EA is reportedly aiming for a staggering 100 million players with the next Battlefield game. That number is more than triple what the series has ever achieved before. This highly ambitious goal, which emerged in an Ars Technica report citing anonymous sources, comes at a time when most industry insiders don’t believe it’s truly possible. The idea seems to stem from the immense success of battle royale modes in competing games, such as Call of Duty Warzone and Fortnite. For instance, Warzone reached 100 million players approximately a year after its launch, and Fortnite had already surpassed 200 million back in 2018. In contrast, Battlefield 2042, the latest installment in the series, has only managed to attract around 22 million players so far. That’s significantly less than EA had hoped for. Individuals close to the production, particularly veteran developers from DICE, are notably skeptical about this projection. Current market data and the perceived quality of the game do not suggest it will achieve such a player count.
It’s crucial to remember that this new Battlefield game hasn’t even been officially announced yet. Reports indicate its development budget exceeds $400 million, and its single-player story campaign is still in the very early stages of development. EA’s strategy to attract a larger audience for the next Battlefield includes incorporating a free-to-play Battle Royale mode. Multiple studios are currently collaborating on the game, with Vince Zampella leading the charge. We haven’t received a specific release date or any substantial detailed information about it yet. Despite all these uncertainties, EA appears to be heavily invested in another attempt to integrate the battle royale format into the next Battlefield, hoping it will draw in a broader player base. The game is currently undergoing closed alpha testing, but quite a few leaks have already surfaced regarding game modes, weapons, and even some single-player campaign details. Should they manage to hit that 100 million player target, it would undeniably become the most popular Battlefield game in the series’ history. However, internal indicators and the performance of previous titles suggest this will be an exceptionally challenging goal to achieve.
As the gaming industry continues to navigate through major transformations, another notable development is on the horizon. Microsoft’s Xbox division is set to face yet another round of layoffs next week, as reported by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier (2025-06-24). This marks the fourth significant reduction in staff since the $70 billion acquisition of Activision/Blizzard, highlighting the ongoing challenges within the sector. To learn more about this impactful change and its broader implications for Xbox and the gaming community, be sure to check out Ahmed Hassan’s insightful piece at Brace Yourselves: Next Week Brings More Layoffs at Xbox. As we dive into the ambitious goals set by EA for the next Battlefield game, it’s worth noting another exciting update in the gaming world. On July 3rd, Marcus Thompson brings us news about the highly anticipated arrival of the Druid class in Diablo Immortal, available as a free update for all players. This new addition introduces nature’s fury to the battlefield with its unique and versatile combat style, featuring transformations into beasts and summoning forest creatures. Players eager to explore this latest expansion can delve into Sharval Groves, a vast new area filled with intriguing lore and challenges. For more details on how to embrace your inner Druid, be sure to check out Druid, the New Class of Diablo Immortal, Arrives on July 3rd. If you’re a fan of futuristic warfare and third-person shooters, be sure to check out “Mecha BREAK,” which is now officially available across multiple platforms including Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and Google Play Games (native PC). Bruno Pferd’s latest post from July 3rd delves into the details of this free-to-play game where you step into the shoes of a mech specialist in an array of battle modes. With new content rolling out every three months and exciting seasonal updates, there’s always something fresh to experience. Don’t miss out on the Twitch PlayersForLife event for Season 0, packed with rewards for players who tune in Mecha BREAK is Now Officially Available.