Battlefield 6 is EA's redemption after the failure of 2042?

The release of Battlefield 6, scheduled for October 10, carries the mission of reconquering the franchise's fan base, shaken by the performance of Battlefield 2042. Although it was the fifth best-selling game in the US in 2021, 2042 was widely criticized by the community and considered a disappointment for EA and developer DICE.

Producer Alexia Christofi told Well-Played that the mistakes of 2042 were crucial for the development of the new chapter. "We learned a lot from 2042. It strayed from what players consider the core of Battlefield, and that made it very clear what the next game cannot be," said Christofi.

Another producer, David Sirland, explained that the team focused on rescuing the franchise's pillars: destruction, classes, and vehicles. According to him, the lack of clarity was the main mistake of 2042. "When a new idea comes up, we ask ourselves: 'Does it fit?' If yes, great. If not, it's out. That clarity was lacking in 2042."

The failure of 2042 resulted in significant changes. DICE underwent a leadership restructuring, with the departure of former general manager Oskar Gabrielson. EA also created the Battlefield Studios label, bringing together DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive under the direction of Byron Beede (former Call of Duty) and Vince Zampella.

In addition to the Multiplayer mode and campaign, Battlefield 6 will feature a battle royale experience, with an open beta starting on August 7 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

With the promise of a return to its roots and an approach more aligned with players' desires, the expectation is whether Battlefield 6 will indeed be able to rise in the competitive first-person shooter market. The beta will be the first opportunity to see if EA's promises will be fulfilled.

After the negative experience with Battlefield 2042, do you think EA and DICE have managed to understand what fans really want?