DICE general manager leaves studio after 14 years

Patrick Bach, general manager of EA DICE’s Stockholm studio, has left the company. Electronic Arts confirmed to PlayStation Lifestyle in statements from both Bach, who was employed at DICE in varying capacities over the course of 14 years, and EA itself that the studio veteran was out, marking Battlefield 1 as the former manager’s last project.

“I’ve had an epic ride at DICE and EA, filled with amazingly creative and passionate people, and unforgettable experiences with our player community,” Bach told PlayStation Lifestyle. “I’ll certainly be playing Battlefield 1 for a long, long time to come, and I look forward to seeing what’s next from the incredible team at DICE.”

Patrick Soderlund, executive vice president of EA Worldwide Studios, added that Bach “has been a great colleague to many across DICE and EA for almost 15 years. We thank him for all of his contributions, especially to our Battlefield franchise and community, and wish him all the best on his next adventure.”

Bach’s tenure with DICE began in 2002, where he worked as lead designer on RalliSport Challenge 2. The majority of his resume, however, belongs to the Battlefield series. Bach worked on each Battlefield game released in the past 12 years, from Battlefield: Bad Company to Battlefield 1, which launched to wide acclaim in early October.

Starting as a producer on the series, he worked his way up to executive producer on Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 before he was named DICE general manager in April 2014. Bach was often the public face for the series as well, shepherding Battlefield 4 through media controversy in particular.

Alongside Battlefield 1, Bach most recently oversaw Mirror’s Edge Catalyst and DICE’s sequel to Star Wars Battlefront, due out next fall. EA has not yet named his successor.