In a recent earnings call, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson made some bold statements regarding the next entry in the Battlefield series. Despite the mixed reception of recent releases, Wilson seems confident in the upcoming game, referring to it as “another tremendous live service.” This term may raise some skepticism among fans, especially those who remember the troubled launches of Battlefield 5 and Battlefield 2042. Wilson also mentioned that the largest Battlefield team in franchise history is working on this new installment, promising a connected multiplayer and single-player experience. However, with EA Motive now focused on Battlefield and the closure of the studio dedicated to single-player experiences, it remains to be seen if the next Battlefield will live up to expectations.
One of the most controversial statements made by Wilson was regarding the potential implementation of advertisements in traditional, AAA games. He mentioned that advertising could be a significant driver of growth for the company, and internal teams are exploring ways to incorporate ads into game experiences. This is not the first time EA has experimented with ads in games, as seen in UFC 4 and Need For Speed: Underground 2. However, the backlash from fans, such as the full-screen ads in UFC 4 for The Boys, suggests that implementing ads in games can be a delicate matter. It remains to be seen how EA will strike a balance between monetization and player experience in future titles.
Looking ahead, it seems that the next Battlefield release is not in EA’s plans for this fiscal year, with other projects such as an EA Original game and potentially Dragon Age: Dreadwolf taking the spotlight. While Wilson’s statements may have raised some eyebrows among fans and industry insiders, they provide a glimpse into the direction that EA is heading in terms of game development and monetization strategies. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how EA navigates the challenges of meeting player expectations while driving revenue growth through advertising and live service models.
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