Battlefield 2042 is making a few nods to the beloved (but oft-forgotten) entry in the Battlefield series, Bad Company 2, and that's exciting news for fans. In more ways than one, Battlefield 2042 is shaping up to be the biggest game the Battlefield franchise has ever had. With massive maps, increased player counts, and all the new, remastered content coming in Battlefield Portal, DICE's latest entry in the long-running FPS series is shaping up to make a big splash when it releases later this year.
Battlefield Portal, in particular, looks like a wonderful experience for long-time fans of the franchise, mixing weapons, characters, vehicles, and maps from older Battlefield games and giving players the ability to smash them together with the futuristic new tech seen in Battlefield 2042's near future. The mode is also a convenient way for DICE to bring back beloved elements and maps from older games without having to update the content too much to have it fit in with the more futuristic aesthetic seen in Battlefield 2042 proper.
That's where Bad Company 2 comes in. Fan-favorite maps from that game, Valparaiso and Arica Harbor, are coming to Battlefield Portal, with the mode's reveal trailer even going so far to include a cheeky reference to Bad Company. At long last Bad Company is getting some well-deserved recognition, but what does that mean for Battlefield Portal and the future of the Bad Company as a subseries of the franchise? Here's what's known so far.
During the most recent EA Play livestream, DICE and the developers at Ripple Effect (previously known as DICE LA) debuted the new Battlefield Portal mode with a zany trailer showing off what all will be possible in the past-meets-future Battlefield mash-up extravaganza. Included in the trailer is footage of the Arica Harbor map from Bad Company 2, which highlights a soldier getting ready to throw a grenade, only to be shot and drop the grenade on the ground. The camera zooms in to show the grenade sporting a smiley face pin, an iconic throwback to the Bad Company series.
What does it all mean? For now, it means players can likely expect more Bad Company 2 content to come to Battlefield Portal. While it will include Valparaiso and Arica Harbor at launch, alongside numerous weapons and vehicles from Bad Company 2, there's no telling what other maps, weapons, or vehicles from either Bad Company or its sequel could make its way to the mode in the future. That, after all, is the beauty of Battlefield Portal, which also includes content from classic games like Battlefield 1942 and Battlefield 3. New content from across the franchise will likely be added over time, giving players even more toys for what essentially is a giant Battlefield toybox.
Bad Company as a series has long been a fan-favorite among the Battlefield community, so it's fantastic to see Battlefield Portal show Bad Company 2 some love. But what does that mean for the possibility of a Bad Company 3? That's still unclear. Rumors have swirled for years that DICE or DICE LA may be working on Bad Company 3, but it's been more than a decade since Bad Company 2 launched, and though fans have always hoped to see another entry, thus far it hasn't come to pass. While the Bad Company games always featured excellent multiplayer, its single-player campaigns starring the ragtag group of soldiers that made up the titular "Bad Company" have also proved to be an important part of the game's enduring legacy. With Battlefield 2042 dropping campaign entirely, it remains to be seen if DICE would be willing to dive back into the series for a Bad Company 3, given its move away from single-player campaigns.
Should Battlefield Portal's Bad Company content prove popular, perhaps it would help show DICE that there is demand for another entry in the series, even as the developer does move away from campaigns. For now fans will simply have to wait and see, and enjoy all the Bad Company content Battlefield Portal will have to offer.
Battlefield 2042 releases October 22, 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, and PC.
