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Battlefield 2042 Brings Back Classes Later This Month

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

Battlefield 2042 developer DICE recently shared a new blog post to detail the changes coming with the new class system. Arriving with update 3.2 later this month, the new system will lock Specialists and gadgets behind certain classes, but will still leave players free to choose whatever weapon they like.

Similar to previous titles in the series, Battlefield 2042 is supposed to feature Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon classes. Each class will have access to a limited number of gadgets and will benefit from certain Weapon Proficiencies. In short, Weapon Proficiency is a bonus that you will get only if you pick up the weapons that suit your class.

Below, you can check out the list of Specialists for each class as well as their Weapon Proficiencies:

Assault

  • Role:
    • Specialized at fighting infantry and shining on the frontlines of combat.
  • Specialists:
    • Dozer
    • Mackay
    • Sundance
    • Zain (not confirmed yet)
  • Weapon Proficiency
    • Assault + Assault Rifles: 3 Extra Magazines
Engineer

  • Role:
    • Centered around aiding and fighting vehicles.
  • Specialists:
    • Boris
    • Lis
    • Crawford
  • Weapon Proficiency
    • Engineer + LMG: Improved Dispersion while Crouched or Prone
Support

  • Role:
    • Provides health, revives and ammo to ensure teammates can stay active in the fight.
  • Specialists:
    • Angel
    • Irish
    • Falck
  • Weapon Proficiency
    • Support + SMG: Faster Draw Time
Recon

  • Role:
    • Provide themselves and teammates with intel on enemy positions, and designate targets.
  • Specialists:
    • Casper
    • Paik
    • Rao
  • Weapon Proficiency
    • Recon + Sniper Rifles: Immediate, constant and steady scope
According to DICE, the team has designed this new class system in partnership with a number of dedicated Battlefield players from different backgrounds to provide continuous feedback on every new change. By limiting access to gadgets, the developer wants to ensure that each class has a unique role on the battlefield.

For example, when update 3.2 arrives, only the Engineer class will have access to Rocket Launcher, excluding Lis. The Polish Specialist already has access to a cutting-edge rocket launcher thanks to her main ability, which is the reason why she can't pick up a secondary rocket launcher.

Last but not least, DICE will also unify the loadout across the Specialists of the same class. This means you will have four different loadouts, but within a class, there won't be separate loadouts for each Specialist.
 

FUBARx89

Member
And they still haven't changed crossplay to input based match making 🤷‍♂️ so servers are dead on PS5 whenever I try without it on
 
Been playing this on gamepass the last few weeks, and honestly the only thing I can picture this update achieving is making the choppers even more of a nuisance. Players are already routinely racking up 75+ kills a match with them and now they’re essentially removing 3/4 of the infantry anti-air.…it’s going to be interesting at least 😬
 
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TrebleShot

Member
Every now and then I jump in for a couple of rounds and it has improved massively BUT Aa’s others have said it’s a chopper fest. It can be absolutely miserable when the other team has a good chopper pilot it’s literally spawn and die.
 

Philfrag

Banned
I bought this game on sale during the christmas sale. Heard that it got slightly better. I had already tried it twice before around launch and completely bounced off it due to technical issues. I COULDNT FUCKING BELIEVE IT when I started the game up for a third time to run into the same technical issues. Frame drops, lag, choppiness and just a general shitty feeling of the movement. I understand that some people are having a better time with it. I have a 2080ti and an i7 7700k. I'm sure some people will say I'm bottlenecked by my cpu slightly but that just doesn't sit right with me. I've never had a problem with past battlefield games and continue to have no problems with other large scale fps games. Anyway, I refunded that shit so fast. I would like to play this game with classes but the game literally does not want me to play it.
 

FeralEcho

Member
Classes haven't returned at all.

Specialist garbage is still in the game, only now ever so slightly more limited in what equipment they can use.
DICE trully is taking the piss on it's fanbase.

Russell Crowe Gladiator GIF
 

GladiusFrog

Member
Still not buying BF 2042 even though it used to be my favorite FPS series, But at least they are moving in the right direction.

There MAY be hope for the next installment, I won't hold my breath though.
 

