Battlefield 2042 Easter Eggs Compilation
Here's a compilation of known Easter Egg (EE) discoveries so far by the Battlefield community. Most of these were originally discovered by members of the BFEE community (you may need to join the Discord server first via discord.gg/bfee). I'll add to this list as more EEs get discovered. You can see a compilation of honorable mentions in post #6 below. Other numbered EEs will be hyperlinked to their respective posts due to character restrictions within this post. Enjoy!
Note: any lack of discovery credit is usually because it's not known or too difficult to determine.
Battlefield 2042 Easter Egg Compilation
1. Important Notice
On Kaleidoscope, reach the Yonco building roof and you'll find a sign in Korean revealing mysterious accidents involving penguins:
Important Notice
Penguins are not allowed on this rooftop due to previous accidents with penguins.
Discovery credit: JAM_BOX
2. Angel's loadout crate
a) Barcode: Translates from Morse code to "PINGVIN", the Swedish word for penguin:
Image, translation, and discovery credit: JAM_BOX
b) Swedish warning label: The text in quotes is a Swedish idiom used when threatening another:
WARNING
The box is very heavy. Try to avoid getting it on your head. The box is not a toy.
"Now the enemy has planted his last potato."
Translation credit: CiaranDN11
And next to the second barcode further down:
A-stamp. Does not get better than this.
c) Battlefield franchise titles: Above the top barcode you can find a sequence of numbers. They refer to previous BF titles:
3. The Penguins of Madagascar
On Breakaway in Breakthrough mode, you're able to approach the penguins near the oil rig without scaring them away. There, you may come across a group of four penguins that are suspiciously isolated from the rest of the penguin colony. This posse references the penguin quartet from the various "Madagascar" animated films.
From left to right: Private, Kowalski, Skipper, and Rico.
4. Penguin drawings
On Breakaway, you can find three penguin drawings at various locations. They show a penguin(s) as a: chef, flamethrower, and passengers riding a dinosaur. The last example references YouTuber DANNYonPC's avatar. Drawings are by DICE Level Artist Joel Zakrisson. You can also find the dinosaur drawing on the Redacted map next in the medbay.
Image credit: Flex4d
5. Petting the Dog (Ranger)
After you've called-in a Ranger, press and hold the interaction key as you stand by it, and you'll be able to pet your dog:
Video credit: dog driving a car
https://streamable.com/d2w42c
Image credit: Battlefield 2042
6. Faith's "Evade" parkour shoes from Mirror's Edge
a) On Kaleidoscope, go to the Telecom building's rooftop (next to the two tallest buildings):
b) On Flashpoint, atop the crane on CQ objective D.
Image & discovery credit: Jaymz l 21 l [XBOX]#7857
7. AI soldier names
a) DICE / EA staff: When playing with AI soldiers of the US faction, some of the soldiers are employees at DICE / EA.
One example is ""N. EK"", which refers to Sr. UX Designer Nathalie Ek at DICE in Sweden. Initially, employees weren't given a rank, but have subsequently been given ranks.
b) In memoriam: Similarly, some dedicated fans found their way into the game as an AI name. Some of you may know of the late Leonardo (better known as "Mighty"), a huge fan of the Battlefield series. EA/DICE was kind enough to include his name not only in the credits, but also as an AI bot, "COL. L. MIGHTY". It is very rare to come across his name, and I for one have yet to see it. But, after (apparently over 200) hours of searching, Mighty's father finally found him in the game:
Video & discovery credit: Mighty
8. ☃️ 3 Snowmen ☃️
On Breakaway, you can find 3 snowmen:
Image credit: KingSgaming™
Image credit: hackterr#0851
9. Shadow of the Colossus game
On Discarded, you can find a Colossus sigil referencing the "Shadow of the Colossus" game:
Video credit: Dr3dze
10. Idle sneeze
If you idle for too long, your character will eventually sneeze loudly.
