Battlefield 2042 was nearly a battle royale but, at some point in development, it shifted back to the series' traditional silly antics, chunky guns, and over-the-top action. IGN and DualShockers reporter Tom Henderson alleges that DICE was primarily inspired by Respawn's Apex Legends.

It isn't a battle royale anymore - that much is clear - but rumours have been trickling in for a while now regarding the game's illustrious mode. Battlefield 5 faced backlash for its own battle royale mode, Firestorm, but whether that had any impact on the decision isn't known: the finer details are hazy.

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As Henderson says, it isn't clear when the idea for a battle royale mode was dropped - it could've been abandoned in the design phase, somewhere during development, or it may have been retooled for the leaked Hazard Zone.

For context, Hazard Zone is a mode that was uncovered by reputable Battlefield leakers, and it seems to be more PvE oriented than traditional Battle Royale modes, somewhat akin to Hunt: Showdown or Escape From Tarkov.

The idea is fairly simple: you squad up, delve into a map together, gather loot and intel, and complete objectives. In the interim, you'll fight AI patrols and bosses to fight, serving as an open, co-op campaign-like experience. Then, once you're ready, you can head to an exit point and call in an extraction, darting off into the sunset with your rewards.

For now, Battlefield 2042 remains a divisive entry into the series even before launch. Many were unhappy with the state of the beta and it has garnered mixed reactions from its previews. Whatever the case, you can take part in the action on November 19.

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