Excitement is building for the next entry in the long-running battlefield series. Early glimpses from playtests hint at a return to the franchise’s roots, reminiscent of beloved titles like Battlefield 3 and 4. However, behind the scenes, troubling reports suggest a far more chaotic picture. According to a recent report from Ars Technica, the game’s development faces significant hurdles. These challenges include escalating costs, campaign delays, and a stark disconnect between ambitious corporate goals and developer realities. At the center of this tension lies an incredibly high player target set by Electronic Arts (EA).
EA Sets a Sky-High Player Goal
EA reportedly expects the next Battlefield game, currently referred to as Battlefield 6, to attract a massive player base. The target? A staggering 100 million players. This ambitious number is intended to be reached “over a set period of time that included post-launch,” according to internal discussions cited in the Ars Technica report. For a franchise that has traditionally catered to a specific niche within the shooter genre, this represents an unprecedented level of expected growth.
Comparing Past Battlefield Performance
Putting the 100 million player target into perspective reveals just how monumental EA’s expectation is. The series has never achieved such numbers in its history. For example, Battlefield 2042, the most recent installment, has only reached approximately 22 million players over a similar post-launch timeframe. Even during the franchise’s peak mainstream popularity with Battlefield 1, the player count topped out at “maybe 30 million plus,” as noted by an EA employee in the report. The 100 million figure is multiple times higher than the series’ best historical performance.
The Strategy: Free-to-Play Battle Royale
EA’s plan to bridge this massive gap and reach its ambitious player target reportedly centers on a free-to-play battle royale mode. Ars Technica describes this mode as a “core offering” of the upcoming game. This strategy mirrors the approach taken by successful competitors, most notably Call of Duty: Warzone, which offers a free battle royale experience alongside a paid core game. While playtest leaks had previously hinted at a battle royale mode, confirmation that it will be free-to-play and a central component is significant new information. The hope is that offering a barrier-free entry point will vastly expand the potential audience compared to a traditional paid release alone.
Why Developers Are Skeptical
Despite the free-to-play battle royale strategy, many developers within the Battlefield team, including those at DICE, reportedly remain unconvinced. According to sources cited by Ars Technica, “very few people” internally believe the 100 million player target is realistic. This skepticism stems from the sheer magnitude of the number compared to past performance and the inherent challenges of expanding a traditionally niche audience so dramatically. One source suggested EA’s outlook is based on a belief that the game won’t cannibalize sales from other titles and that a vast, untapped appetite exists for this specific type of shooter experience. Developers, however, seem to grounded in the franchise’s historical performance and market position.
Broader Development Challenges
The ambitious player target isn’t the only area where internal struggles are reported. Battlefield 6’s development has faced numerous other issues. The project’s budget has reportedly ballooned past $400 million, indicating significant costs. Development progress is also uneven, with the single-player campaign reportedly “far behind” the multiplayer component. Furthermore, major features are said to still be undecided as the game approaches its alpha phase, a crucial stage in development.
Impact of Studio Changes and Burnout
Adding to the development woes is the reported impact of organizational changes. The closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio EA specifically opened to create Battlefield campaigns, last year has reportedly contributed to the single-player story being behind schedule. The campaign was originally planned as a six-hour experience. The Ars Technica report also touches on employee burnout within the development teams. Compounding these issues is reported tension between the long-time developers at DICE and the franchise leadership installed by EA in Los Angeles, led by Vince Zampella. This highlights potential friction in creative direction and management.
The combination of budget overruns, developmental delays, feature indecision, and internal tension paints a challenging picture for a project burdened with such immense commercial expectations. Achieving a 100 million player count, especially when developers doubt its feasibility, places enormous pressure on the final product and its post-launch support. The success of the free-to-play battle royale mode will be critical, but it remains to be seen if it can truly transform the series’ audience scale to the extent EA envisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EA’s player target for the next Battlefield game?
Electronic Arts reportedly aims for the upcoming Battlefield 6 to reach 100 million players. This goal is set to be achieved over a specific period of time, including the post-launch phase of the game’s lifecycle, indicating a long-term growth strategy rather than a launch-day target.
Why do some developers doubt the 100 million player goal?
Many developers, including those at DICE, believe the 100 million target is unrealistic because the Battlefield series has never reached such high numbers before. Past titles like Battlefield 2042 and Battlefield 1 achieved player counts significantly lower (22 million and 30 million+, respectively), making the 100 million goal seem unattainable based on the franchise’s history and market position.
How does EA plan to reach such a large player base?
EA reportedly plans to achieve the ambitious 100 million player target by including a free-to-play battle royale mode as a core offering of the next Battlefield game. This approach is intended to attract a much larger audience than the traditional paid game experience alone, similar to the model used by successful competitor titles like Call of Duty: Warzone.
