Call of Duty and Battlefield, despite being compared often, have remained quite different over the course of their lengthy competition. Not only do the two franchises usually offer opposing settings when they go head-to-head, but their styles of gameplay are nothing alike. Call of Duty’s arcade action is hard to top for those that like fast-paced combat, while fans of large-scale warfare and vehicles can have a lot of fun with the Battlefield series. However, one new Battlefield 2042 feature could give it the edge over Call of Duty this year.
While Battlefield 2042 does lack a campaign, its focus on multiplayer is allowing fo three distinct experiences to be created. While All-Out Warfare will provide an evolution of the classic style, and Hazard Zone is set to offer some unique co-op gameplay, Battlefield 2042’s Portal mode looks to be the most unique thing the franchise has done in years. Seeing different eras of Battlefield come together on beloved maps is thrilling, with the mixed-up arsenals and vehicles being intriguing. Letting the community create their own modes and mashups with these features is a big deal, too, and all of this would translate perfectly to Call of Duty.
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Battlefield 2042 Portal will give players access to official and custom-made content. In the case of the former, players can select Official Experiences to enjoy content made by Ripple Effect, the developer behind the mode. Custom Experiences will let players search through the playlists made by other gamers, while Battlefield Builder allows players to create their own game modes themselves. Six classic maps will also feature from past games, allowing Battlefield fans to have some nostalgia-fueled experiences that pull from the best games in the series.
Part of what makes Battlefield Portal so interesting is not just the fact that maps are returning, but arsenals as well. Players will be able to use guns, equipment, and vehicles from several eras of Battlefield. This allows players to have a robot dog from the near future face off against a World War 2-era fighter jet, while a modern Assault Rifle could take on an LMG from the 1940s. The different maps should only make these combinations more intriguing, and the various soldier designs should help to create some specific aesthetics.
Placing these tools in the hands of players is a bold idea, and it is one that could allow the game to thrive for years to come. While Portal is not a map editor, it gives players just about every other tool. As a result, unique versions of party modes like Infected, Hide and Seek, and Gun Game could all be brought to life. A dedicated community of creators could form, with Battlefield fans able to have a constant rotation of brand-new content. While it remains to be seen if the feature will live up to its potential, the premise is thrilling — and it should be applied to other first-person shooters in the industry. Specifically, Battlefield’s competitor Call of Duty could benefit in a big way from a Portal-like experience.
Call of Duty 2021’s reveal is likely imminent, meaning that it is far too late for a big feature like Battlefield Portal to be incorporated. However, Call of Duty 2022 is a different story. Infinity Ward’s next game is all but guaranteed to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, with the cliffhanger ending setting up the debut of Task Force 141. While this sequel will surely be promising enough on its own, as the 2019 reboot was received well by fans and critics, a Portal-like mechanic could take things to another level.
While many enjoyed the slower style of the new Modern Warfare, it did disappoint some players that like their Call of Duty gameplay to be fast paced. However, a portal feature could offer the best of both worlds. Iconic maps and modes from the original Modern Warfare 2 could be made available, meaning that players would get an equal mix of new and old content in the game. This way, all gamers are satisfied, with the main multiplayer featuring the methodical gameplay of the 2019 title and the Portal-like mode featuring content from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2.
Like Battlefield 2042 Portal, iconic guns, perks, and mechanics could be added to the lineup of Modern Warfare 2 content. Classic weapons like the ACR, Model 1887, and Ump45 could all be available, while killstreaks from the original Modern Warfare 2 could be on offer as well. With players recreating Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 via a mod for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, the interest is clearly there for a remastered multiplayer. Instead of making it a separate game, though, Infinity Ward can stick the remastered content into its 2022 title, making for a release that is packed with things for gamers to enjoy. Being able to switch from new to old content instantly, from the same application, could offer the perfect blend of fan service and freshness.
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Battlefield 2042 Portal pulls from several eras of Battlefield, including more than just maps. As such, if Call of Duty ever utilized the feature, it could use content from its other big subseries. The next Treyarch title could have the same setup, adding in mechanics and items from various eras of Black Ops. A Portal-like mechanic could become the standard for Call of Duty, giving the series a chance to keep up with the new era of Battlefield. However, what makes Battlefield 2042 Portal truly special is the creation tools.
Not only could these creation tools give Call of Duty titles longer life cycles, as players could make creative multiplayer modes for years after release, but such a feature could be huge for Zombies. Fans of the Survival mode have already done amazing things with the PC-exclusive map makers from Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. Giving them more tools could only improve the creation process, and like the Battlefield Builder, the feature could be made available to the console community as well.
While Call of Duty campaign remasters are welcome, fans of the series’ multiplayer have been desperate to see their favorite online experiences brought back. Though there have been plenty of map remakes, it is impossible to replicate the same feel of the classic games without the same weapons, gadgets, and character models. Battlefield 2042 Portal shows that this is possible, as it manages to include more remastered content while simultaneously putting a unique spin on it. While not everyone is the creative type, all players can appreciate player-created content, something that the feature will provide plenty of. As such, other long-running FPS franchises, particularly Call of Duty, should take note.
Call of Duty 2021 is in development for unspecified platforms. Battlefield 2042 launches October 22 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.