Extra detail - the game will consider your character as "idle" when playing with Casper's drone. Thus, Casper will eventually sneeze, and his drone view will shake in response. Furthermore, you'll able to watch yourself sneeze from the drone.
Video credit: TheTopDawg101
11. Go Taxi Tuk-Tuk's phone number
On Kaleidoscope, the Go Taxi branded Tuk-Tuks have a phone number referring to the seven main Battlefield titles in chronological order: 1942, 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, and 2042. This was originally discovered in the BF 2042 reveal trailer:
12. Full Circle studio logo
At the skatepark on Kaleidoscope, you can find the Full Circle studio logo at 2 locations:
13. Manifest UpDown Games logo on distant skyscrapers
On Manifest, references to Norwegian game studio UpDown Games can be seen off in the distance on 3 buildings. The first one is easiest to see as it's closer. The second one can be found further back to the right of the Ferris wheel. The third one requires an upclose inspection on the GOK building's slanted roof along the lighted edge, which reveals a collage of various logos including several for UpDown Games:
Image credit: DANNYonPC
14. C5 detonator messages
When detonating the C5, you may come across 10 unique messages on the detonator, with two shown below:
NOPE!
DESTROYED!
BYE BYE!
KABOOM!
OUTCH! [sic]
C5 GO BRRRRR
DETONATED!
C5 ACTIVATED!
ELIMINATED!
GONE
15. Piano cover of Battlefield theme song on radio
You may hear a familiar tune playing at times on the radio. It's a piano/keyboard cover of the BF theme song. You may hear it playing in the elevator, while riding vehicles, or at various locations that have wireless radios strewn about the map.
Video credit: Davil
https://youtu.be/FbzF9YqHLw8?t=17
16. "McArthur" movie poster
The McArthur movie poster references DICE Sr. Producer Ryan McArthur and Presentation Director Pascal Eggert:
Image credit: Flex4d
17. "Awesome Direct Shipping Extreme Fast" shipping label
On various maps, you may come across boxes with shipping labels. They're addressed to: "Sorry nothing funny to read here".
18. 🦖T-Rex toy in football stadium 🦖
On Hourglass, on the concourse floor in between the two #310 seating entrances (CQ large objectives A2 & A3), you'll find the classic T-Rex toy found in previous BF titles. Moreover, the 310 number may be a reference to the area code of West LA, home to Ripple Effect Studios (fmr. DICE LA). And, it's the same T-Rex toy that Irish finds and gives to his adopted son, Omar, in the "Exodus" short film. The T-Rex remains at the same location on the Stadium map.
Discovery credit: the_monotonist
19. Kaleidoscope "PTFO" message on public transportation maps
At each of Kaleidoscope's bus stop locations, nine of the station names can be read as a message:
"WHY ARE YOU READING THIS?... PLAY THE FUDGING OBJECTIVE"
20. Banana & Clock
There are 2 instances of banana and clock assets. One is on Breakaway at the oil rig, and the other is on Manifest on the PACIFIC ship at C1. The latter is accompanied by a shipping container full of bananas. Peculiarly, the digital clock shows a time of 15:00 (or 3:00 PM). If you look more closely at the banana, you'll notice that there's a sticker that's been poorly peeled off.
