The Future of Battlefield is at Stake: Physics and Ballistics Must Return!
As someone who witnessed the birth of the Battlefield franchise and played every title since the first release, I feel compelled to share some thoughts on the current state and future of the series. Battlefield 4 was, without a doubt, a masterpiece in the FPS world. The balance of weapon damage, coupled with its impeccable physics and ballistics, created an unparalleled experience. The way the bullet drop system and the mouse compensation factored in climatic variations, distance, and the character's movement speed was revolutionary. This was brilliantly orchestrated by talented programmers like Magnus Walterstad, who helped define what Battlefield should be.
Moving on to Battlefield 1, the work done to calibrate the physics of World War I-era weapons was, once again, excellent. The authentic feel when positioning a shot, especially with the bullet drop, was a stroke of genius. The game managed to transport the player to the battlefields of that era, while maintaining the integrity of the shooting mechanics that were already the franchise's trademark. This continuity in Battlefield's DNA also remained in Battlefield V, where physics and ballistics once again shined, offering a level of realism and challenge that set the game apart in the FPS niche.
However, we arrive at Battlefield 2042, and like many fans, I was deeply disappointed. The decision to remove traditional classes was a significant mistake, but the most glaring error was the complete destruction of physics and ballistics, elements that have always been the backbone of the franchise. The hitbox and weapon behavior in Battlefield 2042 are appalling—something that simply does not do justice to the series' legacy. Even worse, none of the key Physics Programmers who built Battlefield's name in titles like Battlefield 4, 1, and V were involved in 2042's development, resulting in a final product with no identity —a game that fails to honor its roots. 😞
For the sake of Battlefield's future, it is imperative that talented programmers like Magnus Walterstad and others who worked on the previous titles return to the franchise. Without the precise balance of weapon damage and the ballistics physics that defined Battlefield, the game is already doomed before it even launches. The community deserves to see the true Battlefield reborn, and this will only be possible with the return of the experts who made this franchise an icon of FPS.
