Battlefield 2042 Season 3's new map, Spearhead, arrives November 22, and while it's a more subdued and cramped space than many explosive starter maps, it benefits from having a sharper focus and a year of trial and error behind it. . This week at EA/DICE's private press event, we got the chance to try out Spearhead and some of the new Season XNUMX sets in a military FPS game, and here are a few of our takeaways.
Set in the Swedish countryside, Spearhead has five capture zones in sequence along a stream. The rocky terrain provides natural descents and ascents for vantage points and cover, while the creek itself directs action along the paths along both sides. In the central and easternmost zones, there are large weapon complexes whose compartment doors open when you approach them.
This is a map specially made for the small rounds of Breakthrough and Conquest. Since all the zones are laid out in a line along the river, you are always either moving forward or retreating, with the ability to capture and hold one of the weapons facilities in zone C or E. These buildings offer plenty of cover and melee corridors (ideal environment for the new smart shotgun NVK-22), and since they are natural focal points, at least one of them is usually fought.
On the outside, I found that the narrow layout of the map encourages more natural team-building, especially when playing as a stormtrooper. As a reconnaissance specialist, I tried using the new Rorsch Mk-4 railgun to destroy enemy troops, which I spotted running along the opposite bank of the stream. The outbuildings near the factories and on the west side of the map are natural spots for patching and intense firefights in Breakthrough.
Spearhead will appeal to players who felt a little lost on some of Battlefield 2042's larger maps, such as Renewal, Hourglass or Kaleidoscope - all of which often feel like the action is taking place miles away from your position. Spearhead is a low-key, leaner, less vertical map than Season 2042's Exposure, and it's the first Battlefield XNUMX map that doesn't feature any over-the-top spectacle, be it an extreme weather event or a dramatic transformation in an action movie.
