Battlefield 2042 is cutting Breakthrough mode down from 128 players to 64
Posted by  badge Boss on May 19, 2022 - 01:24PM
Battlefield 2042 – more is not always better (pic: EA)

The latest 4.1 update patch for admits that 128 players was a bad idea for Breakthrough mode, but Conquest will be unchanged.

A couple of generations ago it was always thought that the more people playing in an online shooter the better, as various games tried to outdo Battlefield’s 64 player limit. This led to the likes of game MAG boasting up to 256 players at once, even if that proved very unwieldly.

Most non-battle royale games have worked out that it’s a lot more fun for everyone if you keep to no more than around 64 players and Battlefield 2042 has, invertedly, proven that fact. Which is a bit awkward for developer DICE, as now there’s even less that’s unique about it.

As DICE say in the game’s patch notes: ‘When reviewing the available experiences in All-Out Warfare, we felt that the 128 player modes are better suited for Conquest where gameplay spaces are larger, and where you have a more natural fit for sandbox gameplay.’

As that implies, 128-players will be left as an option in Conquest mode. That’s not likely to change in the future either, as many players have complained that the maps are too big and reducing the number of players is only going to make them seem even emptier.

‘Reducing our player count here helps to remove some of the chaos from the experience, and in combination with the reductions that we have made to the number of available combat vehicles, it means players are better able to hold frontlines more effectively. Players will also find more space to work together and fulfil their individual roles.’, said DICE.

It’s yet another admission that Battlefield 2042 has not gone to plan, as it struggles with a , that is now well below the levels of many older Battlefield titles.

EA has committed to continually updating the game for at least the next year but recently implied it would look to follow the lead of the far more successful Apex Legends, although whether that means it will go free-to-play or not is still unclear.

The full patch notes for the 4.1 update can be and include various quality of life improvements, including the nerfing of Boris’ sentry gun. The update went live at 9am BST today.

The future of Battlefield is still uncertain but rumours suggest , even if it’s likely several years away from release.

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