Battlefield 2042 Update 3.1 Reworks Manifest Map, Adds New Vault Weapons, And Gameplay Improvements

Following their confirmation that Season 5 comes in 2023, DICE has launched Battlefield 2042's Update 3.1 for Season 3: Escalation. The patch reworks the Manifest map, adds new vault weapons for players to obtain, and gameplay improvements around reload animation and audio.

The focal point of the update focuses squarely on the Manifest revamp, in which the devs aim to make the zone "more streamlined" while offering "a tighter game space" for eager players. Changing Manifest also allowed DICE to "provide stronger themes to previously underutilized spaces." For example, they added flag spaces to reduce travel times so players could jump into combat faster while capturing points.

The new vault weapons: M416, M240B, and M93R are fan-favorite armaments from Battlefield 3. M416 is a light assault rifle with good damage at mid-range, M240B is a powerful machine gun that excels when mounted on a bipod, and the M93R is a burst-y sidearm with some devastating power up close. Unlocking these weapons requires players to achieve a number of kills within their family of guns.

Later in the patch notes, DICE explained that they improved the responsiveness around weapon deploy and un-deploy animations, aiming down sight, sprint traversal, and reduced the time around soldier movement speeds. Moreover, they've made the hit reactions from gunfire "more pronounced" to make the player shooting experience impactful.

DICE will start Battlefield 2042's Mid-Season Event in the coming weeks. According to their blog, it will occur over three weeks, each introducing a new set of cosmetics and modes for players to enjoy. Specific details on the event will be announced in the future.