Releasing a narrative film -- a short one at that -- to celebrate a multiplayer-only game might seem like a weird idea but when it is as good as the Michael K. Williams fronted effort for Battlefield 2042 you get a pass.
The short film, which was released today and watchable via YouTube, acts as a prequel to Battlefield 2042's story. Featuring Battlefield 4’s Kimble “Irish” Graves, now the commander of No-Pat vessel Exodus, the 9-minute film less tells a coherent story but instead features some pretty cool visuals and Williams going all-action, jumping off (and on) boats, blowing up helicopters and making a call for other "No-Pats" to join him in the oncoming war.
It's got many hyped and with the game nearing release, the only place all that hype can be satisfied is through pre-orders.
As is tradition with any big EA title there are a number of options for pre-ordering, with different exclusive content, bonuses and even release date depending on which edition you choose to purchase.
To help give you some clarity in this fog of war we have broken down each edition, how you can pre-order, and what you can expect from each in this Battlefield 2042 pre-order guide.
Battlefield 2042 - Editions
There are three editions and all can be pre-ordered from the EA website. Each edition is available on the game's supported hardware which includes PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The three editions are:
- Standard Edition
- Gold Edition
- Ultimate Edition
It should be noted that the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game allows for only 64 player games, instead of the 128 of the other platforms among other (graphical) changes, buying the game for these consoles is cheaper.
Pre-ordering any of the editions also gains you early access to the open beta.
Standard Edition
- Baku ACB-90 Epic Melee Takedown Knife
- "Mr. Chompy" Epic Weapon Charm
- "Landfall" Player Card Background and "Old Guard" Tag
Release date: 22nd October 2021
Gold Edition
- Early Access to Game Launch
- Baku ACB-90 Epic Melee Takedown Knife
- "Mr. Chompy" Epic Weapon Charm
- "Landfall" Player Card Background and "Old Guard" Tag
- Year 1 Pass: 4 New Specialists, 4 Battle Passes, 3 Epic Skin Bundles
- Cross-Gen Bundle
Release date: 15th October 2021
Ultimate Edition
- Early Access to Game Launch
- Baku ACB-90 Epic Melee Takedown Knife
- "Mr. Chompy" Epic Weapon Charm
- "Landfall" Player Card Background and "Old Guard" Tag
- Year 1 Pass: 4 New Specialists, 4 Battle Passes, 3 Epic Skin Bundles
- Cross-Gen Bundle
- Midnight Ultimate Bundle
- Official Digital Artbook
- Exclusive Digital Soundtrack
Release date: 15th October 2021
How can I pre-order?
Battlefield 2042 pre-orders can currently be made on the EA website and from the two console's stores.
Prices range from £59.99 for the Standard Edition (PS4/Xbox One) to £109.99 for the Ultimate Edition (PS5/Xbox X|S).
Being a member of EA Play gives you a 10% discount on your order, a discount available to players on PC or console.
Another way of getting your hands on the game is to sign up for EA Play Pro, only available to PC users and on Origin, the pricey EA Play Pro service (it costs £14.99/month or £89.99/year) will give you full access to the game from 15th October.