Battlefield in need of a refresh
Battlefield struggles with recent games
It’s been three years since the release of the last installment in the Battlefield series. Once one of the most popular shooters in the gaming world and a fierce rival to the Call of Duty series, Battlefield has hit a dead end with some of its recent games. A notable example of this is Battlefield 2042 from 2021, which as a live-service game, faced significant technical issues and consistently disappointed fans.
Given the struggles of 2042, the Battlefield series is in desperate need of a revamp. Fans have been longing for a new, essential Battlefield game that can evolve and improve the series in ways that its recent installments have failed to do. EA should take this opportunity to start fresh. However, rather than trying to make it bigger, it might be better for EA and DICE to take a step back and revive the Battlefield series with something smaller.
A smaller-scale refresh could be beneficial
A destructible battlefield game could showcase next-gen power
One of the biggest issues with Battlefield 2042 was that while it tried to be huge, it ended up being too big for its own good. While the massive maps and 128-player multiplayer may have sounded fantastic on paper, the „bigger is better“ approach became a burden, to the point where DICE even admitted that the larger maps worked against Battlefield 2042. With a new game, DICE should try to take things down a notch and focus on creating entertaining gameplay variety rather than making everything bigger.
In addition to reducing the map size and player count in a game, a new Battlefield could focus on creating incredibly destructible environments. Destructibility was once a key selling point for some of the most iconic Battlefield games, and a renewed focus on it could bring the franchise back to its former glory. Furthermore, such destructive gameplay could showcase the technical capabilities of the current console generation and create a Battlefield game that is not only fun, but also a technical showcase for EA.
Battlefield could benefit from a single-player experience
A new Battlefield game could also shake up the franchise by bringing back single-player gameplay. Battlefield 2042 previously focused on a purely multiplayer approach and completely removed the campaign, which sparked heated discussions at the time of its release. Sure, Battlefield may not necessarily sell on its stories, but that doesn’t mean those stories aren’t there or that the previous single-player campaigns weren’t good.
Whether a Battlefield game necessarily „needs“ a single-player campaign or not, a new game should include one. DICE now has the perfect opportunity, as Vince Zampella, who led Respawn and co-developed the fantastic Titanfall 2, is now in charge of the Battlefield series. Titanfall 2 featured a fantastic single-player campaign, and under Zampella’s leadership, a new Battlefield could follow in its footsteps.
A new Battlefield game could also shake up the franchise by bringing back single-player gameplay.
A smaller battlefield could mean the return of Bad Company
A great series of Battlefield games with fantastic campaigns and destructible environments has already been released in the form of Battlefield: Bad Company. Although the first two Bad Company titles are considered some of the best games in the Battlefield series, EA has not revisited this subseries since Bad Company 2 in 2010. If Battlefield aims for a single-player title, a return to the Bad Company series could be the necessary catalyst.
Regardless of which direction it takes, a smaller Battlefield game could work wonders in getting the franchise back on its feet. Battlefield 2042 has proven that bigger is not always better, and its struggles have overshadowed some of the best titles in the franchise. A scaled-down experience could be just what Battlefield needs to establish itself as a top-tier first-person shooter series once again.