The banana and clock assets were originally found in BFV, with the analog clock showing a time of 3:00. They seem to have a further meaning and are obviously related to the driss pod and chronometer in Star Wars: Battlefront II. Apparently, according to DICE 3D Level Artist Joel Zakrisson who is responsible for their creation, what the asset pair refers to is "possibly more obvious in another dice game" (that game most likely refers to BFV, given the date of the Tweet; however, the pair appears once again in BF 2042, so it in turn also applies to BF 2042):
https://twitter.com/JoelZakrisson/status/1255911615440007168
Image credit: Diktaattori
21. Trollface Graffiti
On Renewal, you can find the signature internet meme trollface (or "troll face") on select areas of the wall:
22. Evidence of FPS gaming on keyboards
On some keyboards, you can see that the WASD keys are worn out. The left keys for CTRL, SHIFT, ALT, and slightly the 2, are also worn out. You may also find this detail on non-BF2042 maps such as on the BF3 MCOM and the BC2 UAV system keyboard:
23. "Fatburen" on HZ Resupply Stations & Strike Team Mode Objective Crate
In Hazard Zone, the ammo resupply stations have a metal plaque with the DICE HQ location in Sweden. The same exists on Strike Team Mode's objective crate. The characters following "Fatburen" and "Stockholm" have an undeciphered message:
Fatburen
Stockholm 23442
234234.234V.1
Image credit: Tobyloby
24. QR Codes
a) AI soldiers
On the chests of AI bots, there's a QR code. When scanned, it'll take you to the EA page to purchase the 2042 game:
Image credit: the_monotonist
b) Kaleidoscope Emergency Alert
On various locations on Kaleidoscope, you may come across the emergency alert message shown below. At the bottom right, you will see a QR code. When scanned, you'll be taken to DICE's Careers page:
Image credit: the_monotonist
c) PBX-45 SMG
On the "Downpour" skin for the PBX-45 SMG, there's a unique QR code. When scanned, it will take you to the Google search result for "submachine gun". Additionally, on most skins of the PBX-45, the manufacturer is DICE SWE in Stockholm, Sweden.
Image & QR code scanning credit: MrJacobvich#4242
d) BF3 SOFLAM - On the BF3 variant of the SOFLAM, there's a QR code that takes you to the Google search result for "SOFLAMLASER MARKER SYSTEM".
Image & QR code scan credit: MrJacobvich#4242
e) SWS-10's "Elusive Stalker" Skin
f) Falck's "Righteous Path" Skin
25. Haggard's Tactical Beanie
The Weekly Mission reward beginning 10 February 2022 is a subtle reference to Bad Company's Haggard and his signature tactical beanie. DICE's Lead Game Mode Designer, Matt Wagner, confirmed this: https://twitter.com/Kenturrac/status/1492052800846581760. Irish's "No Cap" headwear from Season 2 tier 46 also appears to be the same beanie.
26. Shruggie emoticon when Rao hacks
While hacking as Rao, your HUD will briefly flash computer code. One instance reveals a shruggie emoticon: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Another is the first line in the image below, which shows his hack is "attempting to greet with exodus_handshake.dat", most likely referencing the Exodus ship:
27. Wetter brand M44 revolver
Most skins of the M44 revolver is made by "Wetter". That brand name refers to Animator Oskar Wetterbrandt, who worked on animating many of the guns for BF 2042, including the M44 revolver. On the other side of the revolver, you can see the full brand name "Wetterbrandt Arms". Moreover, the "920508" number specifically refers to the dev's birthday of 1992 May 8.
Discovery credit: DANNYonPC
Association credit: Flex4d
28. "Made From Home" coffee mug
At the now defunct weapon Loadout screen, a black mug with text could be seen off to the corner of the weapon case. The mug read "Made From Home", in reference to the COVID lockdowns that forced much of the game to be made from home, and the IRL mugs that the Battlefield 2042 development team received. Also, you may barely be able to see the mug at the main landing page where your specialist is shown standing inside the Exodus ship (last image).
Discovery credit: HotelMama
Image credit: Battlefield 2042
Photo credit: Daniel Berlin
29. DICE LA House Band posters
Although originally from the Bad Company 2 game, these posters were added to more locations on Arica Harbor. You can read a little more about it in a Tweet made by one of the band members and Senior VO Designer at Ripple Effect Studios (formerly DICE LA) Rob Gardner.
Image credit: RobGzzzLA
30. ☼ DK+YN
On Discarded, at CQ objective B2, you may come across the initials "DK" and "YN". These initials appear to be for Ripple Effect Studios' Lighting and Look Dev Directors David Kintner + Yuta Nakamura. Above the initials, there's a drawing of a sun, which may also be an ambiguous image to look like an eye or a magnifying glass (when incorporating part of the "Y"), to mean "Lighting" and "Look", respectively.
