Battlefield Pro Subscription?
- Tom Belous (The Lanky Soldier)
- Jun 26
- 3 min read
Ray finally returns to the show and together with Tom, they analyse EA’s investor call comments by Andrew Wilson. No reveal date yet, we actually barely got any good information in the first place, but we learned that the new game won't cost $80. So it was a perfect opportunity to go through all the old leaks and discuss something that no one is really talking about - Battlefield Pro subscription.
Featuring: Tom Belous (TheLankySoldier) & Ray Edmunds
Episode 38: Battlefield Pro Subscription?
Released on May 13, 2025
Length: 1 Hour & 16min
TIME STAMPS:
02:29 - EA Investor Call
10:44 - Battlefield Reveal
27:02 - No Price Increase?
43:12 - Leaks: Breakthrough
46:45 - Battlefield Pro Subscription
QUOTES:
"Flashy trailers don't impress us anymore. We want to see where the rubber meets the road."
"Battlefield Pro is basically like Fortnite Crew and that's a good thing."
"If it's anything more than $10, it's too much"
"EA CEO said... we believe that the window is clearer than it was before and we feel very good about launching Battlefield something in FY26."
HIGHLIGHTS:
Discussion on EA Investor Call:
EA's quarterly earnings call was discussed, with jokes about corporate jargon and the lack of meaningful information.
EA's focus on making entertaining products and projecting release timelines was summarized.
EA's stock has dipped slightly post-call, illustrating that investor calls don't always boost stock prices.
Battlefield News & Predictions:
The official reveal for the new Battlefield game is expected at a major summer event.
Predictions about the reveal style: flashy trailers, gameplay snippets, and minimal substance initially.
Ray expects the game to release 2025 Christmas, Tom predicts it's aiming for March 2026.
The importance of timing around GTA 6's release to avoid market competition.
GTA 6 & Market Competition:
GTA 6's release is a major shark in the water, likely overshadowing other releases.
Rockstar's reputation for quality storytelling and delayed online launches was noted.
EA's Pricing & Monetization Strategies:
EA plans to avoid increasing game prices to $80, emphasizing microtransactions and additional revenue streams.
The concept of subscription services like Battlefield Pro, similar to Fortnite Crew, was explained.
Battlefield Pro could include battle passes, exclusive content, skins, XP boosts, and server hosting.
Concerns about locking core features like server hosting behind subscriptions.
The importance of offering value and not alienating players with paywalls.
Subscription Models & Industry Trends:
Comparison with Fortnite's subscription model, which offers battle passes, skins, and other perks.
The potential for Battlefield Pro to keep the game alive longer through ongoing content.
Caution that profitability depends on subscriber retention; if subscriptions decline, support may end.
The idea that subscriptions are a predictable revenue stream but not a guarantee of long-term success.
Business Philosophy & Industry Insights:
Criticism of EA's focus on profit over art, contrasting with Rockstar and CD Projekt Red.
The importance of quality, innovation, and community engagement.
The tendency of publishers to prioritize big sales and microtransactions over creative risk.
Leaks & Playtest Updates:
Brief mention of recent playtests with 48-player Breakthrough mode, technical issues, and map impressions.
Leaks about game content are considered minor and subject to change.
The upcoming map "Capstone" is reminiscent of older Battlefield or Medal of Honor landscapes.
Final Thoughts & Future Outlook:
The importance of a strong launch for Battlefield to turn around its reputation.
The need for the franchise to "go big" or move on, with fears that failure could end the series.
The industry trend toward subscription services and ongoing content as a way to sustain games.
Tom and Ray express optimism about community feedback influencing future developments.
DOWNLOAD: Episode 38 Transcript
Download from Google Drive
Note: Transcripts are not fully accurate, as they were not fixed for accent & grammar mistakes
