Next Battlefield Game Aiming for Hyper-Realistic Destruction, Job Listing Indicates

Despite the disappointing reception to 2021’s Battlefield 2042, EA’s premier first-person shooter franchise looks to rebuild trust and re-energise fans with its next entry. A newly posted job listing for the project suggests a renewed focus on delivering cutting-edge environmental destruction effects.

Ambitious New Battlefield in the Works

While specific details remain scarce, EA has shaken up Battlefield’s development structure following 2042’s stumbles. Leadership has passed to Ripple Effect Studios, previously known as DICE LA.

The team is hard at work on an undisclosed next iteration seeking to revitalise the brand after 2042 fell short of expectations.

Job Listing Hints at Priorities

A job listing for a VFX Director role at Ripple Effect provides valuable insight into the new Battlefield’s technical priorities. According to the posting, the studio wants to “create the most realistic and exciting destruction effects in the industry” for the project.

This suggests EA seeks to recapture what originally made the FPS special – over-the-top, physics-based environmental destruction that dynamically alters the conflict zone.

Ever since 2008’s Bad Company introduced the Frostbite engine, the game has pushed the boundaries of real-time destructive technology in competitive multiplayer. Standout moments include toppling skyscrapers in Battlefield 4 and meteor strikes reshaping whole landscapes in Battlefield 1.

But effects were toned down in recent entries, disappointing fans eager for next-gen chaos. This listing implies Ripple Effect aims to reclaim Battlefield’s reputation as the industry leader in blockbuster virtual destruction through cutting-edge tech.

Reason for Scepticism

However, EA has made bold marketing claims about the FPS’s destructive capabilities before that ultimately fell short. Ahead of 2042, developers boasted it would have “game-changing destruction” – a promise that rang hollow to players disappointed by its downgraded physics.

Given this history of overpromising, fans would be wise to temper expectations until concrete details and gameplay footage emerge. The listing may be intentionally overhyping destruction capabilities to attract top talent.

In August 2023, EA CEO Andrew Wilson hinted at a “reimagination” of Battlefield centered around a “connected ecosystem” – likely taking inspiration from Activision’s integrated Call of Duty model.

This approach appears to entail multiple concurrent Battlefield projects and shared elements between titles. Exactly how Ripple Effect’s new entry fits into the grander scheme remains unclear.

Additional Battlefield Games

Per Wilson’s vision, EA has other Battlefield games cooking alongside Ripple Effect’s title. One is a multiplayer experience cited as an “entirely new” take that “builds upon the series’ foundations.”

Another is a story-focused single-player outing in early development at new studio Ridgeline Games – addressing 2042’s lack of campaign.

EA’s plans for the first-person shooter seem to be continuously shifting in response to 2042’s shaky launch and recent recovery. How all the disparate projects and ideas coalesce into a coherent roadmap stays a mystery until EA opens up.

Don’t expect concrete details or official unveiling of Ripple Effect’s next entry anytime soon. If 2042 is any indicator, EA withholds full reveals until close to launch, meaning fans likely face a long wait.

What to Expect

Whenever it arrives, the new Battlefield faces immense pressure to prove the franchise has learned from 2042’s missteps. Along with best-in-class destruction, expectations include:

• Traditional multiplayer staples like classes and squads
• Massive maps with tighter, faster-paced flow
• Polished mechanics, balance and technical performance
• Next-gen visuals powered by Frostbite engine updates
• Novel innovations that still feel quintessentially Battlefield

The Road Ahead

EA faces major challenges restoring the FPS title’s technical leadership and core community trust after 2042 failed to meet expectations. But Ripple Effect’s job listing suggests they recognise the importance of recapturing what made the series special in its heyday – paving the battlefield with next-level destructive spectacle.

All eyes now look ahead to how EA capitalises on its grand connected universe ambitions to usher Battlefield into a new era. For now, fans await concrete details in hope the franchise’s glory days may yet return.

Source – tech4gamers