Update: Got new Scarlett drivers installed tonight, and no good. I have confirmed it is specifically an issue where Battlefield 2042 breaks my Gen 2 Scarlett's main audio output (as in using the device as a sound card and it's main outputs 1/2 for Windows).
I started the game after the Focusrite driver install, and all the game audio was garbled up again instantly right in the menu. Evidently the inputs on the Scarlett are not compromised by the game, as my friends can hear me, and I am able to hear anything coming into any of the device's inputs. I tested physically piping my Discord out the back of my PC motherboard output and into the Scarlett's rear inputs with a cable and I could hear my Discord friends fine. However, since the app itself uses Windows main (which is set to the Scareltt's main 1/2 as we know) for it's app sound FX, any notification sounds were garbled up just like the game.
I closed the game again, and unlike before, the issue did not return to normal. My Windows main audio output, which is set to my Scarlett was totally borked. I tested Youtube videos, notification sounds in Windows, and all were corrupted sounding just like the game audio was. I had to power cycle the Focusrite interface to get it back to normal again.
Clearly now I would say, 2042 has a new problem talking with Focusrite Scarletts, or at least the 2nd generation 18i8s... Dice please help! I cannot play the game in this state!
