Electronic Arts has decided to focus its attention on player feedback to develop the next title in the acclaimed Battlefield franchise. As stated by EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, this is the “largest testing initiative in the history of the franchise,” an effort aimed at restoring the community’s trust after the criticism received for Battlefield 2042.
Wilson revealed that a core group of testers has played thousands of hours of the new game, focusing especially on the complaints that arose during the launch of its predecessor. “We have always worked closely with the community, but not always as we should have,” he stated, emphasizing EA’s commitment to involving players in crucial aspects such as map building and game progression.
This new title, still without a definitive name, will be the first Battlefield game under the direction of Vince Zampella, co-founder of Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment. For this project, EA has brought together several studios, including Ripple Effect, which is developing a new experience in Battlefield, and Motive, known for titles like the remake of Dead Space and Star Wars: Squadrons, which will focus on the single-player mode.
Despite the criticism that Battlefield 2042 received, the anticipation for this new title is palpable. Wilson hinted that the game will be the “biggest” in the franchise, although he detailed that this does not necessarily refer to the size of the maps or the number of players, but possibly to the significant investment that has been made in its development. EA plans to open its testing program, known as Battlefield Labs, to more players as the game’s reveal scheduled for summer approaches, thus maintaining an active channel of communication with the gaming community.
