Highlights
- Battlefield 2042 sales were disappointing, but Electronic Arts is working on the next game to meet fans' expectations.
- The next Battlefield is a "reimagining" of the franchise and will feature a connected ecosystem, although specific details are still unknown.
- Three studios are rumored to be involved in the game's development, suggesting a diverse multiplayer experience and a possible tie-in with a narrative component.
Electronic Arts has shared its first tease regarding the next iteration of the popular Battlefield franchise. The online multiplayer shooter series is currently in somewhat of a slump, with Battlefield 2042 sales not meeting expectations in either its publisher's eyes or its community's. There's still a dedicated fandom surrounding Battlefield that wants the next game to succeed, though. This Electronic Arts hint should be the start of the company's build toward the next Battlefield game's release.
Battlefield 2042 launched in late 2021, meaning it's approaching two years since the latest release in the franchise. Battlefield isn't an annual series like Call of Duty, so this isn't abnormal. New games in the series typically launch every two to three years. The next Battlefield has 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 new Battlefield's development is progressing.
The latest update regarding the next Battlefield'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 next Battlefield, though it's little more than a tease. EA says that the next Battlefield will be a "reimagining" of the franchise and that it will feature a connected ecosystem. What that means is a complete mystery.
While specifics regarding Battlefield'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 a modern or near-future setting for Battlefield. A comparison might be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as opposed to Battlefield 2042's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Whatever its setting, it will be unlike prior Battlefields, as it's being built from the ground up on a new engine.
There are rumors that could explain the "connected ecosystem" for the next Battlefield, too. Three studios are said to be working on the next Battlefield. 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, and Ridgeline Games is working on a narrative experience. The connected ecosystem could tie these three different game products together, not unlike how Call of Duty ties together annual multiplayer releases and its Warzone battle royale.
Since there's little detail currently available regarding the next Battlefield game, perhaps the best takeaway from this update is that EA is getting ready to share more about what's being worked on. The next Battlefield won't be arriving until at least 2024, but a full announcement could be made soon. Here's hoping it's a Battlefield everyone can get excited for.
The next Battlefield is in development.