Some major game series are currently in crisis, and those responsible don't yet know exactly what to do with their brands. A prominent example is Battlefield. Although the franchise is still alive, the current offshoot Battlefield 2042 is not really vital. As several leaks have consistently reported in the last few months and years, EA is only keeping the title alive for so long because a realignment is planned in the background. However, there appear to be problems with this, as new developments suggest.
Marcus Lehto cuts all ties to Battlefield
In fall 2022 it was announced that EA was founding a new studio to develop a narrative campaign for Battlefield. At the helm of Ridgeline Games was Halo veteran Marcus Lehto. “Marcus will bring his long legacy of creating fascinating worlds and compelling narratives to Battlefield,” EA said at the time. “With the support of a world-class team, he will lead the development of a narrative campaign set in the Battlefield universe.” But this plan doesn't seem to be working.
On Facebook, Letho states that he has left EA. All connections to Battlefield or Ridgeline Games have been deleted. An official announcement is still pending, but apparently EA and Letho have parted ways. As of now, it is still unclear whether the developer has resigned or whether he has been terminated. Since his former studio currently has no job openings, the future of Ridgeline Games is also in question. It wouldn't be surprising if it soon became known that EA was pulling the plug on the team.
The big question remains what this development means for Battlefield. Will work on the story campaign be transferred to another studio? Will DICE take over the next campaign itself? Or will there be no campaigns again like in Battlefield 2042 (buy now €13.24)? These are all questions that only EA can answer. It is obvious, however, that there is still a long way to go before the planned Battlefield universe starts, which will offer several titles spread across different studios.
Quelle: via Insider-Gaming