Will Battlefield 2042 Get Its Biggest Discount After the Next Battlefield?

Let’s talk straight: Battlefield 2042 has had one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the series. From a rocky debut to years of patches, reworks, a return to a more classic class setup, and seasonal content that actually lands, the game today is meaningfully different from what launched. Large-scale sandboxes, modern gadgets, chaos that feels directed rather than random—there’s a lot to like if you’re into high-agency team play. But the question on so many minds right now is simple and practical: will the price take a serious dip once the next Battlefield arrives? Publishers almost always recalibrate their catalog when a flagship successor is on deck, and EA is no exception. Discounts, subscription pushes, free weekends, bundle experiments—these moves tend to cluster around a new installment’s reveal and launch windows. If you’re weighing a purchase, timing it well can save money while still letting you ride the renewed player wave that tends to appear before and after a successor is announced.

Main Part

To predict what happens to Battlefield 2042’s price, look at the franchise’s past. Battlefield 1 and Battlefield V both slid from premium tags to deep discounts as their tails matured, with repeat lows during major seasonal sales. On PC storefronts, big EA shooters often settle into a pattern: modest cuts during routine promos, then aggressive slashes for publisher events, summer and winter blowouts on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store, and platform-specific festival deals on PlayStation and Xbox. The floor in late-cycle years frequently lands in the single to low double digits, especially for standard editions. Console storefronts typically follow suit but sometimes lag a sale or two compared to PC. Factor in regional pricing and tax differences, and you’ll see slightly different absolute numbers, but the same trajectory. Crucially, reveal campaigns for the next entry tend to trigger a visibility spike for the previous title, which publishers convert into conversion with a sharper discount, so the timing around trailers, deep-dive showcases, or pre-order beats matters.

Subscriptions already complicate the pricing picture—and tilt it in your favor. Battlefield 2042 is in EA Play, which means it’s also accessible to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members through the EA Play catalog. If you’re subscription-flexible, this is already the cheapest path to try the full game and decide whether you want to own it outright later. We’ve also seen publishers run temporary upgrade promos that make Deluxe or Ultimate add-ons inexpensive, letting existing players lock in cosmetics and past season content for a fraction of the day-one cost. Physical copies can further depress prices on console once retailers clear inventory ahead of a new series entry; pre-owned shelves often undercut digital storefronts by a healthy margin, particularly after a new game’s marketing cycle heats up. Layer on periodic free weekends, double XP events, or a content “redux” that spotlights the best maps and modes, and you get the classic trifecta that precedes a step-change in the sticker price.

So, what practical milestones should you watch? First, the official reveal of the next Battlefield—name notwithstanding—will likely be paired with a spotlight on franchise value. Expect a sale during or immediately after the reveal week, potentially 60–80% off the standard edition on PC, with console cuts in the same ballpark or slightly less aggressive. Second, the lead-up to a playable teaser or open beta for the new entry is another high-probability window for a sale and a free-to-play weekend for 2042, designed to reignite interest and funnel lapsed players back into the ecosystem. Third, launch month for the new game often ushers in the steepest discounts for the prior entry, alongside bundles or cross-promotions that pitch the older game as a low-cost on-ramp. If you only care about All-Out Warfare and core modes, the standard edition during one of these beats will usually hit a near-historic low; if you want cosmetic packs and prior season unlocks, watch for edition upgrade promos that quietly deliver the best overall value.

Conclusion

Here’s the bottom line. If you can play via EA Play or a Game Pass tier that includes it, jump in now and treat ownership as optional; you’ll gain a feel for the current sandbox and can still scoop a deep discount later if you want permanence. If you prefer to own, add Battlefield 2042 to your wishlists on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Store, and set alerts on price-tracker sites so you catch the first major cut tied to the next Battlefield’s reveal. Historically, that window is where prices move from “nice sale” to “no-brainer,” and it tends to repeat around beta and launch. On console, keep an eye on retailer clearance and pre-owned pricing, which can undercut digital. Finally, don’t worry that a successor will erase the present game overnight; populations often surge during promos, cross-progression keeps your time invested, and server support typically persists through at least a full cycle. Patience, watchfulness, and a subscription safety net are your best tools to land the sweet spot between price and playtime.