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Battlefield 2042: Ranking Reworked Launch Maps

Last Updated: November 10, 2025

Battlefield 2042 map comparison after rework.

When Battlefield 2042 deployed in late 2021, it did so with unprecedented ambition. Its seven launch maps were colossal arenas, engineered from the ground up to support the series-first 128-player battles on new-gen consoles and PC. This leap in scale introduced awe-inspiring landscapes, from the frozen shores of Antarctica to the sand-swept skyscrapers of Qatar. However, this ambition came at a cost. The initial community response highlighted significant design issues: vast, empty spaces between objectives, a critical lack of infantry cover, and gameplay flow that often felt disjointed.

The story of these maps, however, did not end at launch. In one of the most significant post-launch undertakings in the series' history, developer DICE systematically reworked every single one of these seven battlegrounds. Responding directly to player feedback, the team added cover, altered terrain, moved objectives, and dramatically tightened the combat experience. This article provides a definitive ranking and deep dive into Battlefield 2042's launch maps, not as they were, but as they are today—fully reworked and refined.

Ranking the Reworked Launch Maps: From Good to Transformed

Evaluating these maps requires looking at both their original concept and the success of their eventual overhaul. Here is our ranking of the seven launch maps in their final, reworked state.

1. Manifest

Manifest was arguably the strongest map at launch and remains a fan favorite. Set in a dense Singaporean shipping port at night, its tight lanes, verticality from cranes, and chaotic maze of shipping containers have always provided a fantastic playground for infantry combat.

  • Launch Issues: While structurally sound, the original map suffered from poor lighting in some areas, making visibility a problem. Certain objectives, especially atop the cranes, heavily favored snipers and were difficult to attack.
  • The Rework (Season 4): The overhaul was more of a refinement than a complete reimagining. DICE improved the lighting across the board for better clarity, removed some of the difficult-to-assault crane objectives, and adjusted flag layouts to create a more balanced flow between the port and the central command ship.
  • Final Verdict: An excellent map made even better. Manifest's focused design proves that a well-structured environment is just as important as scale, and its rework polished it to a mirror shine.

2. Orbital

Known for its dramatic, world-altering rocket launch event, Orbital has always been a visual spectacle. Set at a launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, it offered a mix of vehicle-friendly open terrain and tighter infantry spaces around its crawlerway and assembly building.

  • Launch Issues: The primary complaint was the "running simulator" feel between key points of interest. The terrain connecting the launchpad, the assembly building, and the crawlerway was sparse, leaving infantry dangerously exposed.
  • The Rework (Season 3): This was a significant overhaul. The map was given a more war-torn aesthetic, with craters, destroyed fortifications, and trenches now connecting the major objectives. This dramatically improved infantry flow and provided much-needed cover, turning the long sprints into intense, tactical advances.
  • Final Verdict: The rework transformed Orbital from a stunning but sometimes frustrating map into a consistently engaging battlefield. The spectacle of the rocket now complements a much tighter and more enjoyable gameplay loop.

3. Renewal

Renewal's unique "Tale of Two Cities" design, split by a massive wall separating a lush agricultural sector from an arid research facility, was a fascinating concept from day one.

  • Launch Issues: The wall, while visually striking, created severe choke points. The open fields on the green side and the sparse layout of the desert side made crossing between objectives a perilous affair.
  • The Rework (Season 2): The update addressed these issues head-on. Breaches were blown into the wall, creating new flanking routes. More cover was added to both biomes, including revamped structures and military outposts, breaking up the long sightlines and giving infantry a fighting chance.
  • Final Verdict: The rework helped Renewal fully realize its potential. The two distinct combat zones now flow together more naturally, offering varied tactical scenarios that make crossing the wall a strategic decision rather than a death sentence.

4. Breakaway

The largest map in Battlefield history at launch, Breakaway’s Antarctic setting, with its colossal oil rig and frozen shoreline, was visually breathtaking.

  • Launch Issues: Its sheer size was its biggest enemy. The primary objectives—the oil rig and the main research station—were located so far apart that they felt like two separate maps, with a vast, empty expanse of ice in between.
  • The Rework (Season 6): The solution was bold and effective: the oil rig was moved significantly closer to the coastline. This single change condensed the battlefield, eliminated the excessive travel times, and created a more cohesive combat area where all objectives felt relevant and connected.
  • Final Verdict: Breakaway’s rework was a masterclass in trimming the fat. By preserving the map's identity while dramatically improving its pacing and flow, DICE turned an impressive but impractical map into a genuinely fun and dynamic battlefield.

