Developer DICE is planning to finally show off its battle royale mode for Battlefield V tomorrow. In a trailer that is going live at 6 a.m. Pacific time, the studio will reveal the details of the mode that it’s calling Firestorm. You can watch the trailer right here once DICE flips the switch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JB-O8A-TA
I originally reported that DICE was working on a battle royale mode for Battlefield V in April. At that time, the studio was merely prototyping the concept. It did not plan to have it ready in time for Battlefield V’s fall launch. In June, the studio confirmed that Battlefield V was getting a battle royale. And as predicted, DICE said it would launch the mode in March.
Well, March is here — wait, we’re halfway through the month already. But despite the relentless march of time, DICE hasn’t shared many new details. That’s going to change tomorrow, however. The studio hasn’t provided a launch date, but that is something I expect we will learn tomorrow.
June 5th: The AI Audit in NYC
Join us next week in NYC to engage with top executive leaders, delving into strategies for auditing AI models to ensure fairness, optimal performance, and ethical compliance across diverse organizations. Secure your attendance for this exclusive invite-only event.
Hitting its commitment to March
If DICE can get Firestorm out by the end of this month, that could give fans faith in the future. Battlefield V has not sold well compared to the recent history of the franchise. It is the only Battlefield game to miss the top 10 best-selling games in the U.S. for its release year. And its sales performance is more in line with Battlefield: Hardline than Battlefield 1.
Releasing Firestorm in March could also convince EA to give DICE more slack. With the slow sales of Battlefield V, the publisher has to decide between forcing DICE to regroup for the next game or letting the studio save BFV.
DICE does not plan to launch a new game this fall. This is the first holiday it will not have a brand new release since 2014. But with Battlefield Hardline and Star Wars: Battlefront in 2015, it has shipped seven games in the last five-to-six years. The studio is EA’s workhorse. But now that Respawn has produced an unexpected megahit for EA with Apex Legends, that is taking some of the pressure off of DICE.
DICE may not want that breathing room, though. To convince EA to continue investing in Battlefield V, it likely needs Firestorm to take off. Especially since the rumored Battlefield Bad Company II Remaster has not materialized.
