What is the story behind Battlefield 2042?

The story behind Battlefield 2042 begins, harrowingly, just 10 years in the future. In 2031, the combination of “rising sea levels, collapsing economies, [and] broken alliances” pushes the world to its brink. In October 2033, the first category six hurricane, Hurricane Zeta, occurs. A second Great Depression begins just a few months after, and in August 2035, the European Union collapses.

As borders blur and collapse, millions of displaced people form ragtag fleets looking for a place to permanently call home. They call themselves the Non-Patriated, or No-Pats. By 2037, humanity is adapting “to the new normal,” thanks to new developments in technology. But there are still 1.2 billion No-Pats, with many refusing to reassimilate.

But just as things seem to be getting better, disaster strikes. In 2040, a space debris storm knocks out over 70 percent of the world’s satellites, causing a global blackout resulting in plane crashes, collapses in communication, and extreme economic instability. The U.S. and Russia, already in a tense relationship, blame each other, with others blaming the No-Pats movement.

This culminates in a shadow war between the two superpowers, leading to the setting of Battlefield 2042. Both sides field squads of No-Pat Task Forces to fight over resources without sparking an all-out war. But “open-war is imminent” and the No-Pats are all forced to choose a side.