now.
Kaleidoscope
Surprisingly, Kaleidoscope is the smallest map of all the ones that will be available at launch. This is a completely urban locale set in South Korea. We see it a number of times in the reveal trailer, and early screenshots seem to show that most of the action will take place in and around a central park.
The size of this map is supposedly a little larger than Rotterdam from Battlefield V. That was another completely urban map that spanned across two canals and the docks of Rotterdam.
That makes Kaleidoscope certainly smaller than I had anticipated, but it might make up for it in verticality. Skyscrapers flanking the park appear to be enterable spaces, so the smallest map might not feel so claustrophobic after all.
Discarded
Next on the list is Discarded. This one is set in a dried up coastline of India where a cargo ship has run aground.
In terms of size, this one looks to be around two thirds larger than Noshahr Canals from Battlefield 3. I’m assuming that what DICE means is the Rush version of Noshahr Canals as that version spread much farther South than its Conquest counterparts.
Either way, for the second smallest map on the list, that’s fairly large. Early gameplay shots show that this map might be quite open on the dried up bed. However, indication from influencers who have seen more gameplay hint that more close quarters spaces are hiding inside that huge cargo tanker.
Orbital
Perhaps my most anticipated map, Orbital is the one with the massive rocket ship that can either launch successfully or flop to the floor.
We’re getting into the big leagues now with this map clocking in at over four times the size of Narvik from Battlefield V. That map was already fairly big as one of the largest available in Battlefield V.
With oceans flanking the sides of this map, much of the space might be reserved for naval combat, which DICE has confirmed will return in Battlefield 2042.
Renewal
Another interesting one, Borderline is perhaps the most visually striking map from above. It’s set in Egypt and sees a massive wall divide two distinctly diverse biomes.
This one is only slightly larger than Orbital, clocking in at about two thirds larger than Arras from Battlefield V. That was the verdant map filled with lucious yellow terrain, and another fairly large map from Battlefield V.
Manifest
Manifest is the last of the maps that are of a fairly similar size before we get to the chonky lads. From the screenshots and gameplay, this gives me big Noshahr Canals vibes with the tight and claustrophobic containers.
It’s around the same size as Orbital and Borderline, seeing about a third increase in size over Battlefield 3’s Caspian Border. Another fan favourite map, Caspian Border was larger than most people remember. The map extended out way beyond where the capture flags were situated with long walks from both the US and Russian spawn points.
Like Orbital, Manifest seems to be surrounded by an ocean, meaning that much of the playspace could be dedicated to naval warfare again.
Hourglass
This is the one that we saw loads of gameplay at the Microsoft E3 event. It’s the first of two gargantuan maps, looking to be around four times the size of Hamada from Battlefield V.
Hamada was the largest base map in Battlefield V, not counting Firestorm’s Halvøy. Set in a desert, there was plenty of open space for tanks to dominate and several capture points spread out across the open plains.
Hourglass looks like it will be much more dense, even though it’s set in another desert, this time in Qatar. The high rise skyscrapers and the sand-flooded stadium will offer space for infantry to breathe, along with a small village to the south.
Just like Kaleidoscope, there will be plenty of verticality here too. We can see one Specialist grapple his way to the top of a crane in the gameplay trailer.
Breakaway
The final map, Irreversible, will be the largest Battlefield map in history (again, not counting Firestorm’s Halvøy). At almost twice the size of Battlefield 1942’s El Alamein, it spans several kilometers between capture points.
It’s set in the Antarctic tundra, which explains why the area is so large. A screenshot I managed to grab from the gameplay shows that the B objective is about two kilometers away from the E objective. That’s not even the farthest you’ll have to travel with the A and F objectives likely even farther apart from each other.
How will DICE keep these large maps entertaining?
I know what you’re thinking, because I’ve thought about it too – are massive maps really the answer to fun gameplay? It’s all well and good having a huge map on paper, but if players are so spread out, what’s the point?
DICE’s answer to this is a method they call internally as ‘clustering’. It involves designing smaller, intricate areas of the Battlefield 2042 maps and stitching them together to create the bigger picture. The result is a map that flows well when played in practice, with players funnelled around each map in a manner that means they’ll more than likely encounter an enemy.
Each map will also have more objective points to capture, increasing the likelihood of running into one of the other 127 players on the map. Servers will never be empty, thanks to the inclusion of AI soldiers to keep lobbies filled up.
What are your thoughts on the size of the new Battlefield 2042 maps? Let us know across our social channels.
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