Battlefield 2042 Reveals January 21 Update Patch Notes

Battlefield 2042 developers have released patch notes for the 8.4.0 update. This Battlefield 2042 update will bring two vehicles with new capabilities and weapons options to the game. In addition, the update brings several other changes and bug fixes to make the game more enjoyable.

​​​Battlefield 2042 launched in 2021 to heavy criticism. However, the game has been in a much better state for a couple of years now thanks to developers regularly releasing updates to improve the gameplay. For instance, the previous Battlefield 2042 update introduced some fresh customization, progression, and gameplay improvements. It also made some adjustments to vehicles and weapons and balanced Dozer's Ballistic Shield by decreasing damage from armor-piercing ammo.

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Battlefield 2042's first update for 2025 drops on January 21, 2025. It brings two new Vault Drops: the M3A3 Bradley and BMP-2. These infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) come from Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3 and have gotten a makeover for Battlefield 2042. The revamped vehicles now boast fresh capabilities and features, including a setup for four seats, an extra equipment slot, and tweaks to their weaponry and how they work. The patch also noted that these Battlefield 2042 vehicles are open to customization to suit various playstyles, enhancing tactical versatility in combat.

Battlefield 2042 Adds Unlocked Modes for New Vehicles

To make the new vehicles easily accessible, two "unlocked" modes will be available. From January 21, Frontlines Unlocked will allow players to immediately use the new IFVs, with all objectives offering the vehicles, not just the final ones. On January 28, Conquest Unlocked will also grant access to Light Transports and Attack Helicopters. During these modes, players can earn Ribbons at double the usual rate, encouraging them to try out the new vehicles right away. This approach ensures players can get a feel for the new vehicles without the usual unlock grind, making the Battlefield 2042 experience more accessible.

The upcoming Battlefield 2042 update will also bring some bug fixes and balance changes. For example, players of the game will get better vehicle mobility, new abilities like the Stealth Package and Active Armor, as well as better missile capabilities. The game's visuals, sound effects, damage modeling, and user interface have all been altered to make the vehicles more suitable for the FPS game Battlefield 2042. It is also worth noting that the progression system has been improved, with fixes to vehicle-disabled XP and a few other minor adjustments. Overall, the update looks promising and shows the Battlefield 2042 developers' ongoing efforts to make the game more appealing.

Battlefield 2042 Patch Notes

New Vault Drop - M3A3 Bradley & BMP-2

Jump into the M3A3 Bradley and the BMP-2, two fan-favorite war machines originating from Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3. Remade for Battlefield 2042, each of these infantry fighting vehicles will be a supreme resource for skilled No-Pats nabbing one of its four seats.

The team specifically chose these versatile fighting machines due to their iconic significance and fan-favorite status across Battlefield. These fighting machines behave, function, and look different from their Battlefield Portal variants.

In order to fit their new roles on All-Out Warfare they have been made to be as asymmetrical as they can be, with a new equipment slot for your loadout, newly added and tweaked abilities, and polish specific to these IFVs.

The team has made sure that they are open to the possibility of experimentation and fitting specific vehicle builds and gameplay types, be it a defensive tankbuster or a hyper-aggressive glass cannon, these two new Vault Drop Vehicles are set to empower any squad on the Battlefield.

Unlocked Frontlines and Conquest

As we know you’ll be eager to test out the vault drops, we’re adding two unlocked modes over the next two weeks. From January 21st onwards Frontlines Unlocked will allow you to play the new IFVs released in this patch without the need to unlock them first. Additionally, the M3A3 Bradley and the BMP-2 will be available on all objectives, not just the final ones!

Switching over on January 28th, Conquest Unlocked allows for the same freedom to all players, as well as access to Light Transports and Attack Helicopters! This way you’ll be able to get into the action right away and try out both IFVs before unlocking them yourself.

Speaking of unlocking, earning Ribbons in Frontlines and Conquest will count double!

Battlefield 2042 IFV’s - M3A3 Bradley & BMP-2

Developer comment: The changes to the Bradley and BMP-2 will affect the new additions to the Battlefield 2042 roster, and do not include the versions usable in Portal.

• Added a new slot for both vehicles to open up the possibility to mix and match different loadouts.
• Added visual effects for systemic damage on the IFVs.
• Improved visibility of driver first-person views when second seat gunner rotates.
• Both vehicles are now using a 4 seat configuration down from 6, in order to better fit in the category they are set in.
• IFVs armor-piercing shell now penetrates the dozer shield.
• The primary cannon of the IFV's velocity increased by 10%.
• Increased damage of armor-piercing shell vs Soldier body.
• Various abilities have been moved between slots to allow for specific vehicle builds.
• Added active protection system for both IFVs.
• Added thermal weapons for passengers of the IFVs.
• Updated the mesh along with various other changes to the art for the Bradley and BMP to better fit in with the Battlefield 2042 world.
• Added coax weapon and mesh for the Bradley.
• Additional abilities and weapons:
  • Shared loadout
    • Primary: 25mm cannon
    • Secondary weapons:
      • New to Bradley: Coax machine gun, Guided missile, APFSDS-T Sabot Shells
      • TOW

    • Gunner:
      • New: HMG with Thermal scope.
      • HMG

    • Equipment slot 1:
      • Thermal Smoke Package
      • Active Armor
      • Improved warhead

    • Equipment slot 2:
      • New: Repair System
      • New Active Protection System

    • Equipment slot 3:
      • New: Stealth Package
      • Quick reload - see balance changes below
      • Maintenance - see balance changes below
      • Proximity scan - tweaked version of previously electronic warfare package.

