After Battlefield took a break last year and left the competition to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the two shooter heavyweights are finally facing each other again this year. With Battlefield 2042 and Call of Duty Vanguard, new installments for both franchises will be released in autumn/winter, where it is often simply a matter of faith, as with FIFA and PES, which series the heart belongs to. The signs for the duel in 2021 could hardly be more different and that in several respects.
Both shooter giants are looking back on a completely different starting position in terms of the success of the last series parts. While the return of Call of Duty to the Cold War scenario was generally well received, Battlefield V had a hard time from the start with its Second World War settings and never really satisfied its player base. This year, the settings are even further apart, so that at the end it should be clear which war zones currently have the greatest appeal and which publisher had the better nose for the selection.
Call of Duty Vanguard
Back to the Past
Both shooter series have their origins in World War II and therefore always return to this traditional setting. While Battlefield V was crowned with manageable success, things should be different with Call of Duty Vanguard. With a strong tailwind from the last trip into the past in the form of Call of Duty WWII from 2017, Activision should be able to look relatively relaxed at the release of Call of Duty Vanguard.
Once again, the veterans from Sledgehammer Games have the reins in their hands and will probably offer, as usual, an atmospheric, intense and patriotic WWII experience, which should satisfy most series fans. Call of Duty places great value on an exciting campaign, whose story is set in different war zones and will make the horrors of war visible to the player. In addition to the Eastern and Western fronts in Europe, the Pacific region and the fighting in North Africa are also among the locations of the single-player part. In addition to the campaign, this year's offering also includes a comprehensive range of multiplayer modes, including the new game mode Champion Hill, an innovative deathmatch tournament in limited space over several rounds, which was already introduced in the alpha.
Battlefield 2042
Full Steam Ahead into the Future
While Call of Duty marches back into the past, Battlefield, after a several year absence, is once again venturing into a scenario set in the modern day or near future, as was last seen in Battlefield 4. Unlike its competitor from Activision, developer DICE and publisher Electronic Arts are foregoing a singleplayer campaign and instead focusing entirely on the multiplayer experience. In Battlefield 2042, this is said to offer an entirely new level of play and, for the first time, allow for battles with up to 128 players.
However, only PC players and owners of new consoles will be able to enjoy these gargantuan battles; PS4 and Xbox One users will have to make do with a maximum of 64 soldiers per match. Even though Battlefield has the future in its sights in 2021, when it comes to game modes and gameplay, it still relies on tried and true strategies from the past. These include popular modes such as Conquest and Breakthrough, as well as the series-typical, extremely comprehensive destruction of the environment.
With dynamic maps that can change the lighting and weather conditions within a short period of time, creating an entirely new game situation in the process, the developers are creating unpredictable challenges during the matches. In addition, Battlefield 2042 is also bringing new modes such as Hazard Zone and Portal Mode to the game. While very little has been said about the former so far, Battlefield Portal, as is well known, offers the opportunity to experience maps, vehicles, and weapons from classics such as Battlefield 3, Bad Company 2, or Battlefield 1942 in a new light.
Singleplayer fans won't be left entirely out in the cold with the latest Battlefield installment, either, because even though there will be no traditional campaign, the shooter will still allow you to play matches with and against bots. Experience points can also be earned in bot matches, so there is still motivation to be had even outside of multiplayer.
The Earth Shakes in Autumn/Winter
Which shooter will best reach its target audience in
