Even with Battlefield 2042 and Battlefield V available, BF3 maintains a dedicated player base for several reasons:
The community created Venice Unleashed , a modding platform that allows for dedicated servers, high tick rates, and custom game modes, effectively keeping the game alive independently of official EA support. The Risks of the "Torrent" Route
The heart of Battlefield 3 is its 64-player online battles. Cracked or pirated versions typically restrict you to the mediocre single-player campaign, missing 90% of what makes the game special.
Searching for a torrent of a game that is frequently on sale for under $5 (or included in EA Play/Game Pass) carries significant risks: