Battlefield Reborn: Classic Combat Returns in 2025
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2024 12:30 pm
Amidst the deafening roar of aerial strikes, soldiers dashed through a crumbling city. Explosions tore through the air as both sides struggled for control, leaving devastation in their wake. As the sun set on the battlefield, the question remained: What was next for these soldiers? The answer, it seemed, was finally here.
After nearly three years of waiting, the next chapter in the long-running Battlefield franchise has been revealed. Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed that the next Battlefield title will return to its roots — bringing back modern warfare, 64-player maps, and traditional class-based systems. Here’s what fans can expect.
The Return to Modern Warfare
EA’s next *Battlefield* installment marks a return to modern-day warfare, after exploring World War I in Battlefield 1, World War II in Battlefield V, and a near-future setting in Battlefield 2042. In a conversation with IGN, Vince Zampella, the Head of Respawn and GM for EA Studios, said, “The peak of Battlefield was during the Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 era.” With that sentiment, the new game aims to recapture that golden age of the franchise.
Bringing Back 64-Player Maps
One of the major changes coming to the new Battlefield title is the reintroduction of 64-player maps. After the lukewarm reception of Battlefield 2042’s 128-player maps, EA has decided to refocus on smaller, more tightly designed maps that offer intense, strategic gameplay. According to Zampella, the larger maps “became different” and didn’t fit the core Battlefield experience.
Classes Make a Comeback
In a move that will surely excite longtime fans, the new game will scrap the controversial “Specialist” system introduced in Battlefield 2042. Players criticized the ability-based system for straying too far from the franchise's roots. EA is returning to the traditional class system, with a focus on the key soldier roles that have defined past games.
Zampella explained, “Specialists didn’t work. It didn’t fit. Classes are at the core of Battlefield, and we’re going back to that.”
New Game, Familiar Concepts
Though the game will introduce new elements, including stunning visuals and modernized mechanics, the core experience will feel familiar to veterans. Concept art teased by EA shows urban combat in a dense European coastal city, with large-scale destruction and potential natural disasters like wildfires or volcanic eruptions — all hallmarks of Battlefield’s signature environmental destruction.
Looking Forward to 2025
While EA has not yet confirmed a release date, the game is expected to launch in 2025, with a community-focused program to regain player trust after previous missteps. Players can expect a beta test before the game’s official release, as EA fine-tunes the new Battlefield to meet the community's high expectations.
The next Battlefield game is shaping up to be a return to form, taking the franchise back to its modern roots and promising an unforgettable warfare experience.
As the battle looms on the horizon, fans of the franchise can gear up for the return of their beloved modern warfare, knowing that the Battlefield franchise is poised to rise once more.
