Today, EA has announced its plans to expand the Battlefield series with the formation of a Battlefield universe. This includes a restructuring of some of its development teams to help with the creation of new games and offerings within the Battlefield series. The latest Battlefield game, Battlefield 2042 released last month but has not been received well. The restructure brings together DICE, Ripple Effect, and a new studio headed up by veteran Halo designer Marcus Lehto. In the immediate future, these studios will work together to expand upon and improve Battlefield 2042 and create new games and experiences which are currently in development. These new games and experiences are meant to serve as extensions to the new Battlefield universe that EA is trying to create. Additionally, DICE GM Oskar Gabrielson is leaving the company while Respawn’s Vince Zampella will take on a bigger role in the franchise as the overall boss.
Talking about Zampella’s new role within Battlefield, EA Chief Operating Officer Laura Miele said “He creates culture-defining entertainment that resonants beyond games. We are bringing one of the most influential and talented individuals in entertainment to a franchise that is ready to be unleashed into the modern era of gaming. It’s an extraordinary inflection point in game history. His ability to lead studios and bring developers together so they can create world-class experiences is unmatched. 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.”
In an interview with Gamespot, Zampella explained how the intent here in EA’s new strategy is not to replace 2042 but to create a “connected Battlefield universe.” Vince Zampella said “This is an ‘And’ strategy in many ways. We will continue to evolve and grow Battlefield2042, and we’ll explore new kinds of experiences and business models along the way that we can add that foundation to provide an awesome array of experiences for our players. In this universe, the world is interconnected with shared characters and narrative. This universe is also built with our coummunity as we harness the power of Portal and user-generated content that puts creativity in the hands of our players.”
The new studio in Seattle headed up by Lehto will expand Battlefield 2042’s narrative across a “variety of experiences.” Byron Beede who focuses on the long-term strategy and business decisions for the franchise said that these will lay the foundation for “storytelling opportunities now and well into the future.” Whatever gets created will show up in later seasons for Battlefield 2042 and “beyond.” Talking about Lehto and the new studio in Seattle, Beede said “While he and his team in the Seattle area are just getting started on building the Battlefield world of tomorrow, their work will shape later seasons for 2042 and beyond.” This new studio will act as the driver for narrative in tight collaboration with DICE and Ripple Effect Studios to help build great player experiences in the Battlefield universe.”
Ripple Effect, the developers behind Battlefield 2042 Portal will continue to support Portal while starting work on a new experience within the Battlefield 2042 universe.
Discussing Gabrielson’s departure from DICE, he said “It is hard to put into words my passion for our studio, our teams and the Battlefield franchise. The last decade with the team at DICE has been nothing short of amazing. From the debut of Battlefield 3, to Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefield 1, and of course the return of all-out warfare with Battlefield 2042. There’s just been so many great memories working with our teams. DICE has some of the best talent in the industry and the team is in great hands.” Former studio head at Ubisoft Annecy Rebecka Coutaz is taking over Gabrielson’s position as GM of DICE.
“We are lucky we have such passionate fans, and I am confident we will continue to do everything we can to meet their expectations. We believe in 2042 as it is the cornerstone for the future as we begin work to expand the universe,” Miele said. “As a whole, we’re all-in on Battlefield. It is one of the most important and valuable franchises in the industry. Collectively, we are out to unlock its enormous potential.”