DICE Aims to Deliver an Exceptional Battlefield Following 2042's Troubling Launch
DICE's Rebecka Coutaz shares insights on the anticipated improvements for the upcoming Battlefield title, expressing a commitment to create a standout experience after Battlefield 2042's troubled release.
DICE General Manager and VP Rebecka Coutaz has responded to the troubled launch of Battlefield 2042, indicating that it created an “obligation to create one of the best Battlefields the world has ever seen” for Battlefield 6. Coutaz, who took on her role in 2021 following the issues with Battlefield 2042, will oversee the series’ next installment.
Since its inception with Battlefield 1942 in 2002, the franchise has become a widely respected name in first-person shooters. However, it faced a significant setback with the release of Battlefield 2042, which garnered average reviews and was critically panned by the community, being dubbed the worst-reviewed game on Steam at one time due to its performance problems and missing elements found in earlier games.
DICE’s Path Ahead
Coutaz acknowledged that while continual updates have improved Battlefield 2042, the game’s contentious launch impacted DICE’s future direction. In a recent interview with GamesRadar, she stated, “[I] felt an obligation to create one of the best Battlefields the world has ever seen. I owe that to the community and to the teams. That is my drive. That’s why I’m here.”
Design Director Shashank Uchil addressed the criticism surrounding Battlefield 2042, specifically regarding the removal of the series’ traditional class system, clarifying, “Look, we try stuff. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s as simple as that.” He further explained that they aimed to innovate by increasing player numbers, which did not resonate with fans as they had hoped.
Coutaz also remarked on the changes made for Battlefield 2042 through ongoing updates, claiming, “The game is in a completely different state than when we released it.” The upcoming Battlefield 6 will be further integrated with a special ‘Road to Battlefield 6’ Battle Pass available for free in Battlefield 2042, which enables players to unlock rewards transferable to the new game upon release next month.
As Battlefield 6 approaches its launch, it will once again compete against Call of Duty, with Activision set to release Black Ops 7 shortly afterward. Despite controversy surrounding Black Ops 7, the Battlefield 6 open beta achieved record player counts, hinting at a promising future for the franchise.
Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the game’s launch on October 10.
