Battlefield Mobile, the next free-to-play spinoff of Dice's multiplayer FPS series, could launch later this year, EA has revealed.
Speaking during the publisher's latest quarterly earnings call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson was asked about the status of Battlefield Mobile. He said that he expects the handheld shooter to launch later this year if beta testing goes as planned.
“Right now, I think we're looking at doing more testing at the end of May and then subject to the metrics and the data that we see and the engagement that we see, we could be looking at the end of this year. early next year, for a worldwide launch,” Wilson said.
“Remember that on mobile it all comes down to tweaking and balancing once we enter this closed beta phase.”
Wilson added that releasing the game in the next fiscal year, meaning before the end of March 2023, could be a godsend for the publisher. However, the team is willing not to rush the game.
"We want to give ourselves the opportunity to make sure the game has all the soft launch and closed beta it needs to adjust and balance," he said.
"But after playing, I can tell you that we're excited about the potential."
Radio silence
It's been a while since we've heard about Battlefield Mobile. The game was officially revealed by the creator of the Dice series in April 2021, along with a tentative release date of 2022. Since then, EA has kept quiet about the game's development and provided very few updates. Although it did release some early playtests, they were only available in certain countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
EA previously described the upcoming spinoff as a "standalone game" that was "designed specifically for the mobile platform." As expected, the game will be free to play but will be monetized with its own battle pass, collectible cosmetics, and unlockable items. It will also be compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Wilson's insistence that Battlefield Mobile must undergo rigorous testing before release will be welcome news for fans of the series. Battlefield 2042 has received a notably hostile reception since it launched late last year, with fans criticizing its persistent tech bugs and lack of content.
On the same earnings call, EA reiterated its plans to improve Battlefield 2042 for the long haul by rethinking its development from the ground up. The team will need to make major changes if it wants to rebuild its disappointed player base.