EA returns to Battlefield 2142

Northern Strike booster pack announced for futuristic first-person shooter; new maps, vehicles, and unlockables await players.

Sky rockets in flight...

In a brief posting on the official Battlefield 2142 Web site, Electronic Arts has announced that it is prepping a Northern Strike booster pack for its sci-fi first-person shooter. The booster pack will include three new maps, new vehicles, and 10 new unlockables for players to earn.

As the name implies, Battlefield 2142 is set more than a century in the future, after an unexpected ice age renders most of Earth uninhabitable. The surviving population battles over the remaining land that can sustain life with high-tech mechs and other futuristic weaponry. Northern Strike will see the original game's conflict stretch into the frozen wastelands of Europe.

The company is expected to announce more details about the booster pack tomorrow, along with a trailer showing gameplay on one of the new maps. No release date has been announced, but the game will enter a closed beta test soon.

96 Comments

  • malmeid2

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 9:48 am PT

    Don't get too excited... this is, after all, EA. I'd love for EA to prove that prior statement wrong, but they have yet to do so...

  • capthunt

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 6:26 am PT

    This will be just as lame as the BF2 booster packs. Though i have to admit only one map was worth playing imo in Euro Forces. I never bought it, but i got thte chance to play the maps. They cant even smooth things out and they're adding a new mode and maps. Titan mode is still f***ed up. This news just disgusts me. This is why i went back to BF2.

  • STARS_Splinter

    Posted Jan 21, 2007 11:28 pm PT

    Miracle_Air- or maybe people could be entitled to their own opinions? Yes, the game is fun. But it still has problems lingering over from launch, and a new booster pack isn't likely to correct those- just make a few more of its own.

  • Miracle_Air

    Posted Jan 21, 2007 11:27 am PT

    EXACTLY what I have been waiting for.

    Hopefully the new maps will be Titan maps, I'm getting somewhat sick of seeing Sidi Power Plant and Verdun as the top played maps.

    And ten new unlockables shows promise, let's hope it's something to do with primary weapon mods or seconday weapon replacements.

    EDIT: Hey everyone, I think I can summarize just about EVERY single post made on this news article!

    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    Good lord people, either make a comment that is useful or just shut the hell up. You guys are ALL WAY too demanding.

    The game is FUN, is that not ENOUGH for all you little whiners?

  • Digital-Devil

    Posted Jan 20, 2007 11:07 pm PT

    Can't we just go back to battlefield 2 insted?....

  • Koal_Jadian

    Posted Jan 20, 2007 10:43 pm PT

    The people who work in EA really need to re-consider their growth strategies and marketing plans, if they want respect of consumers and to have long-term success t hey cannot keep f-ing around by backstabbing customers, over-charging and not servicing any of their incomplete or rushed games.

    I am not ever going to buy a mini-update for any EA product. The game is small enough as it is with a retardedly low amount of gameplay having so few maps and variety. You should continuall be adding free content through updates and listening to the community...retards!

  • AfterAscon

    Posted Jan 20, 2007 8:45 am PT

    Oh well and here's me recently uninstalling it the other day, this is no real incentive to load it up again.

  • STARS_Splinter

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 11:10 pm PT

    I'd rather they just patched the problems that are *STILL* plaguing what is otherwise an excellent game, rather than release some money-spinning boosters.

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 10:03 pm PT

    it's games like these that make me want to upgrade my graphics card.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 8:14 pm PT

    I want expansion packs not booster ones..think i'll pass this one

  • Swiftstrike5

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 6:09 pm PT

    EA is the only company I know of that 90% of their leaders would fail an IQ test...

  • ssiebern

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 4:53 pm PT

    I wish EA would END the booster packs and just go back to Expansion packs. PROBLEMS with BOOSTER PACKS are most servers out there won't run them. Look at Battlefield 2 Booster Packs, there are hardly any servers running them. EA stop this stupidity. I want Expansion Packs with like 6 or more maps with the added vehicles and unlocks!!!!!!!!

