Summary
TheBattlefieldseries has endured numerous highs and lows over the last few console generations. After a few beloved releases withBattlefield 3andBattlefield: Bad Company 2,Battlefield 4suffered from a lack of polish, being full of bugs and serious netcode issues for several months after release. While it eventually stabilized, and DICE got a big win withBattlefield 1,Battlefield 5’s historical inaccuracy and failed attempt at a battle royale with Firestorm made for another slip-up.Battlefield 2042’s launch was the lowest point for the franchiseyet, and in that time,Call of Dutystole some ofBattlefield’s thunder.
For a long time, the battle lines betweenBattlefieldandCall of Dutywere clearly established, with fans flocking to either property for a specific experience. If gamers wanted massive maps with an equal balance between vehicles and infantry combat, they could go withBattlefield. If they were seeking competitive arcade gameplay with small teams and no vehicles,Call of Dutywas a great choice. However, asBattlefieldhas struggled to give fans what they want in recent years, Activision has seized an opportunity to makeCall of Dutya jack of all trades.
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Call of Duty’s Success With Large Maps Makes Battlefield a Tough Sell
The reboot of theCall of Duty: Modern Warfaresubseries in 2019 shook things up in a major way. Alongside a more realistic campaign experience and 6v6 multiplayer that leaned into a slower, tactical style, Ground War was introduced. Each match took place in a large chunk ofVerdanskand was full ofBattlefieldstaples. Objective gameplay that clearly resembled Conquest was present alongside vehicles to transport players around, with selectable spawn points, a squad system, and a much larger player count all being present.
Ground War content returned inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, with the concept having previously been carried over toBlack Ops Cold Warvia its large-scale Fireteam experiences. While fans have criticized the mode for reusing areas fromCall of Duty: Warzonemaps, as not everyone enjoys reskinned content, it does have the benefit of new maps being introduced at a frequent pace. WithCall of Duty’s live service, seasonal system in place, regularly releasing maps is key, and sectioning off battle royale locations is much easier than crafting an original map from scratch.
Call of Duty: Warzoneitself has hugely benefited the series, as though it is a battle royale, it too offers a giant map with vehicles to utilize. Plus, unlike 2018’s Blackout, it is free-to-play, ensuring that anyone can hop into the game without spending money. While it may lack objective modes and certain vehicles types, likeBattlefield’s jetsand tanks, players that simply crave large scale warfare could find it hard to justify a full priced game when a free experience exists. With the premium games now offering modes like Ground War, andWarzoneoffering a free battleground,Call of Dutyhas taken a lot of what makesBattlefieldunique.
The most important thing to take into consideration about this shift is when it began.The divisiveBattlefield 5dropped in 2018, and whether it was due to luck or a smart business decision,Call of Dutybegan releasing large scale multiplayer maps in 2019. As soon asBattlefieldstarted to lose some fans,Call of Dutywas there to capitalize on the situation, with its games now offering big battles andCall of Duty’s trademark close quarters encounters. WithBattlefieldonly providing one of those things,Call of Dutymanages to feel like a more complete package.
With this in mind, perhaps the best pathBattlefieldcan take is one thatCall of Dutyrecently paved. Much likeCall of Dutytook a trick fromBattlefield’s playbook,Battlefieldshould do the same, offering small scale experiences alongside the big maps fans expect.Battlefield 3’s Close Quartersexpansion already proved that infantry-only maps can play well in the series, so leaning into that could help. Beyond that, the nextBattlefieldgame needs to double down on whatCall of Duty’s big maps lack, that being vehicles like jets and tanks as well as destruction. If handled correctly,Battlefieldcan make the comeback it deserves, creating a proper competition between the two FPS giants once again.
