EA's next Battlefield game may be in trouble and over budget

EA's next Battlefield game, codenamed Glacier, is reportedly facing development issues and is expected to arrive in spring 2026. The game's development has been fraught with problems, leading some developers to worry that certain aspects of the game won't be well-received. EA had lofty goals for Glacier, aiming to match the popularity of Call of Duty and Fortnite with a target of 100 million players over a certain period. However, this goal is seen as unrealistic by team members, as the franchise has never achieved such numbers before. The game's free-to-play model, including a Battle Royale mode and a six-hour single-player campaign, was intended to help reach this goal. However, the external studio working on the single-player mode, Ridgeline, shut down in 2024 after finding EA's objectives unachievable. Three other EA studios are now working on the single-player mode, but it has yet to reach alpha status. The game has become the most expensive Battlefield to date, with a budget now projected to be "well north" of $400 million. The game's launch is uncertain, and if it does ship on time, some features and content may be cut from the final product. The development issues and unrealistic goals have led to concerns about the game's quality and reception.