The nextBattlefieldgame will likely be a make-or-break moment for the franchisefollowing the disaster that wasBattlefield 2042. TheBattlefieldfranchise is one of the few major shooter franchises out there still releasing traditional games.Halowent free-to-play with its multiplayer,Rainbow Sixhas been updating the same game for nine years, andMedal of Honorhas been dormant for years. Now,Call of DutyandBattlefieldare the only ones still releasing new games on a regular basis. However,Battlefieldhasn’t had a ton of luck in recent years.
The series has had a lot of ups and downs since the release of the much-lovedBattlefield 4in 2013.Battlefield: Hardline,Battlefield 5, andBattlefield 2042all had launches that were mixedat best and catastrophic at worse.Battlefield 1was the rare exception and was a welcome change of pace for the series, but it was nothing more than a glimmer of hope for the series in the last decade. With that said,all eyes are on the newBattlefieldgame to turn things around in a big way.
The Next Battlefield Must Make Up For Battlefield 2042
The Battlefield Series Has A Damaged Reputation
It’s no secret thatBattlefield 2042was a very chaotic game. It was released with no shortage of bugs that took months to fix, servers were borked, and the game itself just wasn’t very good. The 128-player count, the massive maps, the specialists, and othermajor changes were a commendable effort to push the series forward, but they didn’t workand ultimately left fans feeling dissatisfied. Three years later,Battlefield 2042is in a better place, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.
14 Best Battlefield Games, Ranked
From games set during World War 1 to those taking place decades in the future, the Battlefield franchise has released many hit multiplayer shooters.
It doesn’t help thatBattlefield Valso had its fair share of notable issues that pushed fans away.2042was supposed to be this glorious return to form and it wasn’t, it just caused more damage. It has left one of EA’s most valuable non-sports IPs in a fractured state, putting the publisher in a position where it can’t afford to mess up like this again. Thankfully,EArevealed during its 2024 investors presentation that it is taking this all very seriously and isn’t devesting in the series to play it safe. It’s doing the exact opposite.
EA Is Investing Heavily Into The Next Battlefield Game
EA Remains Committed To Righting The Wrongs Of 2042
Four different studios are working on the future ofBattlefieldright now and are splitting their responsibilities in smart ways. DICE is focused on multiplayer, Criterion Games is working on single player and multiplayer, Motive is working on single player, and a brand-new studio known as Ripple Effect is working on some kind of third mode,likely a battle royale. On top of this,the nextBattlefieldwill have the longest development cycle in series historyand will allow fans to give feedback in the months leading up to launch.
Three years later,Battlefield 2042is in a better place, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.
However, this large investment combined with the fragile state of theBattlefieldseries means that if things go awry once more, it could mean a permanent end, or at the very least, extended break for the beloved shooter franchise.Battlefieldboss Vince Zampella noted toIGNthat he believes that it could outsell its longtime rivalCall of Dutyone day, but that will only be possible if the nextBattlefielddoesn’t fumble at the finish line.
Ultimately,EA is saying all the right things about the nextBattlefieldright now. The publisher has confirmed it aims to take players back to the glory days ofBattlefield 3and4with an emphasis on modern day combat and 64-player matches. It understands the damage that has been done and by Zampella’s own admission, EA doesn’t want a repeat of2042. So long as EA allows the developers to take their time and create a full realized vision,Battlefieldcould have its reputation as a top-tier FPS franchise restored.