• Ability changes::
  • Improved warhead
    • Now deals 25% more damage on impact and blast damage. Developer comment: Previously was only on impact. This is to double down on the glass cannon build when configured with this ability.
    • Vehicle armor is now compromised when using this ability and will take more damage than usual. Developer comment: This also supplements the glass cannon build.
    • All weapons on the vehicle now benefit from this ability, not just primary weapons.

  • Stealth Package
    • New: Now hides the vehicle from most spotting attempts.
    • New: Hides the vehicle from thermal optics.
    • Lock on weapons take longer to lock on to the vehicle - same functionality players know from Thermal Camo in Portal.

  • Maintenance
    • Shortens the time it takes for the natural health regen to kick in, it repairs the vehicle at a higher rate and it also applies on each systemic damage of vehicle so broken system will be back online quicker.

  • Quick Reload Package
    • It now applies on all vehicle weapons (previously only applied on primary weapons), weapons such as the COAX that do not use a reload or replenish will instead have a longer up time before reaching overheat threshold.

  • Active Armor
    • It applies on both vehicle armor and each system, requiring all vehicle systems to take additional damage before breaking.

  • Guided Missile
    • Added the possibility to fire and lock on after in order to open up opportunities for new gameplay moments. Developer comments: We will monitor this change and evaluate its impact going forward.

• Increased impact damage of primary cannon from 32 to 48
• Improved mobility on both IFV’s, it should now be easier to move from stand still position and turning at various speeds.
• Added new minimap and in world icon for the IFVs.
• Guided missiles fired by the IFV will no longer lock on air vehicles, unless a teammate designates the air vehicle.
• Updated the distance and angle locking criteria for the guided missiles on IFVs.
• Proximity scan now has a 20m radius and functions for both infantry and explosives.
• Updated FoV for IFVs’ passengers.
• Improved zoom view on the IFV to be compatible with other Battlefield 2042 vehicles.
• IFVs now use the same material and damage model as other vehicles of the same type.
• The M3A3 Bradley now has zoom on the port weapons.
• Updated camera position and aim constraints on all seats for both new IFVs.
• Fixed an issue that shots with steep angles wouldn’t deal consistent damage.
• Added new UI elements for the guided missile of the IFVs to support their behavior and readability.
• Added new impact hit audio elements depending on which ability is equipped for the IFVs to help readability.
  • For example, when using Improved Warhead, your vehicle has less armor than usual, therefore damage sounds will be more noticeable.

• Missile arm activates when using both tow or guided missiles.
• Improved flying characteristics of tow and guided missiles on IFVs.
• Added new icons for passive abilities.
• Added landing boosters for the IFVs when called in via the call-ins menu.
• Added BMP-2 and Bradley to the end of round screen.
• Updated position of camera when applying cosmetics on Bradley and BMP-2
• Added a vignette for the port weapons for a better presentation of the seat that is occupied.
• New mesh for the Active Protection System to fit the new colors of the vehicle.
• Removed smoke from the IFV and replaced it with thermal smoke ability.
• Disabled neutral steering for IFVs, stopping them from moving forward when steering.
• IFVs primary ammo increased from 6 to 8.
• Primary cannon and Armor Piercing shells no longer use the same ammo pool like the Portal variant. Instead, they work as primary and secondary weapons, separately.
• Increased base impact damage of primary cannon from 32 to 48.
• Health regen on IFVs have been updated to be identical with other vehicles of the same class on 2042 AOW.

Vehicles

• Added insertion cinematic for the Pondhawk.
• Fixed an issue where the 9k22 Tunguska laser designation UI would overlap.
• Fixed an issue where certain vehicle hints would remain on screen when they should not.
• Improvement to suspension and other driving simulations to help lessen the frequency of getting stuck to other objects in the world.
• Fixed an issue where vehicle hints would show up as unassigned under certain circumstances.
• Updated various elements of first person view screen effects that are applied on vehicles, reducing vibrancy and causing a more grounded feel when in first person.
• Half track wheel on Portal is now included as systemic damage.

Helicopters

• Fixed an issue where AI soldiers did not use Repair System abilities when deploying on the UH-60 Helicopter.
• Stealth Helicopters suppressed gunner weapon no longer spots the vehicle.

Characters & Gadgets

• Fixed an issue where custom colors selections (enemy, team, quad, and self-color options) did not apply on icons and gadget lights.
• Added persistence logic to the M67 Grenade (BF3)
• Fixed an issue where the Spawn Beacon color would not update after changing squad correctly.
• Updated tutorial video for Angel loadout crate.
• Fixed an issue with SRAW not getting resupplied when revived by Irish.

Progression

• Vehicle Disabled XP now tells you which part of the vehicle was disabled.

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5 /10

Battlefield 2042

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First-Person Shooter

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OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Avg: 65 /100 Critics Rec: 32%

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Released

November 19, 2021

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence

Developer(s)

DICE, Criterion Games, Ripple Effect

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

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Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.

Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield's past and present.

This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.

Engine

Frostbite

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play

PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S and PS4 & Xbox One

Franchise

Battlefield

Platform(s)

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X

Genre(s)

First-Person Shooter

How Long To Beat

N/A

X|S Optimized

Yes

File Size Xbox Series

84 GB (June 2023)

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

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