The Battlefield community is enthusiastically applauding developer DICE for incorporating a beloved Battlefield 3 meme reference into Battlefield 2042's concluding Battle Pass. On August 18th, the studio delivered an unexpected major update that not only introduced fresh content but also a complimentary Battle Pass designed to honor the franchise's rich history leading up to the highly anticipated Battlefield 6 release.

Despite Battlefield 2042's controversial launch reception, players are returning to the 2021 title to prepare for Battlefield 6's October 10th debut. The substantial excitement surrounding the new installment has prompted DICE to leverage this momentum through 2042's 'Road to Battlefield 6' Battle Pass, available until October 7th. This free pass offers 50 rewards, with 30 carrying over to Battlefield 6 at launch, serving as a celebration of the series' various eras without shying away from its historical imperfections.

The Battle Pass rewards pay tribute to iconic series entries including Battlefield 1, Battlefield V, Bad Company 2, Battlefield 3, and Battlefield 4 through player cards, weapon charms, vehicle skins, and other collectibles. One particular reward has captured community attention—a callback to the legendary Battlefield 3 'long neck soldier' meme. Originally stemming from a hilarious visual glitch that elongated a soldier's neck to absurd proportions, this became one of gaming's most memorable bugs, now immortalized in Battlefield 2042's final tribute.

The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with players expressing admiration for DICE's surprise update. However, not all aspects of patch 9.2.0 received universal acclaim. Alongside the new map, vehicles, and Battle Pass, the update introduced two weapons: the Lynx Sniper Rifle and KFS2000 Assault Rifle. The sniper rifle in particular has drawn significant criticism from players who describe it as potentially 'the worst Sniper Rifle in the game' due to its problematic bullet spread mechanics.

Despite previous negative reviews, Battlefield fans are returning to 2042 to experience the new content. Following the update's release, Battlefield 2042's player count surged to over 20,000 concurrent players on Steam—the game's highest numbers in over a year. While this doesn't match the 500,000+ players who participated in Battlefield 6's open beta, it represents a significant resurgence for the title. With the free pass offering substantial Battlefield 6 rewards, these final months could provide a positive conclusion to Battlefield 2042's journey.