When Battlefield 2042 launched in 2021, it came without a campaign mode, breaking a long-standing tradition in the series. Fans were quick to express frustration, especially since past Battlefield games featured emotional, immersive single-player experiences that added depth to the overall package. Players were hoping the next entry in the franchise would return to those roots.
Hope for a Strong Comeback in Battlefield 6
As development on Battlefield 6 began, many fans hoped that a meaningful story campaign would make a comeback. Given the evolving expectations in the FPS genre and the years since the last narrative-driven Battlefield (Battlefield V in 2018), the next campaign was expected to be the biggest and most ambitious in the franchise’s history.
New Report Reveals Alarming Campaign Details
However, a recent report casts doubt on those expectations. According to Ars Technica, the campaign being developed for Battlefield 6 is only expected to last six hours — and even that may be optimistic. Earlier assumptions had the campaign clocking in at around ten hours, which would have made it a substantial single-player journey. Instead, it now appears that the final campaign may be significantly shorter, and its development may be in trouble.
Multiple Studios Involved, Including EA Motive, DICE, and Criterion
The new Battlefield entry is being developed by multiple studios working together. The single-player campaign is being led by EA Motive, a studio known for titles like Dead Space Remake and Star Wars: Squadrons. Meanwhile, DICE and Criterion are also contributing to the overall project, particularly on the multiplayer and gameplay mechanics side. With so many teams involved, coordination is complex — and problems in one area can affect the entire product.
Battle Royale Ambitions: EA Aims for 100 Million Players
One major focus of Battlefield 6 is the addition of a free-to-play battle royale mode. The goal, according to sources in the Ars Technica report, is to attract over 100 million players worldwide. EA reportedly sees this as a long-term competitive answer to titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, and Apex Legends. This shift in priorities may be part of why the campaign has taken a backseat in development.
Development Problems: Campaign Fails Internal Milestone
Perhaps the most troubling part of the report is the revelation that, as of April 2025 (Ordibehesht 1404 in the Iranian calendar), the single-player campaign was the only part of the game that had not passed the third major development milestone, internally referred to as “gate three.” This stage usually includes a deep review of the game’s design, pacing, technical performance, and narrative structure.
According to one developer:
“The single-player is way behind. It’s lagging more than any other part of the game. Unless there’s a massive day-one patch or an early access period, it’s hard to see how it’ll be ready on time or up to standard.”
Possible Cuts or Delays Looming Ahead
In order to launch the game with a campaign at all, the team may be forced to cut entire sections from the story or dedicate the entire summer and final months of 2025 to bug fixing, polishing, and finalizing the campaign mode. This would require intense work and coordination under pressure — and even then, there’s no guarantee the campaign will meet fans’ expectations.
Seven Years Without a Proper Battlefield Campaign
The last time players experienced a single-player Battlefield campaign was in Battlefield V (2018), which featured the War Stories format — short vignettes from different perspectives during World War II. Since then, fans have been waiting over seven years for another full-length campaign. For many, the absence of a deep solo experience in Battlefield 2042 left a noticeable gap in the series’ identity.
What This Means for Fans of Narrative Shooters
For players who love story-driven first-person shooters, this news is understandably disappointing. The Battlefield series has long balanced cinematic storytelling with large-scale multiplayer combat, but the new direction seems focused more on live service, competitive modes, and battle royale content.
While those elements may appeal to a wide audience, they risk alienating long-time fans who came to the series for its blend of spectacle and story.
Can Battlefield 6 Still Deliver?
There’s still time for DICE, EA Motive, and Criterion to course-correct. A solid campaign, even if short, could still deliver a tight, memorable experience if executed well. However, based on current reports, expectations may need to be adjusted — at least when it comes to the single-player portion of Battlefield 6.
