EA Studios boss Patrick Soderlund rejected DICE’s original pitch for a World War 1 Battlefield game, the executive revealed during the company’s annual Investor Day briefing today.
Soderlund believed the idea of trench warfare was not particularly exciting but the developers persisted and finally managed to win Soderlund’s backing. The game was eventually announced as Battlefield 1 earlier this month and offers a lot more than trench fighting.
He’s now convinced that the game’s setting is “right for the franchise and right for EA.”
The game’s announcement trailer features horses, tanks, triplanes, and airships and lead designer Daniel Berlin has said the shooter hopes to “challenge some preconceptions” about the First World War.
Soderlund also mentioned that other titles are taking a different direction. While he didn’t mention any games specifically, Battlefield 1’s main competitor is Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare which takes place in the far future with gameplay set in space and on other planets.
EA is also releasing Respawn’s Titanfall 2 around the same time as Battlefield 1 but the company believes the games appeal to different audiences.
Battlefield 1’s trailer has been widely liked on YouTube while Infinite Warfare’s has proven to be extremely unpopular.
Battlefield 1 launches on October 21st for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. EA/Origin Access members and those who purchase the game’s deluxe edition can start playing from October 18th. A beta will also be held at some before launch.
