EA is giving the reins to Motive Studio for the next Battlefield, a move which forecasts at least some moderate upheaval to DICE's time-worn formula. Between that and several buzz-word laden interviews given on the franchise's future, the followup to Battlefield 2042 may surprise its fans with how much of a departure is in store.

Battlefield 2042 is one of the most recent in a pattern of live-service games under-delivering and over-promising at launch, leaving its day-one players spurned, only to right the ship down the line via feedback-assisted updates. Two and a half years after launch, many consider the game in a fairly healthy state. A commitment to seasonal content and some deeply discounted sales prices have helped keep its player base numbers bolstered, though regardless of how much post-launch support Battlefield 2042 gets, it is a game that is getting long in the tooth, which means it's time for the next installment.

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Battlefield's Changing of the Guard

A new game at this point in Battlefield 2042's timeline may not have been EA's initial plan. Between the live-service model and the advent of the Battlefield Portal, this newest foundation portended the desire for it to have remained evergreen, with the publisher chasing a model akin to Destiny 2. Not all titles can have a decade-long lifespan however, and coming out of the gates sputtering as it did, it makes sense that EA is taking the lessons learned from Battlefield 2042 and giving one of its lesser known studios a chance to leave a mark on the series.

EA's choice in studio for the next Battlefield seems solid. Motive's work on Star Wars Squadrons highlights a team that can deliver a well-balanced competitive experience, and its more recent foray into single-player with the Dead Space remake shows off its narrative and set-piece design chops. A recent interview with Patrick Klaus, Motive's Studio General Manager, expounded on plans for "a universe across both multiplayer and single-player experiences." By all accounts, the next Battlefield will emphasize the series' previously neglected single-player campaign, perhaps in a way that works in conjunction with the multiplayer side.

A Natural Levelution for EA

Rumors abound regarding the next Battlefield, with varying degrees of veracity. The supposed release date is at some point in 2025, with some speculation claiming it will launch with a free-to-play battle royale or extraction shooter mode. During an earnings call on May 24, EA CEO Andrew Wilson mentioned he had been playing the next Battlefield internally with the Motive team, trumpeting its tremendous live-service potential. Given Battlefield 2042's sordid state at launch, one could be forgiven for being skeptical that EA is doubling down on the live-service model, but there is plenty to suggest that it has learned a great deal from the Battlefield 2042 debacle, not least of which is the impressive turnaround on the game.

The landscape for competitive shooters is changing. The aforementioned extraction shooter sub-genre appears to be gaining ground, with indie and AAA studios alike, jockeying for a prominent role in the emerging niche. It will be an interesting cycle for the heavy-hitters like Battlefield and Call of Duty, as they adapt to recent trends, throwing the considerable heft of their resources and pedigree into new and exciting ideas.

One thing that remains starkly evident is the reinforced commitment to creating a thriving live-service game. Success for Motive in the new Battlefield will require an embracing of those new ideas, while not foregoing the formula that made the franchise great. Battlefield 2042 took risks with its sweeping changes to the specialist system, and while it arguably missed the mark, it should not dissuade Motive from taking similar chances with the next Battlefield.