2042’s PC-only free-play event is already here
Battlefield 2042is looking to climb up Steam’sconcurrent-player chartthis weekend as DICE has kicked off a free trial event. This PC-only trial isactive todayand will run until 10:00 a.m. Pacific on Monday, December 20, so if you’re curious, now’s the time.
If this feels really early, and it seems like the gamejustcame out, you’re not wrong!
At the same time, I can see why they’d already want to resort to a free weekend event forBattlefield 2042. After fans were burned by the tumultuous launch, which felt rushed for the sake of holiday sales, DICE has releaseda few significant updatesfor the game, and it’s in a better, more consistently enjoyable place. That’s not to say everything has been fixed, not by a longshot. And yeah, it’s a whole can of worms to compare2042‘s launch to other botchedBattlefieldlaunches. (“He can’t keep getting away with it,” indeed.)
But where things are at now, especially with “limited time” 64-player Conquest and Breakthrough and a nifty Rush playlist in Battlefield Portal, it’s worth another look.
I do feel bad for anyone who spent $60, much less $70 — or even more for the pricey early-access period. The fast turnaround on deals was to be expected with Black Friday, but I’m honestly surprised thatBattlefield 2042is already in “free weekend” territory.
If you’re interested, the initial download for2042on Steam is around 48 GB, and I’d encourage you to check out the smaller-scale modes (relatively speaking) and definitely Portal’s renditions of1942,Bad Company 2, andBattlefield 3as well. Certain players appreciate the all-out chaos of 128-player matches, but more often than not, I just find them to be a slog. I’ll also say this: many of you may get your fill with just this trial.
