It’s no secret by now that Battlefield 2042 hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype. Not only in the eyes of Battlefield vets, but even for casual shooter fans, too. It’s gotten so bad that on PC, Battlefield games that are years old are beating the game in terms of player count, which is something that should raise red flags for both EA and DICE.

While taking out Specialists would mean a massive core gameplay re-adjustment that might not be feasible at this point, there is another route EA can take for the game, and that’s Battlefield 2042 going free-to-play (F2P). Rumors regarding this move has already circulated online, and while I have no evidence at all regarding this, I have a strong hunch that BF2042’s Hazard Zone mode was the intended F2P cog in the entire machine. Unfortunately, the mode crashed and burned, that I fail to see it catching on even if it goes free-to-play. But, if EA can angle Battlefield 2042 right (and with enough gameplay tweaks from DICE), Battlefield 2042 going the F2P route might just reinvigorate the game — and in turn, the franchise.

The Price Tag Isn’t the Problem

However, the shooter going free-to-play won’t solve the issue at all.

First and foremost, the main issue with Battlefield 2042 isn’t related to the price tag. The game could have launched as a free game, and would still get the criticism it’s receiving now. However, with the player base dwindling every passing day, even if DICE was to put in all their effort and manage to turn it all around, who will be really left to play? Sure, they’ll have some players return, but it will never hit the full numbers they were probably aiming for.

So, the suggestion of Battlefield 2042 going F2P isn’t entirely a bad one as it would allow the company to draw in more players. However, it shouldn’t go F2P as a response to all the negativity that is out there right now, because that’s not going to help it with anything. F2P is often seen as a studio’s last ditch effort to save a game; a sign of troubling times to many when the game in question isn’t popular, or suffering major losses. A bad game isn’t suddenly good just because it’s free, and EA needs to focus on that.

Fix the game, and then when it’s in an acceptable/favorable state, that’s when EA should think of considering releasing BF2042 as a free-to-play game. Bear in mind, gamers these days are spoiled with excellent F2P game choices (Apex Legends, Warzone, Fortnite, Warframe, Destiny, and more), and EA needs to do something special in order to rope in players, and for the community to not abandon it (given most of them paid full price for a game that’s going F2P, most won’t be happy about it).

So, let’s say EA and DICE did release Battlefield 2042 for free sometime this year. Would it work? I honestly cannot say. On one hand, you’ll have a bunch of pissed off gamers who bought the game (regardless if it’s full price or not), and on the other, you’re opening up the game to a massive player base who are eager to try anything bombastic and new for free. It could work, but it could also potentially damage the Battlefield franchise .

An Alternative and Why Go F2P at All…

Aside from going F2P, another route EA can take is pushing Battlefield 2042 as a “freebie” game for PlayStation Plus, and/or Xbox Live Games With Gold or Xbox’s Game Pass. Again, you’re opening the game up to a massive player base, and will be giving away the game for “free” for just 30 days. Of course, the pissed off buyers will still have something to say, but at that point, would EA even care? I gather not that much since the publisher would be more interested in snagging a sizeable chunk of new players to give it a go.

Another alternative is delivering just one mode as a F2P component, and that’s Battlefield Portal. The Battlefield community has spoken and Specialists are out, and most (including this guy) wants traditional classes in. With how BF2042’s structured, taking the Specialists out and adjusting everything in the game to cater to just a four-class system is too huge a task for DICE to do. Hell, if they’re doing that, why not just release an all-new Battlefield game altogether, right?

But if EA pushes Battlefield Portal as a F2P mode of sorts, they can sell more skins (given the different Battlefield games Portal houses), and they can also (kind of) defend themselves from paying customers by re-affirming that only one part of Battlefield 2042 is free.

• Related Reading: Battlefield 2042 Spotlights DICE’s Communication Problem

So the question is: why go F2P at all? Yeah, the answer is super simple: microtransactions. Whatever development budget the publisher has blown on the game can be recouped if it goes F2P, and manages to attract a large player base. Usually, these same players — given they got the game for free — are more open to spending on cosmetics and other bundles in the in-game store. This will be EA’s primary motivator for even considering going the F2P route.

Will You Welcome BF2042 F2P?

For those in the community who are hesitant to buy BF2042 or even test it out based on the feedback it’s gotten so far, chances are these people would be willing to try the game if it’s for free. But what about those who paid premium price for it though? Perhaps EA can give them a special Player Card, character skin or token of apprecation (giving a full-scale refund is out of the question) that will soften the blow. Heck, if PUBG can do it, surely a bigger and more seasoned franchise can too, right?

If BF2042 F2P happens, will members of the community trust DICE and EA ever again? Or will they see the franchise as a purely F2P brand moving onwards? We can’t say for sure. However, given the game’s state these days, we might be seeing it sooner rather than later.

Would you want Battlefield 2042 to go free-to-play? And will it attract a sizeable chunk of online shooter fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

(Note: Views expressed here are that solely of the author’s and does not represent MP1st and its entire staff)