Hazard Zone has been revealed as the newest mode coming to Battlefield 2042. First things first, DICE wants to make it abundantly clear that this is not a battle royale mode. Rather, it is a search and survive style of game mode where killing is not the main objective. You’ll still need to battle it out with other squads to be able to escape from temporary extraction points, but no, this is definitely not a battle royale…
Here’s everything we know about Hazard Zone.
What is Hazard Zone?
Hazard Mode takes place in the year 2040. A worldwide blackout has reduced the total number of active satellites by 70 percent, leading to rising tensions between the United States and Russia. Because traditional communication has been cut off, new low-orbit satellites have become the primary way for warring factions to gather intel. These satellites are launched and sent to either US or Russian-controlled territories, allowing occupying forces to collect the intel – which is stored on radiation hardened data drives – from the satellite crash sites. You and your squadron are part of those forces and tasked with snagging as many of the scattered data drives as possible and escaping from one of two extraction points. Of course, with other squads after the same intel, deadly stormy conditions, and opposing forces who are protecting the data drives, that is easier said than done.
Hazard Zone Phases
Hazard Zone matches play out in five key phases:
Strategize & Equip
The setup phase of Hazard Zone is the time to instill your team makeup and dynamic. Before the match begins, you’ll be given information about the likelihood of occupying forces, along with the locations of intel and Reinforcement Uplinks, the latter of which is the tool that you can use to bring a slain squadmate back to life. Based on your setup details, you’ll need to choose the right mix of specialists, weapons, gadgets, and tactical upgrades, with a greater variety being your team’s greatest asset. Just make sure that one of you equips the Intel Scanner gadget. You’ll find out why in a moment.
Insert
In this phase, you’ll be inserted into your pre-determined drop point. Be mindful of your surroundings, always being on the lookout for other squads, opposing forces, or deadly storms in the area.
Retrieval
Remember that Intel Scanner? Now is the time to use it. Using the scanner will reveal the approximate location of the data drives on the map and communicate those coordinates with the rest of your squad. Again though, be careful on your approach since opposing forces will often be found protecting the drives.
First Extraction/Last Extraction
The final two phases involved two limited-time extraction opportunities within each Hazard Zone match. They occur at different times – once at mid-game, and at the very end of the match – and they take place at different locations around the map. Only one squad can make it out of the Hazard Zone with each extraction, but if no squads make it to the extraction Condor in time, then no one gets out alive. Extractions will likely be the hot spot for squadron firefights, so make sure you and your team are ready. Only one of you needs to board the extraction Condor for the team to be rewarded.
Insert. Retrieve. Survive.
The goal in Hazard Zone is to survive and successfully extract the data drives. Doing so will reward you by converting recovered data drives into Dark Market Credits, which is Hazard Zone-specific currency that can be used to buy and equip weapons, gadgets, and tactical upgrades during the pre-match setup phase.
Hazard Zone will feature up to 24-player matches on PS4 and Xbox One, while PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC matches will contain up to 32-players. Every All-Out Warfare map will also be available in Hazard Zone.
As much as DICE wants to tout Hazard Zone as a non-battle royale game mode, it’s about as close as you can get. It certainly puts a spin on the traditional kill-or-be-killed objective that comes with battle royales, which, at the very least, should offer up a nice breath of fresh air when Battlefield 2042 releases on November 19.