EA bringing Battlefield to mobile

Publisher Electronic Arts and developer DICE are bringing the Battlefield franchise to mobile devices in 2022. DICE general manager Oskar Gabrielson announced the project Thursday, promising a “completely new Battlefield game” that will bring “all-out warfare to smartphones and tablets” next year.

Working with DICE on the project is Industrial Toys, the mobile game developer founded by Bungie co-founder Alex Seropian in 2012. EA acquired Industrial Toys, which created mobile shooter Midnight Star, in 2018.

Gabrielson said that the developers have spent years prototyping a Battlefield game for new platforms, and he stressed that the mobile shooter will be distinct from the game that DICE, Criterion, and DICE LA are releasing later this year.

“Make no mistake, this is a standalone game,” Gabrielson said of Battlefield’s mobile debut. “A completely different game from the one we’re making for console and PC, designed specifically for the mobile platform. It’s being built from the ground up by iToys to make Battlefield-on-the-go a reality, and you can expect a fully-fledged, skill-based experience. This mobile game is now entering a testing period ahead of launching next year, so expect more details to come.”

The next game in the Battlefield franchise is due in 2021. DICE plans to reveal the game soon. The most recent Battlefield was 2018’s Battlefield 5, set in World War II.

Battlefield embracing the mobile platform follows similar moves from other major franchises in recent years, including Fortnite, Diablo, League of Legends, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.