Why Battlefield Should Steer Clear of a 2024 Release

The next entry in the Battlefield franchise should aim for a 2025 release to maximize its impact and avoid competing against highly anticipated 2024 plans for Call of Duty.
Why Battlefield Should Steer Clear of a 2024 Release

Highlights

  • The next Battlefield release should wait until 2025 to avoid competing against the highly anticipated 2024 plans for Call of Duty.
  • Battlefield 2042 initially faced backlash due to its lack of expected content, including a single-player story and traditional class system. However, recent post-launch updates have revived the game's popularity.
  • DICE needs to get the next Battlefield release right to repair the franchise's reputation. Battlefield 2042's growing popularity gives DICE the breathing room it needs to wait until 2025 to release something.

The upcoming release of the Battlefield franchise holds tremendous significance, especially following the challenging launch of Battlefield 2042 in 2021. While details about the next release are scarce, avoiding a 2024 launch appears to be the most strategic move.

Despite its initial setbacks, Battlefield 2042 has experienced a resurgence in popularity due to astute post-launch updates. It is crucial for DICE to sustain this momentum and allocate ample time for future projects within the franchise. Moreover, the next Battlefield must reclaim its position against the Call of Duty franchise, and attempting to compete with CoD's 2024 plans may prove to be excessively challenging.

Opting for a 2025 Release Would Benefit the New Battlefield

The Arduous Journey of Battlefield 2042

The tumultuous launch of Battlefield 2042 was marred by the absence of anticipated content, leading many fans to perceive it as a hastily executed project. In addition to omitting beloved Battlefield features such as a single-player narrative, the core gameplay of 2042 lacked essentials like a traditional class system and in-game leaderboards at its inception.

Player engagement with Battlefield 2042 across all platforms dwindled within weeks of its release, causing the franchise to slip further behind its long-standing rival, the FPS juggernaut Call of Duty. However, recent in-game seasons have reinvigorated the community, with new maps and experiences, along with free-to-play weekends, breathing new life into the title.

Nevertheless, the initial negativity surrounding Battlefield 2042 has set a monumental challenge for its successor, compelling DICE to meticulously craft the next release to prevent further harm to the franchise's reputation. A 2024 launch for the next Battlefield would undoubtedly encroach upon the recent success of Battlefield 2042. Hence, DICE should capitalize on the time it has gained and focus on 2025 and beyond.

Battlefield Should Steer Clear of Competing with Call of Duty in 2024

Furthermore, the industry is anticipating significant developments from Call of Duty in 2024, as the franchise shifts away from its recent emphasis on the Modern Warfare reboot. The rumored 2024 CoD release is set to be a new Black Ops experience during the Gulf War, with the esteemed studio Treyarch having ample uninterrupted development time for the project. This departure from CoD's recent identity is poised to garner considerable attention, prompting the next Battlefield to distance itself from Call of Duty's 2024 plans.

Moreover, there are rumors about a semi-futuristic sequel to Black Ops 2 in 2025, aligning more closely with the recent Modern Warfare releases for the IP and likely featuring remastered content from BO2 in the form of maps and weapons. The familiarity of such a game would contrast well with a new Battlefield release, making a 2025 launch a more prudent choice for the franchise. The nature of the upcoming Battlefield game remains to be seen, but it is imperative for DICE to allow 2042 to further stabilize while avoiding a potential clash with Call of Duty's 2024 prospects.