Nvzman

Member
I bought this game on sale during the christmas sale. Heard that it got slightly better. I had already tried it twice before around launch and completely bounced off it due to technical issues. I COULDNT FUCKING BELIEVE IT when I started the game up for a third time to run into the same technical issues. Frame drops, lag, choppiness and just a general shitty feeling of the movement. I understand that some people are having a better time with it. I have a 2080ti and an i7 7700k. I'm sure some people will say I'm bottlenecked by my cpu slightly but that just doesn't sit right with me. I've never had a problem with past battlefield games and continue to have no problems with other large scale fps games. Anyway, I refunded that shit so fast. I would like to play this game with classes but the game literally does not want me to play it.
I'm going to be honest dude, you are CPU-bottlenecked and at this point, quad cores are effectively outdated in the CPU market unless you have a brand new one from Intel/AMD that has significantly better single core performance, like a 12100
I guarantee you that if you upgraded to something budget like even a 12400/13400 or a 5600x you'd see a gigantic increase in performance.

I say this because my 3070ti/10900k used to get absolutely dogshit performance at 1440p (like barely 80fps) at launch, but after all the optimization patches I was hitting like 130-150fps and it felt significantly better. Your 2080ti will also be bottlenecked by that CPU with many other new releases most likely.
 

KaiserBecks

Member
When you have something that works and is part of a loved series, don't try to change it. Capitalize on it.
It baffles me how some dev struggle to understand basic level design line this.
Battlefield 4, apparently now the most beloved entry in the series, was called a “full priced bf3 re-skin” when it came out. I agree with you, but sometimes you have to “innovate”. That said, I always loved BF4. It’s a damn shame.
 

Crownttano

Member
🤮
I'm riding out Battlefield 4 PS4 version till its dead. Sadly there's only like 1 classic rotation East US server left, Durka!!!
My only hope is David Sirland can make a decent enough game next.
Save us Sir CTE
 

EDMIX

Member
Nice, I didn't think they'd have this back this soon.

Good signs for the next BF that they have a solid ground to develop on. I like new ideas more then the next guy, but the base needs to be there to add on to.

Crownttano Crownttano lol 2042 and BF4 are my current MP rotation right now
 
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Imtjnotu

Member
i bought this full price at launch.

in the last 3 years, this is the only game i ever regret getting. i still put hours in the game every month but hell its so bad
 

KyoZz

Tag, you're it.
Battlefield 4, apparently now the most beloved entry in the series, was called a “full priced bf3 re-skin” when it came out. I agree with you, but sometimes you have to “innovate”. That said, I always loved BF4. It’s a damn shame.
I feel you, just my 2 cents I think the biggest problem with BF4 was that the maps were a bit dull, when the series always had very good designed maps. And that was corrected with the DLCs imo.

And I truly believe you can innovate while keeping the core of what make your series good. But Dice failed.
Also innovating isn't always good, nor necessary. BF is a 20 years old series after all. Just keep what makes players happy and give us insane destruction, I know that would do it for me.

And where is Bad Company 3 ffs?? BC2 is still my favorite with Port Valdez <3
 

nikos

Member
Never understood the complaints about the current system. You can still play a specific role in the game.

Do people not like each character having a unique ability? I never once looked at a specific character in the game and thought "better watch out, he has a recon drone."

Do they actually want to be restricted to using specific weapons based on class? I like to play support and now I'm going to be restricted to SMGs, which is stupid.

This seems like yet another thing people complained about for the sake of complaining when the game released. Devs catering to those people seems silly, as people still playing the game enjoy it for what it is and those who didn't like it at first probably won't return anyway.
 
Nice, I didn't think they'd have this back this soon.

Good signs for the next BF that they have a solid ground to develop on. I like new ideas more then the next guy, but the base needs to be there to add on to.

Crownttano Crownttano lol 2042 and BF4 are my current MP rotation right now

Yup, better to refine old ideas that work, like making 128 person Metro Rush the new main mode 😈
 

Luipadre

Member
Game is fun and runs silky smooth on my PC. This change will make it even better. Launch was surely something, but they fixed a bunch of shit and its starting to feel like a bf game
 
Never understood the complaints about the current system. You can still play a specific role in the game.

Do people not like each character having a unique ability? I never once looked at a specific character in the game and thought "better watch out, he has a recon drone."

