In March 2026, EA confirmed that Battlefield Hardline will be delisted and its servers shut down. This adds more pressure to a franchise already facing player skepticism. Battlefield 2042 has a mere 44% positive rating from 132,904 Steam reviews, marking one of the lowest approval ratings in the series’ history.
Currently, Battlefield 2042 has just 1,423 concurrent players on Steam. That’s a far cry from its launch numbers. The game hit the market in November 2021 but faced heavy criticism for missing features, bugs, and a simplified class system that turned away longtime fans.
Since then, EA and DICE have made significant updates to 2042. They reintroduced traditional class roles and revamped specialists. These changes did improve some reviews, but they haven’t attracted a large player base. A 44% score on Steam, where most games usually exceed 70%, shows deep-rooted doubts that patches alone can resolve.
The announcement about Hardline’s shutdown fits into EA’s trend of retiring older Battlefield titles to streamline resources. Developed by Visceral Games and released in 2015, Hardline was already operating on minimal server support. Its 2026 delisting removes yet another option from the franchise’s playable catalog, limiting choices for players looking for alternatives to 2042.
Battlefield 2042 is currently priced at $59.99 on Steam. That’s a full triple-A price for a game with fewer than 1,500 active players. This high price creates a barrier for newcomers considering the franchise, especially with a new Battlefield title reportedly in development at DICE.
| Steam Review Score | 44% positive |
| Total Steam Reviews | 132,904 |
| Current Steam Players | 1,423 |
| Current Steam Price | $59.99 |
| Battlefield Hardline Shutdown | 2026 (confirmed) |
The community’s feelings about the game are mixed. One Steam reviewer, who has spent a lot of time in the game, noted that “BF2042 currently still offers a solid, visually impressive first-person shooter experience, with improvements that addressed many of its early flaws.” However, they also mentioned that “it still may feel challenging for beginners.” This is an important point for a game trying to win back its audience. Even fans recognize that the game still has its rough patches.
What To Watch
- Next Battlefield reveal timing: EA has indicated that a new Battlefield entry is on the way. Any trailer or announcement about the release window will give clear insight into whether the franchise can restore its reputation with core fans.
- Hardline server shutdown fallout: Keep an eye on whether EA provides any compensation or incentives for players still on Hardline before the 2026 cutoff. How the company handles this shutdown will set the tone for how they manage 2042’s eventual end-of-life.
- Steam player count trajectory: If 2042’s concurrent player count falls below 1,000 before the next Battlefield reveal, EA could face challenges in marketing the new title as a revival of the franchise.
