Community Reactions to Labs Gameplay
- Tom Belous (The Lanky Soldier)
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
This episode offers a candid, passionate discussion about community reactions, leaks, and game design ideas for Battlefield. It highlights the importance of balancing realism, fun, and innovation while respecting diverse player preferences. Tom and Andreas advocate for early feedback implementation, flexible mechanics, and inclusive representation, aiming to shape a game that appeals to both veterans and newcomers.
Featuring: Tom Belous (TheLankySoldier) & Andreas The German
Episode 32: Community Reactions to Labs Gameplay
Released on March 17, 2025
Length: 1 Hour & 36min
TIME STAMPS:
07:45 - Battlefield 2042 Event
14:49 - Battlefield Franchise
22:17 - New Playtest Leaks
40:29 - Community Reactions
50:35 - Classes
01:01:28 - Immersion
01:20:07 - Skill Based Matchmaking
QUOTES:
"Seek employment or get a new hobby."
"Video games are meant to be played by everyone."
"Until you play the game, until we play the game, I don't think we have any right to say how the gameplay feels regarding movement, guns, and everything."
HIGHLIGHTS:
Discussion on Battlefield 2042 Updates:
A new event called "War Machine" is live, featuring AI robots and new cosmetics.
Tom and Andreas express surprise and approval that EA is still updating 2042, viewing it as a sign of ongoing support.
They speculate that EA's continued updates might be to keep the franchise alive and prepare for the next game.
The current Steam sale offers 2042 at a heavily discounted price (€4.80), making it worth trying for new or returning players.
Leaked Community Info & Playtest Stats:
A new playtest is scheduled, with some community feedback being addressed on movement speed, gunplay, and immersion.
Stats show low revive rates (12%) and high use of RPGs (48%) for tanks.
Tom and Andreas discuss the importance of not overreacting to leaks and emphasize that many issues are still being refined.
Community & Developer Perspectives:
The community's reaction is mixed: appreciation for aesthetics but criticism of movement, gunplay, and UI elements like player outlines.
The hosts stress that the game is built on the foundation of Battlefield 2042, which influences current mechanics.
Tom and Andreas highlight that the game is still in early development, so many features and balance aspects are subject to change.
Class Design & Gameplay Mechanics:
Debate over the support class being similar to medic, with suggestions to separate ammo supply and healing into distinct classes.
Proposal to give assault more support capabilities like ammo boxes, while medic focuses solely on healing.
The importance of class synergy and balance is emphasized, with some support classes seen as less engaging.
Immersion & UI Discussions:
Many community comments focus on immersion, with debates over squad outlines, name tags, and UI clutter.
Tom and Andreas argue that features like outlines and name tags are not immersion-breaking and should be optional.
They criticize the obsession with realism in UI elements, emphasizing gameplay fun over strict realism.
Representation & Inclusivity:
Tom and Andreas dismiss complaints about women soldiers in the game, viewing it as normal representation.
They advocate for diversity and inclusivity, emphasizing that video games should be for everyone.
They criticize the idea that women or certain features are "immersion-breaking," calling such views outdated.
Community Attitudes & Personal Views:
Tom and Andreas express frustration with community complaints about realism, historical accuracy, and representation.
They emphasize that players should focus on enjoying the game rather than policing others' choices or beliefs.
Andreas' importance of not caring about others' opinions and just having fun is highlighted.
Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM):
Tom and Andreas discuss SBMM, criticizing it for being overly aggressive and detrimental to fun.
They suggest SBMM should be looser to allow for more casual, enjoyable gameplay.
They mention that SBMM can negatively impact player retention if too strict.
Personal & Miscellaneous:
The hosts share humorous anecdotes, including a tweet about NATO factions and customization options.
DOWNLOAD: Episode 32 Transcript
Download from Google Drive
Note: Transcripts are not fully accurate, as they were not fixed for accent & grammar mistakes
