EA’s Battlefield Plan is Doomed to Fail If This Beloved Franchise’s Fate is Anything to Go By

The open beta for Battlefield 6 has now come and gone, and while it’s a bittersweet ending to a fun test period, the promise of the game’s launch is at least shining on the horizon. The wait for Battlefield 6 has built up a solid wave of anticipation, as it’s been four years since the last entry in the series.

Battlefield 2042 launched to lukewarm reception back in 2021, but the positive response to Battlefield 6 during the open beta is a promising sign that the franchise could be getting back on track. However, based on claims made by Pachter Factor podcast host Michael Pachter, EA’s ambitions for the FPS series may risk oversaturating the brand. According to Pachter, the company could be gearing up for yearly Battlefield releases, which has harmed a fellow EA-owned franchise in the past.

After Battlefield 6, EA’s Alleged Plans for the Franchise Could Repeat Need for Speed’s Mistakes

Pachter claims that Battlefield General Manager Byron Beede confirmed EA’s plans to release yearly entries within the next five to six years. The ultimate goal is to have three separate studios working on their own Battlefield projects, in order to consistently churn out titles. Of course, it’s important to note that these are merely claims, so they should be taken with a heavy grain of salt until EA officially confirms this. However, if true, it’s alarming, as the company has done this in the past with not-so-great results.

Putting Quantity Over Quality

EA is no stranger to this method. Much of the Need for Speed franchise has been released annually or every other year, and it definitely didn’t make the series stronger. Not only can this cause franchise fatigue, but the consistency of the series suffers, too. Having multiple studios making their own interpretations of one specific brand means gameplay and tone are rarely cohesive.

Need for Speed is a strong example of the yearly method backfiring. With annual releases, each game is far less likely to play similarly, so holding back and instead focusing attention on one solid Battlefield entry every few years better guarantees strong feedback from players. After waiting four years, early looks into Battlefield 6 are exciting a lot of fans, and if EA takes the annual approach, the company is risking squashing the good will that this new entry is beginning to build.

Only Time Will Tell What EA Has Up Its Sleeve

EA has yet to address these reports. Rumors should always be taken lightly, but it’s also difficult not to become disheartened when hearing such claims. Battlefield 6 could bring the franchise back after the divisive nature of Battlefield 2042, but it remains to be seen if that excitement will be able to be maintained. Until EA offers any official insight into its plans for the series, it may be best to remain cautiously optimistic in the meantime.

On the bright side, if these reports are accurate, then there is still bound to be a five-to-six-year wait until that becomes reality. Also, in that time, EA could potentially change its mind. There’s no way to know for sure what the future of Battlefield is going to look like, but the promise of Battlefield 6 is at least a thrilling prospect waiting in the wings.