Why Battlefield Needs Community Test Environment (CTE)

Tom Belous (The Lanky Soldier)
May 2
2 min read

Updated: May 7

Tom dives deep into the significance of Community Test Environments (CTEs) in the Battlefield franchise. With his co-host Ray unavailable due to a family emergency, Tom takes the opportunity to reflect on the past, present, and future of Battlefield, particularly focusing on how community involvement can enhance game development.

Featuring: Tom Belous (TheLankySoldier)

Episode 7: Why Battlefield Needs Community Test Environment (CTE) Released on September 21, 2023

Length: 1 Hour & 12min

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kBVBQwZmR6g24OyQpEHNb?si=JGYgvL8oT-2wqj69e3d-mg

Listen on Amazon Music

https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/964d70ad-e310-48e5-aba8-ce2844b85f03/episodes/f9ce2e41-bcf2-4b6a-bbdc-9099d22edd6e/battlefield-one-podcast-7-why-battlefield-needs-community-test-environment-cte-battlefield-one-podcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/7-why-battlefield-needs-community-test-environment/id1677966719?i=1000628757083

TIMESTAMPS:

5:20 - Updates about BattlefieldOne Podcast

8:04 - News about Battlefield 2042 Season 6

19:30 - Community Test Environment

53:40 - Gaslighting is not helping

QUOTES:

"Battlefield never really been about news."

"Community test environment was there to improve the franchise."

"Game development is not a democracy."

"Community test environment would showcase your incompetence."

"We can find a common ground where we can all agree and move forward."

HIGHLIGHTS:

Podcast Growth: Tom shares that the podcast is experiencing significant growth on Spotify, almost double that of their other podcast, and expresses gratitude to listeners.
Battlefield 2042 Updates: Tom discusses the upcoming Season 6 for Battlefield 2042, expressing skepticism about the game's future and the possibility that Season 6 may be the last.
Community Test Environment (CTE): A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the Community Test Environment, particularly its impact on Battlefield 4 and how it allowed for player feedback to shape game development.
Comparison of CTEs: Tom contrasts the CTEs of Battlefield 4 and Battlefield 1, noting that Battlefield 4's CTE was more impactful and experimental, while Battlefield 1's was more about early access to DLC.
Player Engagement: He emphasizes the importance of community feedback in game development and how it can lead to better game experiences, citing examples from Battlefield 4's CTE.
Critique of Current Development Practices: Tom criticizes the current state of game development, particularly with Battlefield 2042, highlighting issues of corporate arrogance and a lack of accountability from developers.
Hope for Future Games: He expresses hope that the next Battlefield game will incorporate a Community Test Environment and foster a more open and collaborative relationship between developers and players.