How long will Battlefield 2042 Season 1 last?

Battlefield 2042‘s first season will run for 12 weeks, from its launch on June 9th until approximately September 1st, 2022.

Breaking Down the Battlefield 2042 Season 1 Battle Pass

The Season 1 Battle Pass brings 100 levels of rewards, including new Specialist Ewelina Lis and her signature weapon, two new vehicles, over 30 new weapon attachments, vehicle cosmetics, charms, takedowns, and more unlocks for players.

Here‘s an overview of some of the highlights:

• Ewelina Lis – New Specialist good for pushing with her vital sign scan and armor plates
• Rorsch Mk-4 – Powerful semi-auto grenade launcher secondary
• EBLC-RAM – Armored, fast personnel carrier with combat drone
• Polaris RZR – Dune buggy ideal for getting around Exposure map

While a decent content drop, many fans hoped for more weapons and maps from Battlefield 2042‘s first season.

How Does Battlefield 2042‘s Live Service Compare?

Looking across the industry, Battlefield 2042‘s live service pace has been slower than other top titles:

Battlefield 2042 was criticized at launch for limited content, making the delayed season especially disappointing for retained players eager for new maps.

The Exposure map and Specialist Lis are welcome additions, but many hoped for at least 2-3 maps in the first season based on past Battlefield games and competitor live service offerings.

Reception & Player Counts: Signs of Renewal or More Trouble?

Steam player counts got a boost since Season 1 launched on June 9th, up about 15% over the past 30 days. But the concurrent player peak of 15,272 on June 11th represents under 10% of the 193k all-time peak at launch per SteamCharts.

Review sentiment has also improved slightly, though remains "Mostly Negative" on Steam. Battlefield 2042 now has a 49% positive review score compared to under 20% positive shortly after launch when refund requests were widespread.

So while Season 1 has provided a modest bump, Battlefield 2042 remains well below its sales expectations. It may need more breakthrough content in Season 2 and beyond to regain significant interest.

What‘s Ahead in Season 2 & Year 2?

In their latest "Battlefield Briefing", EA DICE revealed their development roadmap for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023.

Plans include:

• New map and Specialist in Season 2
• Continued updates to maps, weapons, vehicles, UI, and core systems
• New seasonal model next year with 4 seasons again

While details are still limited, they reaffirmed their commitment to keep improving Battlefield 2042 through future content.

Can Battlefield 2042 Recover in Year 2 and Beyond?

Industry analysts suggest Battlefield 2042 missed sales projections by over 5 million units as of early 2022. Without a major rebound, EA may have to reconsider the traditional Battlefield model.

Insider Tom Henderson tweeted concerns about hardcore fans leaving and possible shifts to free-to-play or a low-priced "revival" title for the franchise.

Still through all the criticism, Battlefield retains a loyal following eager for its large-scale sandbox warfare. If EA provides solid content updates, it‘s possible for Battlefield 2042 player counts to continue improving.

But with titles like Warzone 2 and a new Call of Duty planned for 2023, keeping up in the competitive shooter market will remain an uphill battle.

The Verdict: Cautious Optimism on Season 1

Battlefield 2042 Season 1 brings relevant changes but may not be the breakthrough fans hoped for after the game‘s problematic launch state. Steady but slow live service improvements show EA‘s support for redemption, however retention remains an open question.

As both a passionate Battlefield player and gaming industry analyst, I suggest cautious optimism. Core fans have stuck through ups and downs with the franchise before.

With EA committing to 4 total seasons in year 1, Battlefield 2042 has an opportunity to continue evolving. Player feedback will ultimately determine if it becomes an impressive comeback story or another multiplayer miss.