  • jakob_187

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 4:43 pm PT

    Grrr.....as always, some words of wisdom:

    EA's "booster pack" idea is stupid. EA Link is stupid. I work at a PC gaming center, where we have LICENSING WITH EA, and they are of no help in getting something like this working correctly. Hell, since we installed 2142, it's gone down and stopped working at least once a week! PLUS, it causes problems with our copies of Battlefield 2 to read, which means we then have to restart any computer...and when you have 32 people playing BF2...that becomes a bit of a chore.

    While the game may seem to work fine for private use, we pay money to EA for their games, and when we can't even get their help to ensure that their product is working properly, this becomes an issue. Moreover, their patches never seem to do much good. 2142 is an absolutely incredible game experience, but I hate how EA is handling their stuff.

    As for this "booster pack"...we've never carried Euro Force or Armored Fury on our computers because A. they were never that popular and B. because the process of getting them working was too much of a hassle. Now with EA Link, EA continues to make their games extremely user-unfriendly. If anyone has had to install 2142, then you can understand.

  • Zieron

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    :,( I love BF2142, I think its the best of the series and yes I own every Battle Field game. (I hate to say it but even BF:Vietnam) I dont really understand where the hell all this flameing is comeing from, I mean I can understand the usual person that has never played it saying, "OMG INGAME ADDS!!! AND THEY CHANGE THEM!!! AND THEY SEE HOW LONG YOU LOOK AT THEM!!!! OMG ADWARE!!!11!!oneone!!111!one!" Also I will admit there is a few bugs like with the knife and the menu not refreshing it self and showing you 10 rounds worth of play magically instantly recorded and sent to you when you hit escape. But honestly where is all this fire comeing from? Its not the end of BF2's carrer, BAD COMPANY? Hello hasn't anyone heard of it? Anyways Im getting this regardless $10 twice in 1 year for new content is better then getting a $20 game then getting a $40 expansion pack, then on top of that paying $15 a month just to play the game, you all know what Im talking about. But the new stuff in this looks awsome regardless.

  • buruburu

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 3:11 pm PT

    If only EA would hold the games past their self imposed deadlines, include the packs instead of add on$, and ironed out the bugs before releasing these things.

    Anyone else experiencing BF website irregularities? Don't they do a dry run on website updates? (tabs at top of page) Safari and Firefox are not digesting the new website well. I've cued it as being an apple incompatibility of some sort...??? The XP unit runs the BF portal website fine.

  • buruburu

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 3:06 pm PT

    Nobody bought into paying to advertise in BF 2142, so that failed. The billboards only have EA or BF2142 ads. The game is highly buggy.
    The core BF2142 needs many patch projects to the core game first (Dice). Northern Stroke ...rrr. Strike is only available via EA's Link download service. (the plan so far, they say)

    How do you explain the BF2 expansion packs are $9.99 via EA Link, but the hard copy DVD bundle @ a store, of both packs are for $16.99??? Is it more expensive to maintain the servers than media+box+ink+shipping+manual+retail-middlemen's cut....? You can't expect BF2 to forever get more packs... The walls in BF2142 need the characteristics rewritten, or is it the BF engine?

    What will NS cost? !nothing??

    Some professional polish on the menu in 2142 would have been appreciated. (ie: a soldier default unlock arrangement preference or option to enable; aka: save unlocks to profile as default when start'n app. Maintaining the ability to change the unlocks when desired.) DICE? EA?

  • gamecube120

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 2:04 pm PT

    BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

    EA launches massive self-destruct program on every purchased copy of BF2...while BF 2142 gets 20 new booster packs.

    -- wow I dunno about you guys, but I didn't see that sh*t coming?!?!

  • BradW92

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 1:58 pm PT

    Cause i wasnt expecting that *sarcastic sigh*...this game was applaing anyway...great way to fek up BF, EA

  • McLarenXIX

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 1:23 pm PT

    oh!! not again!!! the devil

  • nappan

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 11:48 am PT

    I can't say that I care. This game was the end of the BF series for me. If I want BF, then BF2 is just as good (minus the pepsi logos). Maybe when EA puts out a real BF sequel I'll give a **** again.

  • DezmoTk

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 11:32 am PT

    Seriously just patch the game, with the individual boosters theres hardly any servers for them...

  • 09n

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 11:16 am PT

    Sounds like fun. Hope it has some nice ice and snow effects.
    But I don't want to have to download it, cant cope with virtual property.

