EA just had its Q3 earnings call during which it admitted that the Battlefield 2042 launch didn’t quite go as planned. It really didn’t need to say it out loud, we were all thinking it. Admitting there’s a problem is the first step though, right?
“We did have a challenge in Q3 as the launch of Battlefield 2042 did not meet expectations,” said CEO Andrew Wilson. “Developing this game with our teams working from home for nearly two years ultimately proved to be challenging,” he added.
EA isn’t going to give us up or let us down (again)(we hope)
Sounds like the game was as challenging to make as it was to enjoy. Not that the game isn’t fun or enjoyable, it is…kinda. You just need to look past the clunky UI and avoid the constant barrage of constantly-spawning hovercrafts.
But EA isn’t closing the book on what could potentially be a big cash cow. Wilson said as much. “We are fully committed to realizing the full potential of this game, and fully committed to our Battlefield fans.”
At the same time, Wilson confirmed that they would be pushing back the release of the first season of live service content to “early summer” (our winter) so they can fix what’s broken – or at least attempt to.
Battlefield V’s release, in November of 2018, was marred with some controversy. Fans took issue with the lack of historical accuracy, authenticity, the use of certain weapons, and the inclusion of cosmetic items like body art. Fans also had a problem with the inclusion of playable women characters, because misogyny.
Despite all that and the lacklustre sales on launch, the game continued to receive updates and free content for the next two years. It’s still has a fairly respectable player base today, over a year since the last major update.
That’s the direction EA Dice should take 2042 if it is to realise its full potential. You can read our full review of Battlefield 2042 here.
Source: GamesRadar