Can the upcoming Battlefield installment restore the series to its former glory and re-establish itself as a heavyweight in the shooter domain? That’s a crucial question, and EA surely wants the answer to be a resounding ‘yes’. The publisher is pulling out all the stops to make sure it has the best shot at achieving that goal.
However, these high ambitions could easily be thwarted by a disastrous launch, remembered only by the die-hard fans who’ve stood by Battlefield through its highs and lows. As someone who has been a fan for years, I’m really holding out hope that this new Battlefield not only hits the mark but also gives me that go-to shooter I can return to time and time again.
We’re still mostly in the dark about what to expect from the next Battlefield game. EA hasn’t confirmed if it will make its arrival in 2025, but looking at the timeline and current developments at EA’s studios, 2025 seems like the most plausible release window. EA’s aim is to emulate the Call of Duty: Warzone model with the new Battlefield, possibly suggesting a late-2025 release for the core game, followed by a free-to-play battle royale mode in early 2026.
Some testing is slated to kick off in early 2025. However, it’s expected to be under strict NDAs, so we may not glean much about the game’s specifics from these early trials. All hints point towards a contemporary setting for this Battlefield entry, harkening back to the series’ traditional class system.
While these insights show that EA seems to have a good grasp on what players are looking for, they don’t inherently promise a “good” game. This careful direction from EA, however, does pique my interest and anticipation to see what they’ve put together.
The unique appeal of Battlefield lies in its core elements – the art of combined arms warfare, distinctive class roles, methodical pacing, expansive battlegrounds, and environmental destruction. These elements can be found scattered across different games, but none blend them quite as Battlefield does. The recent launch of Delta Force, for instance, only highlights how tricky it is to capture that magic.
Yet, with each unsuccessful Battlefield release, that distinct Battlefield experience becomes less tangible. Many former Battlefield devotees now find their thrills in other games. But, I’d wager that none of those players would say these games fully satisfy their craving for Battlefield. They might hold players’ attention temporarily but fall short of becoming “the next Battlefield”.
