Battlefield: Hardline Developer Explains Why a Sequel Never Happened

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Key Takeaways

  • EA hesitated on a Battlefield Hardline sequel due to the political climate and sales figures.
  • A potential new game in the franchise could be titled Hardline 2, focusing on the cops and robbers theme.
  • Multiplayer servers for Battlefield Hardline’s PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will shut down on November 7.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen numerous franchises rise and fall. However, the demise of Battlefield Hardline still stings a bit. The cops-and-robbers twist on the classic battlefield format was a breath of fresh air, and the Levolution system was truly revolutionary.

According to one of its developers, certain factors prevented Electronic Arts from approving a follow-up to 2015’s Battlefield Hardline, which was developed by the now-closed studio Visceral Games, known for creating Dead Space.

Instead of the usual military-themed entries in the renowned shooter series, Battlefield Hardline deviated from the norm by being centered around the cops and robbers dynamic. This spin-off, leveraging the impressive Levolution system from Battlefield 4, was appreciated by both critics and players for offering a novel multiplayer experience, among other things. However, unlike its predecessor, Battlefield Hardline did not receive a sequel, and someone involved in the project has shared their insight as to why this might be the case.

In a recent interview with VideoGamer, the lead multiplayer designer for Battlefield Hardline, Thaddeus Sasser, stated that the tense political climate around the time of the game’s release and its underperforming sales made Electronic Arts (EA) reluctant to create a sequel. Specifically mentioning the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9, 2014, Sasser expressed that the events were too intense for EA to proceed with Battlefield Hardline 2. Now serving as the game director for the upcoming free-to-play title Marvel Rivals, Sasser commented that EA wouldn’t move forward with the sequel.

Developer Reveals Reasons Why Battlefield Hardline 2 Was Never Made

As per Sasser’s statements, despite the non-release of Battlefield Hardline, its development team had already brainstormed potential new features for a sequel. This hypothetical sequel might have profited from not incorporating the Battlefield title in its name, as many fans found the previous format unappealing. Instead, Sasser proposed that a follow-up game be titled Hardline 2, thereby maintaining its essence as a cops-and-robbers game known for its wide array of weapons and gadgets.

It’s been confirmed by EA that a fresh Battlefield installment, set in modern times, is due for release around early 2025. Preliminary sketches hint at the forthcoming shooter including Gibraltar, a British territory on the Iberian Peninsula’s tip, which has had significant strategic importance throughout history. Interestingly, a map mirroring this region was featured in Battlefield 2142 as well.

As a dedicated gamer, I wanted to share some news about my favorite Battlefield series: starting November 7th, the multiplayer servers for Battlefield Hardline on PS3 and Xbox 360 will be shutting down, along with online services for Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 on these consoles. Unfortunately, this means it’s time to bid farewell to those epic battles we’ve enjoyed for so long.

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2024-11-04 14:23