  • farcryxbox

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 10:18 am PT

    i hope it comes on a cd

  • Slayer420

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 10:14 am PT

    Nothing like running around a city map and seeing a billboard for Future Weapons on Discovery channel.

  • Gruug

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 9:57 am PT

    All I can say is that I hope these aren't digital download only like the BF2 booster were to start. And, hope they plan to patch the game BEFORE they release the booster pack. If not, I won't be buying.

  • GamingDisgrace

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 9:55 am PT

    And little do their know that they're choking the game's fanbase by releasing these useless expansions. It didn't work in BF2, what makes them think it'll work now? Any normal company would've released this as a patch, further enticing people who haven't bought the base game. "Booster packs" just remind me of Pokemon cards and scaring away new customers.

  • GFofgaming

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 9:52 am PT

    Yeah BF 2 was the best, 2142 made it alot unrealistic, and also it contains more or less the same # of bugs that BF 2 has.

  • darkdaej

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 9:13 am PT

    Merl57: as for in game advertising, i dont see any myself, so i couldn't care less. and besides, almost all developpers sell booster packs or additionnal stuff. praise epic games for free stuff, but they're the only ones

  • Merl57

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 8:32 am PT

    i hate you EA. Why dont you just sell the booster packs and expansions together. This way you are just robbing us. The in game advertising is enough. Dice should have said goodbye EA but I guess money was too attractive.

  • capthunt

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 7:20 am PT

    I dont know....BF2142 alone was a big letdown. Im staying with BF2 until they come out with another modern warfare BF game

  • Sieg_Jackal

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 7:05 am PT

    thats it, i'm selling this/giving it to anyone that can run this properly

  • thestrateger

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 7:03 am PT

    man i hate the game battlefield 2142, and i hate the all series of battlefield

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 6:40 am PT

    Booster packs again...

  • Autokiller

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 6:32 am PT

    man i hate these "booster packs"

  • sixty7velle

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 6:09 am PT

    Those greedy bastards! Why the hell won't they just make improvements and stuff like this for BF2. It's SOO much better of a game. Then again it's EA.

  • lord-azrael

    Posted Jan 19, 2007 5:49 am PT

    they should just do the maps for free like Valve,then again EA love that money

  • Ironwulfen

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 10:59 pm PT

    No! For god's sake NO! They frikkin did it again! .... not another booster pack... make those god damn expansions instead, Dice!

  • skulldawg

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 10:40 pm PT

    lol

  • niftymatt490

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 8:47 pm PT

    I laugh at people who think this will be $30. This isn't an expansion pack, but a booster pack. They did the same thing with BF2. This will be $10-15 (most likely 10).

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 8:46 pm PT

    well too bad these weren't out before the gamespot tournament..it would have been interesting

  • The1stFishBone

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT

  • thunder350

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 7:49 pm PT

    Thats real real true doohuh.

  • doohuh

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 7:44 pm PT

    Well it has a WHOLE month since a new patch - so we have to give them some credit. But who gives a crap - we play this game because it's fun as hell. So we should just face the fact that they'll milk the cow for all it's worth.

  • kinger256

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 7:23 pm PT

    Dam its gonna be stupid buying this,..........

  • chicken_123_pie

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    I don't care what anyone else says but sweet. I actually haven't played this game since I got GoW but now I have some incentive.

  • Jumjalum

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 6:55 pm PT

    Screw EA, they wouldn't know how to take care of their customers if they were sent on a year long course entitled 'taking care of your customers'.

  • thunder350

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 6:40 pm PT

    So much for them saying, i quote, "We will not be thinking of adding new content until we get the game working" But as stated on the combat testing forums. *thats where EA test all their games* They making a expansion pack, and 2 boosters packs. This is the 1st booster :S YAY EA!

  • crunchb3rry

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 5:59 pm PT

    Might as well make all the money they can before getting banished into obscurity by Quake Wars.

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 5:17 pm PT

    Even though I'm a big fan of this game, I think this is a rip off, 3 new maps? Oh gee golly gosh that's a handful! My best guess on the number of vehicles would be two, the APC look-a-like (pictured in this news post) and the two-man hover craft.

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Jan 18, 2007 5:16 pm PT

    neato

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