It’s been a rough couple of years for the Battlefield franchise, with Battlefield 2042 failing to meet player expectations. On launch, the game was arguably one of the least complete Battlefield games to date, comprising of countless bugs and core design choices that did not resonate with the community. As a result, Battlefield 2042 saw lackluster sales compared to its predecessors and a major restructuring for the franchise as a whole.
Respawn Entertainment’s Vince Zempalla is now head honcho leading the series, with Christian Grass heading Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA) and Byron Beede becoming the new General Manager of the franchise. Marcus Lehto was also put in charge to be the Creative Director of Seattle-based Ridgeline Games but has since departed on his own accord.
So where does that leave Battlefield now? Well, officially, we don’t know much apart from that there are multiple Battlefield projects in the works, which will all be integrated into the new “Battlefield universe. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has also hinted that the next mainline Battlefield game will not be released until 2025. Insider Gaming understands that the game currently has a tentative target release date of October – putting it in line with past Battlefield releases.
Insider Gaming has also learned that the next Battlefield title is taking somewhat of a “back to its roots approach” with the likes of 64-player matches, the return of its four-class system, and an overhaul to its destruction systems. As for the game’s setting itself, it will be set in the modern day somewhere around 2025 – 2030, with a strong story-driven emphasis on modern technology used in war.
Ripple Effect, the studio that is working on a ‘new experience’ for the Battlefield franchise is working on a new Battle Royale title that’s currently aimed to be free-to-play and follow a similar strategy to the highly successful Call of Duty: Warzone that will see the free-to-play experience tie-in with its premium release. The game is said to be the brainchild of Byron Beede, who had been previously leading live service for Call of Duty. Currently, the game has two different game modes including the classic Battle Royale experience and a mode named ‘Gauntlet’, which will see teams of players compete in objective-based modes with the lowest scoring team being kicked out after each mission.
The news may come as a shock to some, but past Battlefield third-game mode experiences, including Battlefield V’s Battle Royale Firestorm and Battlefield 2042’s Hazard Zone missed huge opportunities with the titles not being free-to-play.
What do you think of Battlefield’s next mainline game having a Battle Royale? Let us know in the comments below.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that a new Twisted Metal Game was canceled.
We don’t need battle royale in destiny.
Can you get an interview and ask why ea wants dice to fail a third time at competing against apex legends instead of just owning the market on big team battles? Like why are they purposely making a product nobody wants for the 3 time in a row? Additionally if Fifa makes a 3 billion dollars in a year why aren’t they taking that money and using it to bring up new studios or make new games from their existing ones? Why does every game have to be a billion dollar game?
Awesome news, thank you for sharing this with us! Hyped, but no pre-orders!
This is very sad news and it’s as if they’ve learned nothing.
I agree go back to being battlefield and stop trying to like crap a dookie
Chasing trends as always. By the time it comes out Battle Royale will be dead.
Just wanna say i hope all this news is true and we get that BF4 sequel we rightly deserve after they let us down in bf2042
Last one sucked, no one played it, I enjoyed it a little but it launched and died
They have to be free to play.
Many BF friends hate merely the idea of a Battle Royale so ftp will bring players that may not otherwise want to purchase the main game. They may be more inclined to purchase after a good experience in a working free BR game.
Firestorm needs a sequel!
I see they still haven’t learned their damn lesson. Well BF2042 is the last BF game I will ever buy. Been with the series since BF1942, played every one from 1942 through 2142, and Bad Company to present. Sad to see them get so out of touch with their community, but when profit is the be all end all of your aims that’s the result.
Theytake too long to release games. In the time it takes them to release one game Call of Duty comes out with two games. Battlefield likes being take to the game. If they want to go the new modern warfare and trend-chasing route they need to light that flame under their ass, because nobody talks about Battlefield anymore.
Please Microsoft buy EA and just get DICE to take over Perfect Dark then make Mirrors Edge 2.
Please do follow thru on the Battle Royal.
Please do ADD a legitimate anti-cheat software.
Pleasea make this a BF game and don’t screw it up like COD.
I.E. “screw up” defined as only caring about micro transactions, and messing with peoples hit boxes, etc to assure 5yr olds can play.
Make it a Battle Field game!!!!!!!!!!! If YOU build it WE will come!
I agree go back to being battlefield and stop trying to like crap a dookie