A new report paints a challenging picture for the upcoming battlefield game, revealing a staggering development cost exceeding $400 million and significant developer burnout, with some team members taking leave for up to nine months. This sheds light on the immense pressure and complex environment behind creating one of gaming’s biggest FPS franchises. Sourced from anonymous developers at EA studios, the report details ambitious targets, logistical hurdles, and the human toll of modern AAA game development.
Ambitious Targets and a Hefty Price Tag
According to insights shared by developers speaking anonymously to ARS Technica, the next installment in the Battlefield series, currently operating under the codename “Glacier,” comes with an unprecedented price tag. By 2023, the project’s cost had already climbed “well north” of $400 million, and that figure is reportedly even higher now. This massive budget is tied directly to intensely ambitious goals set for the game.
One of the primary drivers behind the huge investment is an aggressive target of achieving 100 million players. This number dwarfs the player counts of previous titles in the series. For context, Battlefield 2042 peaked at around 22 million players, while even the widely popular Battlefield 1 reached approximately 30 million. Reaching the 100 million milestone represents a significant leap requiring broad appeal and flawless execution.
Scope Creep and Feature Overload
To entice a massive player base, the new Battlefield game reportedly features a colossal scope. Plans include staples like fan-favorite multiplayer modes such as Conquest, alongside newer trends like a battle royale mode and a substantial six-hour single-player campaign. This expansive feature set contributes significantly to both the ballooning budget and the complexity of development.
However, such grand ambitions require meticulous planning, which sources claim was lacking early on. As the game moved into “Gate 3” – EA’s internal phase signifying full production – some developers reportedly saw insufficient “robust budget, staff plan, feature list, risk planning, et cetera.” When certain employees voiced these critical concerns, they were allegedly excluded from subsequent development meetings, suggesting a reluctance within leadership to address potential issues head-on.
The Challenges of Collaborative Development
Adding another layer of complexity is the development structure itself. Unlike previous entries where DICE primarily led development with support from other teams, the new Battlefield title involves a significant collaboration between four distinct studios: DICE, Motive, Criterion, and Ripple Effect. This marks a substantial shift and introduces significant logistical challenges.
Sources indicate that coordinating across multiple studios, especially with Swedish-based DICE now reporting to American bosses, has created cultural issues and communication hurdles. Juggling different time zones becomes a daily challenge, with one developer noting their workday often starts as early as 5:00 am to accommodate meetings with global teams, pushing their actual development work into the evening hours.
Impact on Deadlines and Development Quality
The confluence of ambitious scope, perceived insufficient planning, and the complexities of multi-studio collaboration has predictably led to development delays. Core deadlines are reportedly being missed. This raises concerns that the game might launch needing a massive day-one patch to fix issues, or that planned features and modes could be delayed and released in post-launch seasonal updates, similar to the troubled rollout of Battlefield 2042.
The single-player campaign mode appears to be particularly struggling under the weight of these challenges. One employee suggested that portions of the campaign might need to be cut entirely just for a single-player experience to be included at launch. Making this happen would likely require developers to endure intense “crunch” periods, working excessively through the summer.
The Heavy Cost: Developer Burnout
Perhaps the most concerning revelation from the report is the severe impact on developer well-being. The demanding environment, relentless deadlines, complex collaboration, and the prospect of intense crunch have resulted in significant burnout among the development team.
A notable number of staff, described by one employee as “a large number” compared to other projects, have reportedly taken mental exhaustion leave. The duration of this leave varies, ranging from as short as a couple of weeks or a month to staggering periods of eight or even nine months. This indicates a deep level of fatigue and stress impacting the people creating the game. The logistical nightmare of coordinating across multiple time zones also directly contributes, forcing some developers to work incredibly long and fragmented days.
Broader Industry Context
This situation isn’t occurring in a vacuum. While the Battlefield team’s challenges are specific to this project and EA, the report echoes broader concerns felt across the video game industry. Recent large-scale layoffs and studio closures at major companies like Microsoft/Xbox, even amidst claims of strong roadmaps, highlight a climate of high pressure, ambitious corporate targets, and job insecurity. Developers across the industry have voiced frustration and anger at leadership decisions perceived as prioritizing portfolios and shareholder value over the well-being of creative teams. The burnout reported on Battlefield’s development team, with its roots in intense pressure, complex management, and demanding schedules, unfortunately reflects a pattern seen elsewhere when ambitious projects face difficulties under corporate scrutiny.
Despite the significant internal struggles and developer hardships, there are small glimmers of potential positive feedback. Playtests for something referred to as “Battlefield Labs” have reportedly seen players express satisfaction, with some noting that the experience felt reminiscent of fan-favorite titles like Battlefield: Bad Company 2. EA has also publicly stated its commitment to listening to player feedback and claims that responses to playtests have “far exceeded our expectations,” suggesting some elements of the game are resonating positively. However, turning positive playtest feedback into a polished, successful launch is a monumental task, especially given the reported development challenges and human cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reported cost of the next Battlefield game?
According to a report based on anonymous EA developers, the development cost for the upcoming Battlefield game, codenamed Glacier, had already exceeded $400 million by 2023. Sources indicate the current cost is even higher as development continues. This high budget is linked to the game’s ambitious scale and target of 100 million players.
Why are Battlefield developers reportedly experiencing burnout?
Developers working on the new Battlefield game are reportedly facing significant burnout due to intense pressure, missed deadlines, and the complexity of collaborating across four different studios in multiple time zones. The demanding schedule, need for potential crunch, and challenges in coordination have led a notable number of staff to take mental exhaustion leave, some for as long as eight or nine months.
Which studios are collaborating on the new Battlefield game?
Development for the next Battlefield game involves a significant collaborative effort across four EA studios: DICE, Motive, Criterion, and Ripple Effect. This structure differs from previous titles where DICE typically served as the primary developer with other teams providing support, introducing challenges in coordination and communication.
The path forward for the next Battlefield title appears fraught with challenges, from managing an immense budget and ambitious scope to navigating complex multi-studio dynamics and addressing significant developer burnout. While playtest feedback offers a sliver of hope, the report underscores the significant hurdles the team must overcome to deliver a polished and successful game that meets its lofty player targets. The situation also serves as a stark reminder of the human cost often involved in the demanding world of AAA game development.