31. 🥝 Just Eat It 🥝
On Arica Harbor, unlike on the original BC2 map, you'll find a handwritten menu of available fruits on some of the storefront windows. At the very bottom, you'll find that the kiwi is crossed out, as the store ran out of it. It's seemingly very inconspicuous but there may be more to it. On the final mission of the original Bad Company 2 game, you'll come across an area of the plane dedicated to developers' photos/EEs. One of the items is a poster advertisement for kiwis, which may be why the kiwi is crossed out.
32. Rare reload & draw animations
a) PBX-45: Your character gestures with an OK hand sign
Discovery and video credit: Redx
b) M60E4: Gun drops out of sight
Discovery & video credit: MrJacobvich#4242
https://i.imgur.com/padAxgE.mp4
c) M416: Magazine tossed up directly into receiver
Discovery & video credit: u/DerSergeant
d) M16A3: Jedi force pull
Discovery & video credit: u/EthicaI
https://www.reddit.com/r/battlefield2042/comments/xq1isu/m16a3_rare_reload/
e) MP443: Mag toss up
Discovery & video credit: DANNYonPC
f) M44 revolver: Spin after draw
Discovery & video credit: u/SacredLemon5034
Unique animation when drawing the M44 revolver
g) MP412 revolver: Spin after reload
Discovery & video credit: kurtdiekals
Unique reload animation for MP412 Rex revolver
h) MK IV revolver: Spin after reload
Discovery & video credit: floschuller#0504
https://i.imgur.com/RlYtSKH.mp4
33. Hazard Zone voice over lines
On HZ, there are some rare voice over lines:
a) "Another UFO is crash landing on Earth."
Discovery & video credit: Swed Encoy L102
https://i.imgur.com/snJ9At1.mp4
b) "Martians are entering the AO."
Discovery & video credit: Swed Encoy L102
https://i.imgur.com/oIQg5Xk.mp4
c) "Let's roooooock!!"
Discovery & video credit: BF4NTOM
https://twitter.com/BF4NTOM/status/1608585478311133185
e) "We're in the pipe, five by five."
No audiovisual capture available. This is a line from the original Aliens movie.
34. "-420" when you die in a big vehicle
When you and your large vehicle gets destroyed, during the kill cam, a "+ -420" HP status will flash very quickly. It's not clear what the exact meaning behind it is, as you're not as "high" in ground vehicles as you are in aircrafts, though you're definitely "wasted" when you die (yet that would also be true of specialists on foot and in smaller vehicles).
35. Random Battlefield 2042 & 2142 references
Perhaps these are merely coincidental, or maybe the other alphanumeric characters add further meaning. In any case, you can find the "2042" number sequence on the back of one of the semi-trucks, and the "2142" number on one of the MCOM screens.
Discovery credit: Mr.What'sHisFace
36. Error code on computer screens
With a simple alphanumeric substitution cipher, you can decipher the error code seen on the monitor, from "212020125695124' to BATTLEFIELD.
Discovery credit: kopatroopa123#5380
Image credit: skaff#5129
37. Canal Blocker charm
Tier 27 of Season 1 is the Canal Blocker charm. This is an IRL reference to the "Ever Given" Evergreen ship that blocked the Suez Canal on 23 March 2021, and subsequently brought global trade to a halt.
Discovery credit: DannyOnPC
38. Tomas brand crossbow
On the crossbow's limb, there's a red logo with the "Tomas" brand name. Above the trigger on either side, there's the "Tomas Tactical" brand name. This references DICE Technical Animator Tomas Tjärnberg/Tjernberg.
