Summary
TheBattlefieldfranchise has long had to compete with the industry presence ofCall of Duty,with both IPs often exploring the same kind of conflicts and themes despite their gameplay differences. Both franchises have found success with real-world historical and modern wars, as well as fictional and futuristic settings, butCall of Dutyhas explored a greater variety of them compared toBattlefield.
WithBattlefield 2042being a futuristic title, it seems time for the franchise to move back to its historic roots with its next release. One real-world conflict thatBattlefieldhas not explored is the Cold War, something thatCall of Dutyhas portrayed extensively throughout the popularBlack Opsfranchise. While it may not be feasible for a full-scaleBattlefieldrelease to adopt a Cold War setting, the conflict has a lot of potential to work well with the same framework as some ofBattlefield’s most ambitious past titles.
No new projects have been confirmed for theBattlefieldfranchise by DICE as things stand.
The Cold War Would be the Perfect Setting For a More Intimate Battlefield Release
The Cold War spanned a long time period, between 1947 and 1991, with its name indicating how it lacked the traditional on-the-ground combat of an ordinary conflict. Most of the Cold War was typified by global tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, who would fund proxy wars between other nations as opposed to fighting each other head-on.
The secrecy and intense government involvement during the Cold War across the globe wasthe perfect setting forCall of Duty’sBlack Opsfranchise, with most of its narrative involving the CIA, Vietnam, revolutions, and off-the-books missions.Call of Dutyis defined by its more linear campaigns and close-quarters multiplayer compared to theBattlefieldfranchise, which might be why the latter has never explored the conflict.
With that being said,Battlefieldis no stranger tosmaller-scale spin-off titles like 2015’sBattlefield Hardline, which itself did away with the franchise’s conventional depictions of warfare, focusing on policing instead. In the downtime betweenBattlefield 2042and the next major game for the IP, DICE could focus on another smaller project centered around the Cold War that possesses a lot of the same gameplay themes asHardline.
As well as this, it seems important thatBattlefieldreturns to single-player experiences in its next release.Battlefield 2042’s lack of a single-player campaignwas one of its most controversial elements. TheBlack Opsfranchise is often regarded as the best narrative experience thatCall of Dutyhas ever released, and there is no reason that DICE could not achieve the same feat forBattlefieldwith its own Cold War experience.
A single-player story in a Cold War setting would be most in-line withthe narratives of theBattlefield: Bad Companygames, which focus on a tight-knit four-man fire team away from the usual grand warfare of other titles for the franchise. This same kind of dynamic would be perfect for a covert team operating across the globe during the Cold War, harking back to some fan-favorite experiences forBattlefieldfans while making up for the lack of single-player content in recent years. It seems thatCall of Dutyis finally moving away from the Cold War, with 2024’s title rumored to use a Gulf War setting, so now seems like the perfect time forBattlefieldto finally portray its own take on the conflict.
Battlefield 2042
WHERE TO PLAY
Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. With the help of a cutting-edge arsenal, engage in intense, immersive multiplayer battles.Lead your team to victory in both large all-out warfare and close-quarters combat on maps from the world of 2042 and classic Battlefield titles. Find your playstyle in class-based gameplay and take on several experiences comprising elevated versions of Conquest and Breakthrough. Explore Battlefield Portal, a platform where players can discover, create, and share unexpected battles from Battlefield’s past and present.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
