Summary
The identity and core experience of theBattlefieldfranchise have changed a lot in recent years, with the IP shifting between wildly different core settings and ways of delivering content. With post-launch support now having officially ended for the controversialBattlefield 2042, a lot of attention is being placed on the future of the franchise, and a lot of lessons can be learned from the IP’s past mainline entries.
2016’sBattlefield 1still stands as one of the most unique and visually striking releases that the franchise has ever seen, boldly taking the IP’s large-scale combat to the fighting of the First World War. DICE really leaned into this setting with the memorable behemoth-class vehicles that often turned the tide of battle, with teams potentially unlocking access to the likes of armored trains, battleships, and blimps. Otherwise known as airships, blimps were perhaps the most WW1-synonymous vehicles thatBattlefield 1had at its disposal, and the introduction and destruction of blimps in-game provided some of the most cinematic and striking sequences that the franchise has ever offered. Regardless of what era the nextBattlefieldproject chooses to explore, it is clear that DICE needs to recreate the cinematic magic thatBF1’s blimp held.
The Next Battlefield Should Try to Rival the Setpiece Magic of Battlefield 1
TheBattlefieldfranchise has done wellover the years to stand out in the highly competitive market of first-person shooters. Whereas FPS giants likeCall of Dutyhave historically appealed to fans through high-octane gameplay in tight-knit arenas,Battlefieldhas always chosen the more expansive, immersive, and cinematic approach to FPS multiplayer experiences.
WithBattlefieldhaving explored a variety of time periods and conflicts, such as WW1, WW2, the modern era, semi-futuristic, and beyond, the IP has been able to pull from a wide range of themes, events, and inspiration to aid the immersion of its core gameplay. Period-appropriate vehicles have always played a big part in giving aBattlefieldtitle its identity, with the franchise being defined by simultaneous ground wars, tank skirmishes, and aerial dogfights that are tailored to different eras.
2016’sBattlefield 1took airships a step further, with the game placing a massive focus on larger vehicles that act as the centerpiece for a given map. While the franchise has had similar vehicles in the past,Battlefield 1was the first to officially class them as “behemoth” vehicles that were made available to a losing team to even the odds of battle. Of course,BF1’s First World War setting did not have the high-powered vehicles and weaponry that typified other franchise releases, and so behemoth vehicles were the perfect way to make up for this lull in content.
Behemoth Vehicles Still Have a Place in Battleifeld’s Future
Theblimps ofBattlefield 1are arguably the most memorable aspect of the game’s behemoth system, with the blimps having a size and imposing map presence that has never really been replicated with any otherBattlefieldvehicle. The iconic trailer forBattlefield 1clearly echoed this sentiment, with the trailer ending with a blimp casting an intimidating shadow over the land. The entrance of a blimp into a match had a similar impact in-game forBattlefield 1, with the destruction of a zeppelin also coming with huge cinematic waves of fire that would rain down on players. The charred skeleton of the blimp would then lie where it fell, dynamically changing the map in a way the nextBattlefieldproject should attempt to recreate.
The behemoth system sadly did not appear inBattlefield 2042, but the period setting of a title should not prevent similar vehicles from being introduced. Massive planes, tanks, and ships can easily be molded to anysetting that the nextBattlefieldtitle might explore, and DICE should prioritize dynamic entrances and explosions of any future behemoth vehicles to match the cinematic memorability ofBattlefield 1’s iconic blimps.
