Battlefieldwas onceCall of Duty’s biggest rival, but lately, the EA-published series hasn’t been able to keep up with its competitors in the first-person shooter market. The two most recentBattlefieldgames,Battlefield5andBattlefield 2042were both critically and commercially disappointing;2042’s disastrous launch particularly sullied the series' name. Although these twoBattlefieldinstallments have improved greatly since they first arrived, the series as a whole is still a far cry from the juggernaut it once was.
Currently, EA is pinning its hopes on the next mainlineBattlefieldinstallment in an attempt to turn things around for the troubled franchise. The new game, which is being helmed by long-time series developer DICE andStar Wars: Battlefront 2creator Motive Studio, hasn’t been unveiled yet, but EA executives have acknowledged its existence on several occasions. EA CEO Andrew Wilson said back in 2023, for instance, that the as-of-yet untitled game would bea “reimagination” of theBattlefieldseries. What this “reimagination” entails has still not been officially revealed, but if this new approach is anything like the one Activision is taking with the nextCall of Dutygame, then the result may be promising.
The Battlefield Franchise Should Take Some Inspiration from Activision’s Rumored Approach To Call of Duty
Call of Duty 2025 is Reportedly Going to Be a Sequel to CoD: Black Ops 2
TheCall of Dutyfranchise has received new mainline installments annually since 2005, and this year will likely be no different. According to a report from Insider Gaming,2025’sCall of Dutygamewill be a sequel to 2012’sCall of Duty: Black Ops 2set in the near future. The game, allegedly codenamed ‘Saturn’, will contain a mix of brand-new multiplayer maps and remastered maps fromBlack Ops 2. It will also apparently feature round-based zombies, the Gunfight game mode, and the return of the classic Pick 10 ‘Create-a-Class’ system last seen inCoD:Black Ops 4.
If the rumors are true, Activision’s alleged decision to follow upCall of Duty: Black Ops 6with a sequel toBlack Ops 2is a smart idea.Black Ops 2is undoubtedly one of themost beloved games in theCoDfranchise, so it makes sense that Activision would want to capitalize on its popularity with a sequel. Plus, since there hasn’t been a futuristicCall of Dutygame in quite some time, aBlack Ops 2follow-up could be a refreshing change of pace compared to the franchise’s recent entries, most of which have either been set in the past or the present day.
After EA Releases the Next Battlefield Game, It Should Make a Sequel to Battlefield 3
Considering how long the series has been struggling, maybe it’ll be best forBattlefieldto take some inspiration fromCall of Duty. Instead of deciding between overhauling theBattlefieldformula and appealing to nostalgia in the franchise’s next installment, EA has the opportunity to have its cake and eat it, too. As whenCall of Duty: Black Ops 6added Omnimovementand other noteworthy features, the nextBattlefieldgame should have a distinct selling point of some kind whether that be real-time destruction, larger-scale environments, or even battle royale modes.
In addition to a new, more inventiveBattlefieldgame, EA could consider making a direct follow-up to one of the earlier games in the series such asthe critically acclaimedBattlefield 3. Instead of trying to shake things up with this hypothetical sequel, EA could keep it simple and use what worked in the series' previous entries. ABattlefield 3sequel with new and old multiplayer maps, fighter jets, and other fan-favorite features could sell like hotcakes if handled correctly.
Battlefield
EA’s Battlefield franchise is a series of first-person shooter games. The games have predominantly been set in the modern day, though there have also been titles set in World War 1, World War 2, and in the near future.The Battlefield franchise is often compared to Call of Duty, with both franchises offering single-player campaigns and online multiplayer.
