After a number of years on the sidelines, hype for the subsequent Battlefield is beginning to develop. Preliminary hands-on impressions, together with our personal, have been optimistic, and early footage is doing every thing it could to channel the vibes of the sequence’ peak with Battlefield 3 and 4. One factor that followers fear may throw a wrench in that plan is the trendy 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. But it surely appears like Battlefield 6 plans to keep away from that siren name altogether.
“It needs to 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 advised DBLTAP at a preview occasion in London this week. “I don’t assume it wants Nicki Minaj. Let’s hold it actual, hold it grounded.” The sentiment was echoed elsewhere as properly. “What I’ll say is what’s actually essential to us is that issues really feel grounded, and we wish individuals to precise themselves and to have cool skins and peacock in a method like ‘I look fairly cool and I’ve this nice weapon pores and skin,’” DICE producer Alexia Christofi advised ComicBook. “However we wish it to really feel genuine to the franchise, that’s the strategy we’re considering.”
Queen of Rap Nicki Minaj got here to Name of Responsibility: Warzone and Trendy Warfare II again in 2023. It caught gamers utterly unexpectedly and pushed the envelop on the kinds of celeb 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 Responsibility 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 Responsibility Followers Sad With Seth Rogen Pores and skin,” learn one headline from earlier this yr.
After all, the explanation Name of Responsibility, Fortnite, and different huge shooters promote goofy skins is as a result of that’s what gamers will really 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 all its largest rival’s largest traits, however we’ll see how lengthy DICE can keep on with its weapons if the sport delivers on the imaginative and prescient its builders are promising.
