Battlefield was once Call of Duty's biggest rival, but lately, the EA-published series hasn't been able to keep up with its competitors in the first-person shooter market. The two most recent Battlefield games, Battlefield 5 and Battlefield 2042 were both critically and commercially disappointing; 2042's disastrous launch particularly sullied the series' name. Although these two Battlefield installments have improved greatly since they first arrived, the series as a whole is still a far cry from the juggernaut it once was.
Currently, EA is pinning its hopes on the next mainline Battlefield installment in an attempt to turn things around for the troubled franchise. The new game, which is being helmed by long-time series developer DICE and Star Wars: Battlefront 2 creator Motive Studio, hasn't been unveiled yet, but EA executives have acknowledged its existence on several occasions. EA CEO Andrew Wilson said back in 2023, for instance, that the as-of-yet untitled game would be a "reimagination" of the Battlefield series. What this "reimagination" entails has still not been officially revealed, but if this new approach is anything like the one Activision is taking with the next Call of Duty game, then the result may be promising.
Ex-DICE Developer Says Battlefield Fans Should 'Temper Their Expectations'
A former DICE developer cautions fans to 'temper their expectations' for the upcoming Battlefield title, as it will differ from previous entries.
The Battlefield Franchise Should Take Some Inspiration from Activision's Rumored Approach To Call of Duty
Call of Duty 2025 is Reportedly Going to Be a Sequel to CoD: Black Ops 2
The Call of Duty franchise has received new mainline installments annually since 2005, and this year will likely be no different. According to a report from Insider Gaming, 2025's Call of Duty game will be a sequel to 2012's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 set in the near future. The game, allegedly codenamed 'Saturn', will contain a mix of brand-new multiplayer maps and remastered maps from Black Ops 2. It will also apparently feature round-based zombies, the Gunfight game mode, and the return of the classic Pick 10 'Create-a-Class' system last seen in CoD: Black Ops 4.
If the rumors are true, Activision's alleged decision to follow up Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 with a sequel to Black Ops 2 is a smart idea. Black Ops 2 is undoubtedly one of the most beloved games in the CoD franchise, so it makes sense that Activision would want to capitalize on its popularity with a sequel. Plus, since there hasn't been a futuristic Call of Duty game in quite some time, a Black Ops 2 follow-up could be a refreshing change of pace compared to the franchise's recent entries, most of which have either been set in the past or the present day.
After EA Releases the Next Battlefield Game, It Should Make a Sequel to Battlefield 3
Considering how long the series has been struggling, maybe it'll be best for Battlefield to take some inspiration from Call of Duty. Instead of deciding between overhauling the Battlefield formula and appealing to nostalgia in the franchise's next installment, EA has the opportunity to have its cake and eat it, too. As when Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 added Omnimovement and other noteworthy features, the next Battlefield game should have a distinct selling point of some kind whether that be real-time destruction, larger-scale environments, or even battle royale modes.
In addition to a new, more inventive Battlefield game, EA could consider making a direct follow-up to one of the earlier games in the series such as the critically acclaimed Battlefield 3. Instead of trying to shake things up with this hypothetical sequel, EA could keep it simple and use what worked in the series' previous entries. A Battlefield 3 sequel with new and old multiplayer maps, fighter jets, and other fan-favorite features could sell like hotcakes if handled correctly.
EA's Battlefield franchise is a series of first-person shooter games. The games have predominantly been set in the modern day, though there have also been titles set in World War 1, World War 2, and in the near future.
The Battlefield franchise is often compared to Call of Duty, with both franchises offering single-player campaigns and online multiplayer.