After a number of years on the sidelines, hype for the subsequent Battlefield is beginning to develop. Preliminary hands-on impressions, together with our personalhave been constructive, and early footage is doing every part it could possibly to channel the vibes of the collection’ peak with Battlefield 3 and 4. One factor that followers fear may throw a wrench in that plan is the fashionable multiplayer obsession with profiting off of licensed skins and different foolish cosmetics. They are often enjoyable. They’ll additionally flip a supposedly gritty army shooter right into a playground for branded cosplay. Nevertheless it appears like Battlefield 6 plans to keep away from that siren name altogether.
“It must be grounded. That’s what BF3 and BF4 was—it was all troopers, on the bottom. It’s going to be like this,” EA DICE design director Shashank Uchil informed DBLTAP at a preview occasion in London this week. “I don’t suppose it wants Nicki Minaj. Let’s maintain it actual, maintain it grounded.” The sentiment was echoed elsewhere as properly. “What I’ll say is what’s actually vital to us is that issues really feel grounded, and we would like folks to specific themselves and to have cool skins and peacock in a means like ‘I look fairly cool and I’ve this nice weapon pores and skin,’” DICE producer Alexia Christofi informed ComicBook. “However we would like it to really feel genuine to the franchise, that’s the method we’re considering.”
Queen of Rap Nicki Minaj got here to Name of Obligation: Warzone and Trendy Warfare II again in 2023. It caught gamers fully without warning and pushed the envelop on the kinds of movie star collaborations followers anticipated in gaming. It was additionally only the start of a flood of crossover content material that may overtake the normal Name of Obligation expertise, with gamers simply as prone to be operating round as Beavis and Butthead or Rick and Morty. Whereas Activision was making financial institution, gamers have been getting burnt out. “‘That is Extremely Lame’ Name of Obligation Followers Sad With Seth Rogen Pores and skin,” learn one headline from earlier this yr.
After all, the explanation Name of Obligation, Fortniteand different massive shooters promote goofy skins is as a result of that’s what gamers will truly fork over cash for. Activision makes extra from microtransactions than it does from promoting the precise video games. So does EA. Followers could be relieved to see Battlefield 6 bucking one in every of its largest rival’s largest traits, however we’ll see how lengthy DICE can follow its weapons if the sport delivers on the imaginative and prescient its builders are promising.