The World of 2042 brought together the stories of Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, Battlefield 1, Battlefield V, and Battlefield 2142. Everything centered on the events leading up to - and including - the American-Russian War. While the story centers on the struggle of the Non-Patriated, it also sets up critical elements to the global landscape we see in 2142.
There's a distinct focus on duality. Duality of truth, of characters. It's this nuance that makes exploring this world fun and engaging.