Moving forward, Battlefield games are going to be developed as part of a shared universe, but another Electronic Arts IP - Titanfall - has a much more fascinating setting for such an endeavor. Very few entries in the long-running Battlefield series have an emphasis on narrative, and it's not exactly a requested area of improvement from the community. Titanfall, on the other hand, has a fleshed-out science fiction universe that already has two dedicated games, and the added benefit of Apex Legends sharing the setting.
Battlefield already has something of a shared narrative, but it's so minuscule that many don't pay it much attention. With Kimble "Irish" Graves' appearance, Battlefield 2042 is a sequel to Battlefield 4, albeit 21 years later canonically with very few narrative connections and no single-player campaign. Though there hasn't been any indication for such plans, it's also possible that 2042's increasingly dire climate disasters are leading to a tie-in with the setting of Battlefield 2142, where two warring factions, the European Union and the Pan Asian Coalition, are vying for the last sustainable land amidst a new Ice Age. Aside from the Battlefield 4 to 2042 through line, only Bad Company and its sequel had any storytelling that was more than just adequate.
Titanfall initially had a focus on multiplayer, just like Battlefield does, but successfully integrated a narrative across its multiplayer matches. In a sort of precursor to the storytelling done by newer live-service games, the original Titanfall used narration and short cutscenes before and during multiplayer games to tell the story of a cosmic conflict between the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation and the Frontier Militia. Titanfall 2 continued the story with a dedicated single-player campaign, putting players in control of Titan pilot Jack Cooper. Titanfall's worlds in the Frontier have been expanded upon in Apex Legends, which even features some of the same characters to expand the series' lore.
The planned connected universe for Battlefield's expansion just seems unnecessary. The campaigns from Battlefield 3 to V all had their merits, but ultimately felt like a bonus in addition to the signature multiplayer mayhem of the franchise. Additionally, the backdrop of 2042 is somewhat interesting, and the Exodus short film was a fun watch, but the lack of campaign is a criticism that pales in comparison to the work that needs to be done on the extremely buggy and feature-incomplete multiplayer modes. At least so far, the Battlefield universe is confined to Earth, and that greatly limits the potential for an expansive universe in comparison with Titanfall.
It seems that EA recognizes the strengths of the Titanfall brand, since it's put Titanfall and Apex Legends studio co-founder Vince Zampella in charge of the Battlefield expansion. Rather than continue to grow Titanfall into its potential, EA seems determined to continually twist Battlefield into something that its core fanbase may not even want. 2042's disastrous launch and gameplay designs have already alienated many longtime Battlefield players. The series is at its best when the narrative is left on the periphery, and multiplayer combat featuring generic soldiers is at the epicenter. The attempt to cash in on the lucrative microtransactions of hero shooters has already resulted in annoying Battlefield 2042 Specialist dialogue, which doesn't inspire much confidence as a foundation.
The characters in Apex Legends can be quirky at times, but the established universe of Titanfall has plenty of room to grow, and both Titanfall games' single player content takes the setting fairly seriously. The conflict between the IMC and the Militia already has plenty of interesting sci-fi tropes - AI controlling a synthetic army, human soldiers piloting mech suits, interplanetary corporations oppressing colonists, etc. - but Battlefield would have to do a lot of unnecessary work to build any sort of cohesive world. The Non-Patriated in 2042 are a good concept, but have so far meant nothing since they've been turned into a flavorful detail for yet another United States vs. Russia backdrop. The core Battlefield fanbase is rightfully disappointed, and seems to want the series to return to its roots, but EA looks equally determined to morph it into a larger identity that IPs like Titanfall are already using successfully.
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