EA is planning to pull out all the stops to make sure Battlefield V is a success. As we reported last week, financial analysts with inside EA connections have warned Battlefield V pre-orders are “weak,” particularly compared to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2. To make matters worse, Patrick Söderlund, a man considered to be one of the main architects of the Battlefield series’ success, is leaving EA.
Well, according to a new insider report from VentureBeat, it isn’t just analysts and outsiders who are concerned about Battlefield V — the game’s pre-orders are also falling short of EA’s internal expectations. That said, it’s important to put things in perspective – pre-orders are lower than hoped, but they’re still better than some other EA disappointments like Titanfall 2. Patrick Söderlund’s departure is also said to have nothing to do with the state of Battlefield V.
Related Battlefield V Company Progression Detailed in New Trailer, Xbox One X Bundles Announced
So, things aren’t as dark as they may seem, although EA is preparing a “contingency plan” should Battlefield V struggle at launch. DICE has a lot of post-launch content in the works, all of which will be free, including the game’s teased battle royale mode. VentureBeat hints Battlefield V’s battle royale mode may be distributed in a “creative” way, perhaps taking a page from Fortnite and its free-to-play approach.
And the most interesting tidbit of all — DICE is apparently working on a “big surprise” for Battlefield fans, which may be launched as a standalone product or free DLC, depending on how Battlefield V does. VentureBeat doesn’t specify what this big surprise is, but, if I had to guess, it sounds like DICE may be reviving some classic Battlefield content. Including a remake/remaster of Battlefield 1942 with Battlefield V would certainly generate some extra sales.
EA and DICE have struggled to manage public perception of Battlefield V since the game was revealed back in May. Of course, the usual reactionaries have raised a fuss about the game’s inclusion of women and minorities, but more legitimate concerns about the game’s live-service-style progression and changes to the series’ core gameplay have also been raised. Of course, all these gripes may disappear once players actually get their hands on Battlefield V. We’ll see.
Related Battlefield V Open Beta Drops Next Month, Will Include Taste of Campaign, Grand Operations
The Battlefield V open beta kicks off on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on September 6. Those who pre-order or subscribe to EA Access, Origin Access, Origin Access Premier can get started on the beta two days early on September 4.
Battlefield V storms onto PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on October 19. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition can play three days early on October 16, and Origin Access Premier members can play the full game eight days early on October 11.
