The next Battlefield game is eager to be more than another multiplayer shooter. EA Motive, the studio behind the critically praised Dead Space remake, revealed that the upcoming campaign takes cues from the 2024 movie Civil War and lessons learned from their sci-fi horror project.
After rough patches with previous entries, excitement builds as Battlefield Labs playtests the multiplayer portion. However, the single-player campaign is also getting attention, with developers eager to capture a fresh narrative angle inspired by real human drama and tension.
Campaign Inspirations from Civil War and Dead Space
Senior producer Philippe Ducharme shared in an interview with Inverse that the 2024 film Civil War, starring Kirsten Dunst, served as a creative reference. The movie follows journalists navigating a fractured United States torn apart by conflict, focusing on ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
“I really enjoyed Civil War,” Ducharme said. “Some of the things that we’re pushing, the film is actually a good reference.” Creative director Roman Campos-Oriola added that the team is interested in “the concept of talented but ordinary people put in extraordinary situations,” which creates compelling dynamics between characters. These themes are central to the single-player experience they want to deliver.
EA Motive’s work on the Dead Space remake also influenced the new Battlefield. While sci-fi horror and military shooters might seem worlds apart, the team brought over ideas about pacing and tension. Ducharme explained how Dead Space’s “curve of tension“—balancing highs and lows to keep players hooked and subvert expectations—helped shape their approach.
“It’s obviously very different in a game like Battlefield. But we still brought that mentality over,” he said.
What to Expect and Release Window
The new Battlefield is expected to launch before March 2026, but there is some speculation it might arrive later this year, especially after the GTA 6 delay. The game returns to a current setting, drawing comparisons to Battlefield 3 from fans who have seen early footage.
Whether you’re here for the multiplayer chaos or the story-driven campaign, EA Motive is eager to deliver a Battlefield experience with a fresh narrative edge and carefully crafted tension.
What do you think about these inspirations? Does a campaign influenced by a war drama and a horror remake sound like a good mix? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments!