39. A4 notebook for super cool notes
The A4 notebook cover has a bit of humor that oversells its common and mundane everyday item. The following is the quoted text as it appears, with grammar errors and all, which perhaps suggests a low quality product if effort wasn't given to correct its marketing message:
Business notebook of Lee Corp Industries sturdy and
super reliable for all kind of super cool notes lee corp
ensures maximum quality and best writing experience
40. Past Battlefield titles on Hazard Zone data drive labels
In Hazard Zone, there are specially labeled hard drives with previous BF titles. All 11 BF title labels have been found. They appear to be rare and randomly generated finds. Here are the labels, in the order we've discovered them:
a) BF3
Discovery & image credit: champidoob
b) Bad Company 1
Discovery & image credit: Swed Encoy L102#9179
c) BF2142
Discovery & image credit: champidoob
d) Bad Company 2
Discovery & image credit: champidoob
e) BF Vietnam
Discovery & image credit: champidoob
f) BF Hardline
Discovery & video credit: CTTV Games
g) BF1942
Discovery & image credit: champidoob
h) BF2
i) BF4
j) BFV
k) BF1
41. Cat yelp when barging through door
When sprinting through a door to bust it open, you may sometimes hear a cat screaming. This is a carry over from Battlefield V, where animal noises would randomly generate when running through doors. Perhaps other animal sounds are in the RNG mix?
Discovery credit: skank_a_licious
https://twitter.com/skank_a_licious/status/1537422683801001984
42. "Lars" the baby penguin-orca hybrid
This strange hybrid animal was spotted in a penguin colony on Breakaway. We know this to be a baby based on the hint provided by DICE senior dev Niklas Astrand's Tweet: https://twitter.com/NiklasAstrand/status/1476900668099239939. It's an RNG EE and it appears that the odds of finding it were increased significantly starting with Season 1. The video and images of the strange sighting can be found below:
Video: https://vxtwitter.com/Pciun7/status/1537866399653236737
Discovery, images, & video credit: iun7#7777
43. 🦖 BF3 "Thunder Run" campaign voice over reference 🦖
A new voice over line in Portal was added with Update 1.1. As a BF3 recon soldier, spotting/pinging may enable a voice over line that references the voice lines from the beginning of the BF3 "Thunder Run" single player campaign.
Video credit: Battlefield Shorts Flakfire
44. DICE DEFENSE INC
On the "Parched" & "Desert Rat" (shown) store-only skins for the M5A3, the gun manufacturer detail is shown as the following, instead of the usual UA United Arms manufacturer:
DICE DEFENSE INC
STOCKHOLM
SWEDEN
Discovery credit: SergeantTortilla#5032
45. Swedish song lyrics on BF3 MCOM
46. "They are Everywhere" player card
47. "No dinos were harmed in the making of this program, one swan escaped."
48. Concussion grenade Made in Fatburen
On the concussion grenade that was made available in Season 2, you can see that it reads "Made in Fatburen", which is the location of DICE's studio in Stockholm, Sweden.
Discovery credit: Tomoya_Marble
50. M16A3 Made By DICE'S Firearms Division
On the M16A3, you can make out the Ripple Effects logo on the right side, along with the following inscription on the left side:
DICE'S FIREARMS DIVISION
DICE INDUSTRIES
BOSTON, MASS
USA
51. M249 SAW - 1942-2042 & Dev's Birthday
52. "Death Knocking on Doors" Meme
The Liquidators event in Season 2 introduced the "Neighborly" charm, which references the "Death knocking on doors" meme.
Discovery & image credit: Mr.What'sHisFace#5957
53. Condor Panel w/ Artists' Initials
54. "Always Has Been" meme
The "Time Crimes" player card references the "Always Has Been" meme.
56. Devs' initials & birthdays on Exposure's walls
57. Top Gun movie & the Danger Zone
The "Dangerzone" charm name references Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" song in the Top Gun movie.
58. Joel Defense
This brand, seen on many of the game's guns, gears, etc., references DICE 3D Artist Joel Dabrosin.
63. Satellites, jammers, & a lore twist
66. RPK-74M - Frostbite & EA logos
70. High Resolution Fast Burger
72. Megalodon or Whale Container Ship
73. Homage Painting of BF1942's Original Battle of the Bulge Map
75. Season 6 Teaser Narrative Hunt
76. "Good Company" Dead Space Plushies
79. Sharknado, Part 1 & Part 2