5. Discarded

Set in a ship graveyard in Alang, India, Discarded offered a unique environment of beached, colossal vessels. The concept was strong, promising intense fights inside and between the decaying hulls.

  • Launch Issues: The map suffered from awkward sightlines and poorly defined combat zones. The space between the ships was often too open, while the interiors could be confusing to navigate.
  • The Rework (Season 5): The rework focused on creating clearer frontlines. New pathways, military fortifications, and tons of extra cover were added to the open areas, guiding the flow of combat. The interiors of the ships were also adjusted to promote more intuitive infantry battles.
  • Final Verdict: The rework gave Discarded a much-needed sense of purpose. The action is now more concentrated and legible, allowing the map’s fantastic aesthetic to shine alongside improved gameplay.

6. Kaleidoscope

An urban map set in Songdo, South Korea, Kaleidoscope was the poster child for the launch maps' problems. Its pristine skyscrapers and wide-open central park felt sterile and were incredibly hostile to infantry.

  • Launch Issues: A near-total lack of cover in the central areas, flat terrain, and long, undefended distances between objectives made it a sniper's paradise and an infantryman's nightmare.
  • The Rework (Update 1.2): As the first map to be reworked, Kaleidoscope’s update set the standard. DICE scarred the landscape with trenches, added military fortifications and destroyed vehicles for cover, raised terrain to create hills, and relocated flags to more defensible positions.
  • Final Verdict: The transformation was night and day. While it may not be the most beloved map in the rotation, the rework turned Kaleidoscope from an unplayable mess into a functional and often enjoyable urban battlefield. It stands as a testament to how profoundly the rework initiative improved the game.

7. Hourglass

Located in Doha, Qatar, this vast desert map was infamous at launch. Its centerpiece city, besieged by an encroaching sandstorm, was visually stunning but almost completely disconnected from the rest of the map.

  • Launch Issues: Hourglass was the epitome of excessive scale. The distance between the stadium, the city, and the village was immense, filled with empty, featureless desert that made traversal a chore and combat sporadic.
  • The Rework (Season 6): The rework was the most drastic of all. DICE essentially cut the map in half, removing the massive empty desert and moving the city skyscrapers and stadium complex right next to the village. A new road and better cover now connect all points, creating a far more focused and action-packed layout.
  • Final Verdict: The Hourglass rework saved the map from being almost universally disliked. By surgically removing the elements that didn't work, DICE created a cohesive and engaging experience that honors the original's aesthetic while delivering on the promise of intense desert warfare.

The Great Rework Initiative: A New Blueprint for Battlefield

The initial set of maps in Battlefield 2042 represented a bold but flawed vision. The journey from their controversial launch state to their current, refined versions charts the redemption arc of the game itself. The development team’s commitment to listening to player feedback and systematically addressing core design issues of scale, cover, and flow was instrumental in evolving the gameplay experience. These reworks ensured that the battlefields of 2042 finally delivered the engaging, dynamic combat scenarios players expected from the franchise.

Frequently Asked Questions About Battlefield 2042 Maps

How many maps did Battlefield 2042 launch with?

Battlefield 2042 launched with seven All-Out Warfare maps: Breakaway, Manifest, Renewal, Orbital, Discarded, Kaleidoscope, and Hourglass.

Why were the original launch maps so controversial?

The maps were designed for 128 players, leading to an unprecedented sense of scale. However, this often resulted in vast, open areas with insufficient cover, long travel times between objectives, and a gameplay flow that left infantry players feeling vulnerable and disengaged from the action.

Have all the Battlefield 2042 launch maps been updated?

Yes. In a major post-launch initiative spanning multiple seasons, DICE reworked all seven of the original maps. The reworks began with Kaleidoscope in Update 1.2 and concluded with Breakaway and Hourglass in Season 6.

Are the reworked maps better than the originals?

The overwhelming consensus from the player community is that the reworked maps are a massive improvement. The changes directly addressed the core complaints by adding significant cover, improving objective placement, and condensing the play space to create more consistent action and better tactical flow.