Summary
Electronic Arts has shared its first tease regarding the next iteration of the popularBattlefieldfranchise. The online multiplayer shooter series is currently in somewhat of a slump, withBattlefield 2042sales not meeting expectations in either its publisher’s eyes or its community’s. There’s still a dedicated fandom surroundingBattlefieldthat wants the next game to succeed, though. This Electronic Arts hint should be the start of the company’s build toward the nextBattlefieldgame’s release.
Battlefield 2042launched in late 2021, meaning it’s approaching two years since the latest release in the franchise.Battlefieldisn’t an annual series likeCall of Duty, so this isn’t abnormal. New games in the series typically launch every two to three years. The nextBattlefieldhas been officially confirmed by EA CEO Andrew Wilson as of May this year, but no specific details have yet to be mentioned. Wilson said at the time that EA has “extraordinary confidence” in how the newBattlefield’s development is progressing.
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The latest update regarding the nextBattlefield’s development was shared during an EA earnings call for Q1 2024. It’s the first time EA has shared any details regarding the nature of the nextBattlefield, though it’s little more than a tease. EA says that thenextBattlefieldwill be a “reimagining” of the franchise and that it will feature a connected ecosystem. What that means is a complete mystery.
While specifics regardingBattlefield’s reimagining aren’t available, there have been some leaks regarding the project’s development that may or may not be accurate. In early 2022, a leaker claimed that developer DICE was deciding between amodern or near-future setting forBattlefield. A comparison might beCall of Duty: Modern Warfareas opposed toBattlefield 2042’sCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Whatever its setting, it will be unlike priorBattlefields, as it’s being built from the ground up on a new engine.
There are rumors that could explain the “connected ecosystem” for the nextBattlefield, too. Three studios are said to be working on the nextBattlefield. EA DICE is focusing on the game’s core multiplayer modes, Ripple Effect is believed to be working on a different multiplayer experience that could be a battle royale or extraction experience, andRidgeline Games is working on a narrative experience. The connected ecosystem could tie these three different game products together, not unlike howCall of Dutyties together annual multiplayer releases and itsWarzonebattle royale.
Since there’s little detail currently available regarding the nextBattlefieldgame, perhaps the best takeaway from this update is that EA is getting ready to share more about what’s being worked on. The nextBattlefieldwon’t be arriving until at least 2024, but a full announcement could be made soon. Here’s hoping it’s aBattlefieldeveryone can get excited for.
