Battlefield Portal combines 1942, Bad Company 2, BF3 and 2042 in a completely new format and gives players a complex editor. We answer the most important questions about the mode.
Battlefield 2042 gets a third big component next to the series-typical multiplayer battles and the still mysterious Hazard Zone mode, which was now presented for the first time at the EA Play. Battlefield Portal is the name of the project, which modernises elements from classic series parts and unites them in a kind of Battlefield Hub.
On top of that, the developers have packed an extensive editor that enables the wildest battle scenarios and combinations. But can this concept work? In our analysis we explain why Battlefield Portal is a big gamble.
What exactly is Battlefield Portal?
Battlefield Portal is, at its core, a game mode of Battlefield 2042 and sees itself as a “community playground where our community can create, share and discover their own creations and scenarios,” explains Christian Grass from the developer studio Ripple Effect.
At the core is a set of tools that make far-reaching changes to the gameplay possible under the motto “Change the rules of war”. In addition to classic modes such as Rush or Conquest, fans can even invent their own variants.
Players can choose between fan creations and the official game modes of the developers. As in the main game, up to 128 players are possible on PC, PS5 and Series X/S, and up to 64 players on LastGen consoles. This info-graphic from the developers summarises the elementary key points again clearly
Is Battlefield Portal Free2Play?
Battlefield Portal is part of Battlefield 2042 and is therefore only available to purchasers of the full version of all platforms (regardless of edition). There are no extra costs for creating or launching fan creations.
However, the actual editor, which can be used to create new scenarios, rulebooks and battles, is available free of charge to any user as a browser interface and does not require the purchase of the main game.
“If you just want to explore Battlefield Portal on the web and test different settings, you can do that completely for free,” Senior Game Designer Rob Donovan clarifies. “You can then even share creations with friends – just not play yourself. “
Which maps, weapons and factions are included?
Battlefield Portal is said to combine heaps of weapons, classes, vehicles, factions and more from BF1942, Bad Company 2 and BF3. General manager Christian Grass clarifies, however:
“For example, there won’t be every tank and weapon from 1942. Instead, we have selected a number of things that we consider important and meaningful for the scenario and the classes. We wanted to provide enough content to authentically recreate the gaming experience of that time.”
Battlefield Portal will feature the following content at launch:
13 Maps
– 2 maps from Battlefield 1942 (El Alamein, Battle of the Bulge)
– 2 maps from Bad Company 2 (Arica Harbor, Valparaiso)
– 2 maps from Battlefield 3 (Caspian Border, Noshar Canals)
– 7+ maps from Battlefield 2042 (all launch & DLC maps)
Over 60 vehicles
– 16 vehicles from BF1942 (Tiger 1, Spitfire, Sherman, B17 Bomber, etc.)
– 9 vehicles from BFBC2 (M1A2, Quad Bike, UAV-1, M3 Bradley, etc.)
– 23 vehicles from BF3 (T-90, Apache, Mi-28 Havoc, SU Flanker-E, etc.)
– All vehicles from Battlefield 2042 (and later all DLC vehicles)
Weapons, Factions & Classes
– 7 factions from old BF parts, including the Wehrmacht
– 40 weapons from three historical Battlefield scenarios
– Including M1 Garand, Panzerschreck, M60, SPAS 12, XM8, Thompson
– Original classes like Anti-Tank (1942) or Assault with Medkits (BF3)
– All weapons from Battlefield 2042 as well as Specialists sant gadgets/abilities
– 30 equipment items from old BF parts
Are there physics & destruction on maps from BF1942?
Yes, the developers confirmed that they will also offer modern physics and destruction effects on the historical battlefields for the first time. “We didn’t just recreate these maps, we redesigned some of them to take advantage of the latest graphics technology,” emphasised General Manager Christian Grass.
Some of the maps have also been expanded to allow for higher player numbers of up to 128 participants. “The maps from BF1942 will definitely offer destruction,” adds Creative Director Thomas Andersson. “We’re also bringing back events like the tipping antenna tower on Caspian Border that you can see in the trailer. Completely new Levolution effects have not been added, however. “
How does the editor of BF Portal work?
The build tool and thus the core of Battlefield Portal is a browser-based tool and can be used on desktops, notebooks, tablets and even mobile phones. There, numerous parameters can be manipulated to create custom matches, rules and scenarios.
According to the developers, the possibilities are almost endless – whether asymmetrical PvP battles, co-op matches against bots or 1on1 vehicle battles. Factions and vehicles from every era, all weapons and classes as well as equipment can be freely combined.
The trailer shows, for example, how Wehrmacht soldiers from 1942 with knives compete against BF3 soldiers with defibrillators in a Team Deathmatch! Logic blocks can even be used to adjust the rules of the game or victory conditions themselves and trigger in-game events. Here is an excerpt of the setting options:
– Mobility like running speed, ADS, etc.
– Interface such as HUD elements or spotting
– Class and weapon limits, for example for snipers
– HP and damage values as well as friendly fire
– Play area to reduce/enlarge maps
– Quantity and type of vehicle spawns
– Team sizes and composition
Do I earn XP and Unlocks in Battlefield Portal?
The core multiplayer of Battlefield 2042, Hazard Zone and also Battlefield Portal are linked together through a unified progression system. This means that you can unlock content across each of the three components.
Senior Design Director Justin Wiebe explains it this way: “Players should be rewarded everywhere. They should get experience points and unlocks like attachments in each of the three modes. Progress is therefore designed to be global.” Crossplay is also available, but with limitations
So Battlefield 2042’s Battle Pass system also takes effect when you play in Portal mode. Call of Duty has been following such a model for a long time: XP progress in Warzone and in 6vs6 multiplayer pay into the same Battle Pass there.
Which admin rights do I have on my server?
Once you have created a Battlefield Portal match, you can set it to private, password protect it or make it public. As the creator, you can display server-wide messages such as welcome messages, or kick and ban players.
“We’re providing admin tools that our players have come to expect, which should make for a safe and fun gaming experience,” promises Design Director Justin Wiebe.
Can I build a hardcore mode?
Yes, you can. Battlefield Portal’s editor is supposed to make it possible to recreate regular multiplayer matches from Battlefield 2042 and add a hardcore rulebook. So if you just want to play on standard maps without a HUD, with less health or more weapon damage, you can put together such a gaming experience.
“This is even very easy to do without interfering with the game logic at all. With a few sliders or buttons, such a hardcore round is quickly created,” affirms Christian Grass from the developer studio Ripple Effect.
Can I build a Battle Royale for BF2042?
No, that will not be possible. Battlefield Portal’s toolbox, even with the logic editor, can’t dig that deep into the game experience to create, for example, a playing field that shrinks as the match progresses. However, last-man-standing variants and deathmatches are of course possible.
What engine does Battlefield Portal run on?
The current Frostbite engine, on which Battlefield 2042 is based, is used as the basic framework for all game modes. So all maps, vehicles and other elements from older parts run completely in the same engine as the regular multiplayer Battlefield 2042.
Therefore, all content that appears for Battlefield 2042 after release (maps, vehicles, weapons and specialists) are also automatically part of Portal immediately.
Are there also official developer creations?
Yes. The developers themselves also plan to provide Battlefield Portal with their own new creations and offer them (alongside particularly high-quality fan creations) in a curated highlights area.
In these official playlists, players will be able to relive iconic World War II battles from Battlefield 1942 or classic Rush scenarios from Bad Company 2, for example. Those looking for specific community experiences can search for suitable servers via a tagging and filtering system.
Where is the balance in all this chaos?
The developers have a shockingly simple answer to this: “We have no concept for balance. We leave that in your hands when you create your own Battlefield creations. If you want, you can increase the size of the WW2 team, add more damage to their weapons, or take away vehicles from modern soldiers. We don’t want to make those decisions for you,” explains Senior Game Designer Rob Donovan.
