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New Battlefield Singleplayer is scrapped

  • Writer: Tom Belous (The Lanky Soldier)
    Tom Belous (The Lanky Soldier)
  • Jun 20
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 21

With his co-host Ray absent, Tom offers a passionate, detailed critique of the franchise's current state, emphasizing the importance of narrative, studio stability, and developer integrity. The recent upheavals within EA and the Battlefield franchise highlight a troubling trend of mismanagement, talent loss, and short-sighted corporate decisions. While there is some hope with ongoing projects like Ripple Effect's Battle Royale, the overall outlook remains uncertain. Fans and industry observers must advocate for transparency, stability, and genuine storytelling to revive Battlefield's legacy.

Featuring: Tom Belous (TheLankySoldier)

Episode 13: New Battlefield Singleplayer is scrapped

Released on March 9, 2024

Length: 1 Hour & 11min




TIME STAMPS:


01:19 - Patreon & Google Document

08:04 - So what happened?

18:14 - The Marcus Lehto impact

25:36 - Ridgeline Studios no more

31:04 - Why all of this matters?

42:03 - Ripple Effect Battle Royale

49:19 - So what is the future?



QUOTES:

"Marcus Lehto was supposed to be the Kevin Feige of Battlefield... he was supposed to bring consistency between projects."
"I blame Electronic Arts for all of this. This isn't the first time Electronic Arts brings important, passionate big name developers to the company and then literally micromanage them until they quit."
"It might be an arcady fun shooter, but we still need context why the factions we are playing are fighting in the first place"


HIGHLIGHTS:


  1. Frustration with EA and Battlefield Development:

    • Expresses disappointment and anger over recent industry developments, especially EA’s handling of Battlefield.

    • Criticizes EA’s management decisions, layoffs, and the shutdown of Ridgeline Studios, which was working on a single-player Battlefield project.

    • Notes that Ridgeline Studios was founded only two years ago with high hopes but was closed without delivering a product.


  2. Leadership Changes and Studio Closures:

    • Details the departure of Marcus Lehto (co-creator of Halo) and Chris Matthews from Ridgeline Studios.

    • Explains that both left voluntarily, but EA then shut down the studio, which was still in early development stages.

    • Criticizes the industry’s tendency to drain resources with little to show for it.


  3. Impact on Battlefield Franchise:

    • Argues that Marcus Lehto was meant to be the “Kevin Feige” of Battlefield, aiming to create a connected, narrative-driven universe.

    • His departure and the studio’s closure threaten the franchise’s future, especially its narrative and consistency.

    • Expresses concern that future Battlefield games will lack quality, narrative depth, and coherence.


  4. Leaks and Rumors about Next Battlefield:

    • Mentions leaks about the next Battlefield game, including potential battle royale modes developed by Ripple Effect Studios.

    • Notes Byron Beede., who previously worked on Call of Duty Warzone, is involved in the battle royale project.

    • Expresses cautious optimism about the development of the battle royale mode.


  5. Criticism of EA’s Industry Practices:

    • Blames EA for micromanagement, mismanagement, and prioritizing short-term profits over quality.

    • Criticizes the focus on microtransactions, corporate greed, and the lack of passion in recent Battlefield entries.

    • Highlights the failure of recent Battlefield games (like Battlefield 2042) to deliver compelling narratives or consistent universe.


  6. Concerns about Future Battlefield Games:

    • Predicts that upcoming Battlefield titles will likely be “barebones,” lacking meaningful single-player content and narrative.

    • Believes that the new development teams will not continue Marcus Lehto’s vision.

    • Expresses skepticism about the franchise’s direction, citing the closure of studios and loss of key creative personnel.


  7. Industry Critique and Personal Reflection:

    • Criticizes the broader gaming industry’s focus on profit, short-term gains, and mismanagement.

    • Calls for a “gaming industry crash” to reset priorities and rebuild on passion and quality.

    • Thanks Marcus Lehto for his efforts and hopes he returns to making meaningful games elsewhere.

DOWNLOAD: Episode 13 Transcript


Note: Transcripts are not fully accurate, as they were not fixed for accent & grammar mistakes

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