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 all the pieces it might probably 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 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. However it feels 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 instructed DBLTAP at a preview occasion in London this week. “I don’t suppose 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 would like individuals to precise themselves and to have cool skins and peacock in a approach like ‘I look fairly cool and I’ve this nice weapon pores and skin,’” DICE producer Alexia Christofi instructed ComicBook. “However we would like 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 Obligation: Warzone and Fashionable Warfare II again in 2023. It caught gamers utterly unexpectedly and pushed the envelop on the sorts of superstar collaborations followers anticipated in gaming. It was additionally just the start of a flood of crossover content material that may overtake the standard 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 12 months.
After all, the explanation Name of Obligation, Fortnite, and different large 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 is likely to be relieved to see Battlefield 6 bucking one among 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.
