Some features, players argue, are Battlefield staples, and without them the game feels less unique. Changing the squad system to include Specialists was already a divisive move, and coupled with other changes to the series’ formula, such as the scaling down of destructible environments, many fans have been left disappointed by the game’s launch.ĭICE’s latest shooter isn’t off to the best start, with Battlefield 2042 currently being plagued by bugs and lacking many of the classic features from previous BF games. While buggy gameplay at launch is arguably forgivable, many players are upset about missing features, lamenting that the game feels too different from past titles. Though DICE went back on the decision twice, and could potentially change the feature again in future updates, the exclusion of squad leader replacement and the squad browser from Battlefield 2042 is still frustrating. This, and the lack of voice chat in Battlefield 2042 at launch, means that team coordination can be frustratingly difficult to achieve.ĭICE has received backlash for making similar decisions in previous titles. The squad leader replacement feature was originally missing from both Battlefield 5 and Battlefield 1 at launch, but was eventually added to both games in later patches. Without this feature in Battlefield 2042, squads have the potential to be left with leaders who do nothing to organize the team. In previous titles, if a squad leader was being inactive in their role, they were automatically replaced by the member of the squad who has most frequently requested orders.
The role’s job is to organize the team and foster coordination and communication in a squad, meaning that a single good squad leader can often be the difference between a team’s win or loss. Squad leaders are an important part of a Battlefield team, giving the squad orders and calling in reinforcements in battle. Some players have speculated that the ability may have been removed to benefit new or less-skilled players, similar to Battlefield 2042’s bloom-affected guns, giving them the chance to play the game from behind without their squads being abandoned or left empty due to low scores.īattlefield 2042’s Squad Changes Hurt Its TeamplayĪnother feature that was removed from Battlefield 2042 is automatic squad leader changing.
Many players are dissatisfied with the feature’s removal, since it is a series staple, and because it can leave you stuck with a losing squad or one without coordination. Previous titles featured a squad browser, which allowed players to view a squad’s score before deciding who to join, with many players opting to join the squads with the highest scores in the match. Related: Why Battlefield 2042’s Reviews Are So Mixed There is currently no known way to change teams, meaning Battlefield 2042 players have little to no agency in choosing who they play with during a match. Players can still change squads, but this method still randomly assigns a squad to the player.
If players aren’t queued up with friends, jumping into one of the huge maps will assign them to a squad with other randomly selected players.
Being unable to change squads or teams is yet another way Battlefield 2042 steps backward from previous games.