Battlefield is soon expected to move towards a yearly release schedule, according to industry expert Michael Pachter. In a recent video, Pachter revealed that he had spoken with Byron Beede, General Manager of the Battlefield franchise, and he revealed EA's long-term ambition to make Battlefield an annual series.
This approach can mirror Call of Duty's release cycle, with three different companies working on the brand in turn and spending three years completing their own entries. Patcher further added that the infrastructure required to support this isn't in place yet; however, we can estimate that it may take up to 5-6 years before Battlefield reaches back-to-back annual releases.
If this intel is true, it will represent a dramatic shift in the series. Battlefield has traditionally launched every few years, with the last two entries, Battlefield 5 in 2018 and Battlefield 2042 in 2021, arriving after long gaps. Battlefield 2042, in particular, has struggled with its launch, making fans worry that development could risk repeating the same mistakes.
The battlefield community has already been divided over the idea. Some fans view this as an opportunity for Battlefield to revive its rivalry with Call of Duty, which has defined much of the 2010s shooter landscape. Many also worry that releasing too frequently could water down the franchise and impact quality.
Currently, attention remains firmly on the upcoming Battlefield 6, which has generated a lot of buzz among the community following a positive beta release. Whether or not EA's strategy comes to reality, the franchise is clearly aiming to establish itself as a consistent player in the shooter genre.
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