More attention is turning to the next entry of theBattlefieldfranchise now that post-launch support for2042has ended, and DICE has hopefully learned a lot of lessons from the IP’s most recent release. Details recently emerged around what the next project for the franchise will look like, and it will still serve as a fantastic opportunity for the IP to once again go toe-to-toe with its biggest industry competitor,Call of Duty.
It is true thatBattlefieldhas done well over the years to explore a range of settings while diversifying its gameplay experience through things like more game modes, but the winning formula for the series still lies within its iconic large-scale combat. While it would seem that this brand of gameplay would be perfect for battle royale experiences,Battlefieldhas already dipped its toes in this before, and the franchise may be better off avoiding even more competition in this department from already-established rivals likeCall of Duty.
The Next Battlefield’s Return to Basics Leaves No Room For a Battle Royale
Industry attention on theBattlefieldfranchise has only grown with the recent official updates for the IP’s next project, with series head Vince Zampella confirming that it is aiming for a 2025 release and will adopt a modern-day setting. These recent statements regarding the franchise’s next steps made it clear that DICE is prioritizing a focus onthe core themes and experiences of classicBattlefield, with a return to 64-player class-based combat being at the forefront of the upcoming game.
This comes after themany controversies thatBattlefield2042has faced over the years, with its ambitious changes from the series' norm often serving to divide the player base and draw heavy criticism. While unconfirmed, this may mean that 2025’sBattlefieldentry could see the return of single-player narratives to the franchise, an iconic element of the IP that was infamously missing from2042.
Zampella also spoke about the longstanding rivalry betweenBattlefieldandCall of Duty, even commenting onBattlefield’s potential ability to outsell its largest competitor, and there are several content avenues that the series could use to best attempt this.Battlefieldcould offer a much smoother and simpler movement system toCoD’s new Omnimovement mechanics, for example, but the next game would be wise not to lean further into recent attempts to create battle royale experiences.
2018’sBattlefield 5introduced a comprehensivebattle royale mode to the franchise named Firestorm, putting a twist on the 64-player gameplay of its standard multiplayer while featuring the largest everBattlefieldmap. While the mode was interesting, it failed to really take off in a massive way, with the more classic multiplayer experiences of the title clearly remaining as the most popular way to experienceBattlefield.
CoD May Have Already Beaten Battlefield to the Battle Royale Punch
Of course,Call of Dutyhas now built up a major presence within the battle royale world, with itsWarzonefranchise growing to become one of the most dominant names in the genre. IfBattlefieldcreates a new form of Firestorm for its 2025 release, it would pull a lot of resources away from the core experiences of the title, and it would be extremely difficult to compete withthe very well-established presence ofWarzoneregardless.
As things stand, a return to the classic feel of the franchise appears to be at the forefront ofBattlefield’s near future, and a focus on battle royale gameplay would go completely against the grain of what that stands for. While it will always be a very tough job forBattlefieldto even come close to outsellingCall of Dutyin the modern market, a focus on traditional PvP modes will be the IP’s best chance of competing against its long-term foe, and there is no need for ambitions around battle royale content to stand in the way of this.
