There’s ambition and then there’s whatever’s going on with the next Battlefield title. According to an article from Ars Technica, the next game in EA’s flagship shooter series is trapped in a development hell of intense pressure and unrealistic expectations.
And while EA hopes to make the next installment, codenamed Glacier, the next big thing in FPS, insiders aren’t convinced it’ll even make it to the finish line on time.
Development Is a Mess
Originally Ridgeline Games was in charge of creating a single-player campaign, and spent two years scaling up and hiring talent to help them as they worked. Ridgeline was shuttered in February 2024 because EA wasn’t satisfied with the results, leaving DICE, Criterion, and Motive to salvage a project they didn’t start. As of early 2025, the campaign still hasn’t hit alpha.
Meanwhile, multiplayer development is reportedly further along, with alpha testing underway. It’s expected to include a return to class-based combat and a new free-to-play battle royale mode, likely designed to compete with the likes of Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.
But despite some progress, there’s a growing fear among developers that the final product will be launched incomplete, with major features cut just to hit the deadline. If that sounds familiar, this is exactly what happened with Battlefield 2042 during its development.
EA’s 100 Million Player Fantasy
Arguably the most shocking detail from the Ars Technica report is EA’s goal of reaching 100 million players at launch. For context, Battlefield 1 peaked around 30 million players. 2042 never broke 22 million. So why the triple-digit target?
Few developers believe it’s realistic. Several sources said “very few people” working on the game think that goal can be met. The shooter space is already dominated by more popular franchises like Fortnite, Warzone, and Apex Legends. Trying to take a slice of that audience is hard enough. Doing it while also trying to reinvent your own franchise is a recipe for disaster.
Worse, EA leadership seems to think the 100 million mark is not only possible, but necessary. And that belief has fueled a ballooning budget now north of $400 million. The current pace of development doesn’t match the resources or conditions on the ground.
A Massive Budget, Rushed Timeline, And A Looming Deadline
At over $400 million, Glacier is the most expensive Battlefield ever made. But money can’t buy time and that might be what EA’s running out of.
With a planned spring 2026 release, developers are under immense pressure to deliver on EA’s high expectations. If EA pushes to meet that deadline no matter what, we could be looking at a buggy, half-finished release. If they delay, they’ll face backlash for a project that’s already years in the making. It’s a lose-lose scenario unless priorities shift dramatically and soon.
Creative vs. Corporate
A big part of the dysfunction stems from internal culture clashes. EA’s U.S.-based leadership is reportedly pushing aggressive growth, monetization, and rapid delivery. On the other hand, European studios like DICE are focused on creativity and polish.
The result has led to friction, morale issues and confusion over priorities. And now Glacier is being pulled in two different directions. One side wants a blockbuster spectacle, while the other wants Glacier to be in line with previous Battlefield titles. It’s hard to build a cohesive product when no one agrees on what it’s supposed to be.
Have We Learned Nothing from Cyberpunk and Anthem?
If this all sounds eerily familiar, it’s because it is. We’ve seen what happens when big publishers focus on hype instead of quality and stability.
Cyberpunk 2077 was rushed to launch and CD PROJEKT RED paid the price in lost consumer trust and years of rebuilding their reputation. Anthem collapsed under the weight of corporate expectations and a live-service model it was never equipped to support. Starfield arrived in better shape technically, but was widely criticized for feeling like a bloated throwback rather than a true evolution.
Now, Glacier seems poised to follow in their footsteps.
So… What Now?
Is there still hope? Maybe. The multiplayer side seems to have more momentum, and it’s possible that EA will give developers more time to refine the single-player campaign or cut it entirely if needed. But that would still mean launching a fragmented product; something gamers are growing tired of.
If you’re a Battlefield fan, it’s best to remain cautiously optimistic as we wait for its release. There’s always a chance EA listens to developer feedback, tempers its expectations, and avoids repeating the mistakes of 2042. But the signs aren’t promising at the moment. Maybe a miracle will happen and I’m proven wrong.
