Big earthquake at Battlefield. EA dramatically changes Vortex strategy
GameSpot magazine was the first to report that EA is planning big changes at Battlefield as a whole brand. They want to make it one big universe and expand it considerably. It seems that the publisher wants to follow the example of Activision and release more games from different studios, which will work on their projects in parallel. Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella is overseeing the entire brand. Of course, the point is not to push or replace the current Battlefield 2042, which, according to Zampella, is to be further developed and expanded.
The community and its portal content can also have a big impact on future development.
But in addition, Electronic Arts wants to explore new experiences and business models that would expand the existing offering. They simply want to give players a wider choice. Zampella suggests that this universe can be connected with the help of characters and stories, and does not forget to mention that the community and the content created by it within the Portal regime can also have a great influence on future development. We do not know the details at the moment, EA describes their intention only in very general terms and it is not even certain whether the publisher himself knows more. It is more an indication of intent and future.
Call of Duty, on the other hand, releases a new premium game every year, and Warzone is constantly developing a mobile version. It’s no secret that there can be even more free-to-play games under this brand, although there has also recently been speculation on the other side that Activision could abandon the annual release of a new episode. But this has been said several times. EA, on the other hand, releases a new Battlefield every few years. But that could change. The mobile version is on the way and the developers did not rule out the possibility of a free-to-play version.
Seattle-based new EA team, led by Halo co-author Marcus Lehto, is set to focus on the storyline.
In addition to DICE and Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA), Criterion or Motive have also helped or helped with Battlefield in the recent past. The new Seattle-based EA team, led by Halo co-author Marcus Lehto, should also be involved. We’ve written about him before. But now we know for sure that he will set out for Battlefield and focus on its story part. They will also collaborate with DICE and Ripple Effect on the further development of BF2042 and will influence its shape. In other words, there may be some story campaign.
As for exHalo people, it’s interesting that Mobile Battlefield is also being created under the supervision of Bungie co-founder Alex Seropian on the Industrial Toys team in California. Each of these studios has something to work on, but it doesn’t always have to be a full-fledged new game. Although, for example, PC Gamer says that it knows for sure about some standalone titles. In any case, according to Zampella, EA wants more interconnected projects. There is talk that a new game can already be created in DICE and the Ripple Effect studio. The latter and his project began to be overseen by Vince Zampella some time ago.
Departures and changing of the guard
But other things are changing in connection with these plans. It’s not just Zampella’s new oversight of the brand. DICE chief Oskar Gabrielson is leaving EA after almost ten years. It was said to be one of the most difficult decisions of his life, he wrote on Twitter. Rebecka Coutaz will be replaced by Ubisoft Annecy. We have previously written that Fawzi Mesmar has left DICE. A few months ago, on the contrary, he switched from Call of Duty to Battlefield as the head of the Byron Beede brand. He had previously spent almost twenty years at Activision.
It is not clear what role the failed start of BF2042 plays in these plans. From all the plans outlined, it is clear that Battlefield is undergoing a major transformation. Only time will tell whether it will work and what it will bring.