Do they actually want to be restricted to using specific weapons based on class? I like to play support and now I'm going to be restricted to SMGs, which is stupid.

This seems like yet another thing people complained about for the sake of complaining when the game released. Devs catering to those people seems silly, as people still playing the game enjoy it for what it is and those who didn't like it at first probably won't return anyway.
To be clear you aren’t going to be restricted on main weapons. You will still be able to use whatever you want, just classes get a minor bonus specific to a weapon type.

I play Angel mainly and will still probably use ARs on the bigger maps, and when I consider the bonus the assault class gets (3 extra magazines) it’s kinda moot since I’d just drop an ammo kit anyways if I ran low.
 
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EverydayBeast

thinks Halo Infinite is a new graphical benchmark
2042 had its moment during the pandemic and go out of it selling millions with good maps, great compelling, maps interesting control schemes and dice does a lot behind the scenes. The multiple characters and lack of classes at the start was very weird but it’s called a risk they took.
 

RAIDEN1

Member
I didn't know Battlefield 3 was on Gamepass, never played part 2, and part 1 I thought was ok, but part 3 is the best out of the 3 (in isolation) from what I've seen in recent videos
 
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ChoosableOne

ChoosableAll
It's the game I've played the most recently. It is unacceptable for the "team deathmatch" mode to be active for a limited time, it should be a permanent mode.
 

wipeout364

Member
I am probably the minority but I never understood the issue people had with allowing you to pick whatever you want for equipment and weapons. I also really don’t get the hate for the specialists they are decently balanced and no one seems to me to have an overpowered ability.

There are a lot of issues in the game but bringing back classes was never one of them. Shitty maps, advantages of mouse and keyboard over console, bugs and glitches are way more important issues that need to be dealt with.
 

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
I miss Battlefield and want a game to play. Is it worth picking up? I tried downloading Battlefield 3 again but the Battlelog site said I need Origin. I have the EA app installed. I'm not downloading Origin just to play it.
 

wipeout364

Member
Never understood the complaints about the current system. You can still play a specific role in the game.

Do people not like each character having a unique ability? I never once looked at a specific character in the game and thought "better watch out, he has a recon drone."

Do they actually want to be restricted to using specific weapons based on class? I like to play support and now I'm going to be restricted to SMGs, which is stupid.

This seems like yet another thing people complained about for the sake of complaining when the game released. Devs catering to those people seems silly, as people still playing the game enjoy it for what it is and those who didn't like it at first probably won't return anyway.
I didn’t see your post before I put mine up but I agree 100%
 

R6Rider

Gold Member
I miss Battlefield and want a game to play. Is it worth picking up? I tried downloading Battlefield 3 again but the Battlelog site said I need Origin. I have the EA app installed. I'm not downloading Origin just to play it.
Maybe. Some like it and some don't. Then again some people like BF1's terrible gunplay.

I've played every single BF titles since Modern Combat on PS2 except for Hardline and I'm really enjoying it. I got it at launch, put in over 100 hours across 3 months, then only started playing again about a month ago.

Is it amazing? No. Is it terrible? No. But it is a lot of fun.
 
Never understood the complaints about the current system. You can still play a specific role in the game.

Do people not like each character having a unique ability? I never once looked at a specific character in the game and thought "better watch out, he has a recon drone."

Do they actually want to be restricted to using specific weapons based on class? I like to play support and now I'm going to be restricted to SMGs, which is stupid.

This seems like yet another thing people complained about for the sake of complaining when the game released. Devs catering to those people seems silly, as people still playing the game enjoy it for what it is and those who didn't like it at first probably won't return anyway.

Personally I’d prefer that the perks weren’t tied to individual characters. I don’t see the point of restricting what people look like in game if they want to use a particular perk.
 
I am probably the minority but I never understood the issue people had with allowing you to pick whatever you want for equipment and weapons. I also really don’t get the hate for the specialists they are decently balanced and no one seems to me to have an overpowered ability.

There are a lot of issues in the game but bringing back classes was never one of them. Shitty maps, advantages of mouse and keyboard over console, bugs and glitches are way more important issues that need to be dealt with.

I never really had a problem with it either, but now it’s like some people seem to want it all to be like the old Karkand map from BF2 where Tanks could get 150+ kills as an engineer if they were careful with no real recourse, and every other class was screwed.
 
