Respawn head Vince Zampella now leading Battlefield franchise, announces connected universe

What you need to know

• Battlefield 2042 recently launched to mixed reception, with numerous bugs and issues reported by players and press.
• DICE GM Oskar Gabrielson is reportedly leaving Electronic Arts.
• Respawn Entertainment and Ripple Effect head Vince Zampella is now leading the Battlefield franchise.
• DICE, Ripple Effect and a new Seattle studio are now working to create a "connected" Battlefield universe.

Vince Zampella, head of Respawn Entertainment and Ripple Effect, is now head of the entire Battlefield franchise at Electronic Arts, per a report from GameSpot. This follows the recent launch of Battlefield 2042, a collaborative effort from multiple teams at EA Worldwide Studios.

" His ability to lead studios and bring developers together so they can create world-class experiences is unmatched," EA chief operating officer Laura Miele said of Zampella. "I believe the structure, process, and vision he brings will enable Battlefield to excel like never before. No one knows shooters and live services better than Vince."

Former DICE GM Oskar Gabrielson, is leaving Electronic Arts, though it's not clear at the moment where he's headed next. Additionally, a Battlefield connected universe is now in development, a result of collaboration between DICE, Ripple Effect and a new Seattle-based team led by former Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto.

Ripple Effect is working on a "new Battlefield experience" and continuing to support Battlefield 2042's Portal mode, while the still-unnamed Seattle studio will be aiming to increase the "narrative, storytelling, and character development" in Battlefield 2042, with future expansions.

There's no timeframe right now for when any of new games or expansions will be made available. DICE is currently working on reducing the number of bugs and issues in Battlefield 2042, launching multiple major patches with lengthy lists of improvements.