Some of Battlefield 2042’s Portal mode could go free-to-play, it’s claimed

Electronic Arts is reportedly considering the possibility of making some of Battlefield 2042’s Portal mode free-to-play.

That’s according to journalist Tom Henderson, who has a strong track record with EA reporting.

He claims the publisher is very disappointed with the game’s performance since its November release and is exploring various options designed to salvage the situation, including offering free access to “a portion of Portal”.

Developed by Ripple Effect Studios (previously DICE LA) and described as “a love letter to Battlefield fans”, Portal lets players design their own match experiences by mixing maps and elements from past series entries with Battlefield 2042.

These experiences can be shared with the community through a web-based platform for both console and PC players.

One EA source reportedly told Henderson that Battlefield 2042’s other new mode, Hazard Zone, has only been attracting a few hundred players concurrently, and analysts suggested it lacks the depth required to convert free-to-play users into full game purchasers.

EA is expected to be grilled by analysts about Battlefield 2042’s performance and roadmap during its third quarter earnings call on February 1.

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Battlefield 2042’s next updates include stability improvements, a scoreboard refresh and XP adjustments

All-Out Warfare matchmaking preferences and voice chat are still on DICE’s radar too

During the company’s first quarter earnings call last August, CEO Andrew Wilson teased the introduction of “free to enter components” for the Battlefield series.

Battlefield 2042’s first update of the year was released last week. It included a handful of stability fixes and adjustments to how Portal players earn XP.

The game’s next update, which is planned for release in mid to late February, will include a refreshed scoreboard UI, among other features.