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Mossybrew

Member
Still not buying BF 2042 even though it used to be my favorite FPS series, But at least they are moving in the right direction.

There MAY be hope for the next installment, I won't hold my breath though.

Yeah, same, it's kinda too late for me on this one, I'd check it out if it was free but that's about it. CoD and its variety of multiplayer modes/DMZ is scratching that military shootmans itch just fine for now.
 
the biggest tragedy is that Portal mode didn't catch on. And they allowed XP farming, and thats all it has become. Is ppl making terrible custom games to boost.

I can't find any custom games to play old remastered versions of games exactly how they should play. Even if u can find a "retro" style playlist. It will inevitably still have stuff from the newer games like the bleed out mechanic or a high player count.
 

R6Rider

Gold Member
This doesn't seem to solve the problem of people involuntarily vomiting in their mouth every time they encountered the same annoying face or voice line of one of these "specialists".

Specialists have plenty of different uniforms and headgear to give them variety. MUCH more variety than you'll see playing classic titles in Portal mode.

Voice lines were largely removed, save for the squad screen before a match starts, and the lines are fine.
 
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EDMIX

Member
the biggest tragedy is that Portal mode didn't catch on

I mean sure, but shit I literally told you guys that before this game even came out that I doubted its saving grace would be portal. I love old BF titles too, but little evidence shows that MOST want that or the servers to those old games would have millions in em or something.

From what I can tell, majority want new content, new maps etc. If COD...a bigger series saw small sales of a whole ass remake of one of the biggest COD's with COD4, I had strong doubts that portal mode would be some massive thing. Maybe to hardcore fans, but nothing that would turn the tide or be the most played mode or anything like that.

I love it too man, but I never go with such a guess based on my personal feelings regarding something, I merely follow the data and make a guess based on that evidence.

I still think its worth continuing and they should 100% have Portal in the next BF or even make a whole game that is just Portal and its some alternate universe with all the BF maps or something funny like that lol Most don't give a shit about this IPs stories (as much as they try their best to pretend) and I feel its a funny excuse to just have some narrative where all the maps and all the guns exist and shit.

Wildebeest Wildebeest lol annnnnnnnd the goal post begin. I don't recall folks crying this fucking hard when you could change a face in BFV or really any BF here you could change user stuff...most don't really care, I only care about shooting folks lol
 
I mean sure, but shit I literally told you guys that before this game even came out that I doubted its saving grace would be portal. I love old BF titles too, but little evidence shows that MOST want that or the servers to those old games would have millions in em or something.

From what I can tell, majority want new content, new maps etc. If COD...a bigger series saw small sales of a whole ass remake of one of the biggest COD's with COD4, I had strong doubts that portal mode would be some massive thing. Maybe to hardcore fans, but nothing that would turn the tide or be the most played mode or anything like that.

I love it too man, but I never go with such a guess based on my personal feelings regarding something, I merely follow the data and make a guess based on that evidence.

I still think its worth continuing and they should 100% have Portal in the next BF or even make a whole game that is just Portal and its some alternate universe with all the BF maps or something funny like that lol Most don't give a shit about this IPs stories (as much as they try their best to pretend) and I feel its a funny excuse to just have some narrative where all the maps and all the guns exist and shit.

Wildebeest Wildebeest lol annnnnnnnd the goal post begin. I don't recall folks crying this fucking hard when you could change a face in BFV or really any BF here you could change user stuff...most don't really care, I only care about shooting folks lol
nobody plays any games from 15 years ago. So its not like ppl just don't want to play old BF games. They don't want to play ANY old multiplayer games.
Im sure Portal would be way more popular if it was free to play or something. Asking ppl to buy an expensive bad game just to play a mode is a big ask.
COD Black out was one of the best Battle Royale games, but it didn't catch on. Because u had to buy Black Ops 4 to play it. And ppl didn't like Black Ops 4 for whatever reason. That didn't mean that a BR COD wasn't good or popular. It just meant that ppl weren't willing to jump thru the paywall of buying a game they didn't want to play for that mode.

As evidenced by the fact that COD then made a shittier BR game. but put it out for FREE. and it became wildly successful
 
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