The time has finally come - the long-awaited Battlefield 2042 Open Beta is raging on at the time of writing this article, and the player base at large has finally got a chance at giving the game a fair shake. This is absolutely key, because it's the very first chance we've had to see the gameplay out properly. In other words, this is the make it or break it moment for 2042, because we get to form some opinions at last!

We've covered all the important technical details about the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta beforehand. Today, we'd like to talk about the game in motion!

Namely, what we're concerned with today is the core gameplay loop, and whether the whole shindig feels like a contemporary Battlefield title. Spoiler alert: we've got some really good news for you! If you're keen on getting into the game right this instant, remember that you can always snag one of the pre-order deals here at 2Game and start playing.

Is the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta any good?

First things first, the Open Beta is good. According to early previews from major publications, BF2042 is a right and proper return to form that fans have been waiting for. "There was a time when a new Battlefield announcement would've been the highlight of my gaming year, but when DICE traded jets for horses in Battlefield 1, I sorta put the series on snooze," said PC Gamer's Morgan Park. "Battlefield is back to what it does best. Guns hit like a sack of bricks, jets rattle my ears with bassy roars, and it all looks drop-dead gorgeous in action," he continued.

IGN, too, agrees with this assessment. Their own previews claim that "DICE has gone absolutely giddy with excess," citing super-cyclones and similar catastrophes as some of the most dynamic features in a multiplayer shooter they'd seen so far. Just imagine the usual havoc of a modern-day Battlefield title. Except, combined with map-altering super-events, environmental disasters, and some slight sci-fi technologies. It's a doozy.

Of course, that's not to say that the core of the game has stayed the same. Well, in a way it has, but DICE has ensured that there's lots to love here, too. Namely, players will now square off against up to 127 other players (or bots) in real-time. This leads to truly epic clashes on every level. You'll run in and out of engagements all the time. Honestly, the playing field's never been this dynamic before.

More players leads to more better, in this case

In Battlefield 2042's case, larger definitely feels better. All of its features - at least, the ones we've seen as part of the Open Beta - work in favor of this excessive focus on size and scale. For example, with a substantially larger player count, it was clear that DICE needed substantially larger maps, too. This works out, but now that we've got bigger levels, we need better access to vehicles if we want to get around. This, too, works out - thanks to ready access to a variety of fast, albeit basic scout vehicles for summoning.

There's a new approach present in BF2042, we feel. DICE have hit their stride in this regard, with all of the game's disparate features coming together to improve the core player experience. Changing weapon attachments on the fly, Specialists with a focus on mobility perks, near-future gadgets... the end result is a fast-paced game that feels bigger than ever before, but not overwhelmingly so.

New Features in BF2042 - Are Specialists a good change?

As we said, we don't think the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta would play well if all DICE had done was to increase the scale. It's the supporting features that make the experience as good as it is. For example, we already mentioned vehicle summoning and attachment tweaking mid-session. But think about what this means, in practice.

Now that you can call up vehicle spawns, you no longer need to spend minutes per spawn just getting around the place on foot. Nor do you need to pray to DICE for someone to have left a quad-bike at spawn for you to grab it and go. Instead, you can coordinate with a few other players to call up a Humvee equivalent and move to the nearest engagement.

Similarly, the ability to choose between up to three unique weapon attachments in each of the weapons' four modification categories lets you tweak your guns appropriately for the given engagement. Maps are huge, and you'll be switching from CQB to long-range combat all the time. Instead of having to stick with a favorable engagement setup for your whole loadout, you can replace your 8x dot-scope with a holo-sight in a matter of seconds.

Specialists make perfect sense when the shooting starts

There were some concerns as to whether Specialists were a good replacement for the previous game's Class feature. Early on, even we had a few suspicions as to whether DICE was on the right track with dedicated character setups, but we're not worried anymore. Even though Specialists are specific characters that are good at specific things, there's way more flexibility present here than ever before.

The main reason this is the case is owed to the fact that Specialists are not weapon-locked. For example, the resident Medic - Maria Falck - can pick up any type of firearm during the loadout selection screen. From sniper rifles all the was to snub SMGs, Falck can take whatever feels right for the given situation and go along with it.

Even with just four Specialists, there was a remarkable level of versatility present in every given match. Much more so than was the case with previous Battlefield titles. Just imagine what this means for the full launch of the game.

Closing Thoughts

It goes without saying that we're positively thrilled with what we've seen so far. To be sure, this is still very much a Beta product. Expect bugs, lag, and shoddy performance, but make no mistake - this is Battlefield. Better still, this is Battlefield at its absolute best.

We're even more excited now about the prospect of a Tarkov AAA competitor in Hazard Zone - though you didn't hear about that from us. Battlefield 2042 Open Beta hasn't just shown us that DICE still has it in them, but also that the franchise has so much more potential in it than we might've realized before.

What you're looking at here is the perfect combination of classic BF wackiness. Objectively ridiculous events mesh perfectly with gritty, down-to-earth gunfights. Trust us - when you pick the game up, it's just going to click. It's that good. November 19th can't come soon enough!

Open Beta starts on October 8th!

Don't forget - these are the closed Beta takeaways from pre-order owners and press members. You can still jump right on ahead if you snag one of the pre-purchase deals available here at 2Game, but if you're still on the fence, don't worry! The official release times for Battlefield 2042 Open Beta are slated for this Friday - October 8th. Everyone's going to have a chance to give the game a whirl during the weekend, as the beta will close down on October 10th.

You can pre-load the 20 GB worth of files via Steam and Origin right now if you are interested. And yes, we do recommend you to give the game a shot if you are even remotely curious about it. See you on the battlefields!