This, honestly. When I read it was Ex-Dice devs I got really excited after seeing how 2042 landed and developed. I've played it a bit but it sort of feels like it has an identity issue. The destruction of Battlefield without the expansive maps, with the movement of COD without its plethora of weapons or weapon costumization, marketed towards both. It's got pizzazz and all, but that wears off quick.
Playing The Finals makes me wish Bad Company was still alive, or that 2042 wasn't so shit.
I never felt that the game has low playerbase my queue is pretty fast almost all day, but I can see the microtranscation been not so great, if your game lacks waifu material nobody buy cosmetics.