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EA business and news from across the web.
Battlefield 6 Is Finally Getting More Than Two Maps In A Season, But There's A CatchBattlefield 6's Season 5 will introduce three new maps, a departure from the usual two, though this is being treated as a special occasion rather than a new standard. Battlefield Studios executive producer Ryan McArthur stated that while Season 5 is a "holiday surprise," future plans will adapt the seasonal structure to player experiences. The studio also confirmed remakes of popular maps from Battlefield 3 and 4, naval warfare in Season 4, and other updates like proximity chat and ranked play for 2026.
Solo dev takes on the ultimate retro challenge, ports "Super Mario 64 meets Pokemon" platformer to PS1, N64, Saturn, Dreamcast, and far more terrible consoles all at onceSolo developer Walfrido Abejón is creating Noah and the Poohloudies, a 3D platformer with creature collecting elements, simultaneously for six retro consoles: PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, 3DO, and N-Gage. The game involves rescuing robots and utilizing their abilities while managing their needs, presenting a unique challenge due to the distinct technical limitations of each platform.
Skate adds limited-time Nike SB event with night skating and exclusive gearEA has launched a limited-time Nike SB crossover event in Skate, featuring night skating and exclusive branded gear. The event, running until May 5, introduces new challenges and obstacles on the Isle of Grom. This collaboration is seen as a step towards making Skate more authentic to real skateboarding.
"I wanted you to feel bad": former Battlefield audio designer recalls punching himself to record more realistic gunshot screamsFormer DICE audio director Bence Pajor discussed his methods for creating realistic gunshot sound effects for the Battlefield series, including punching himself to record authentic screams of pain. While aiming for immersion, some colleagues found the sounds too disturbing. Pajor, who previously served as a military sniper, has since moved on to work on Arc Raiders, focusing on robot combat sounds.- FC 26 Serie A Team of the Season Squad: All Players & Release TimesA leaked squad for FC 26's Serie A Team of the Season has revealed the inclusion of players like Lautaro Martínez, Kenan Yıldız, and Luka Modrić, with an official release date set for April 17, 2026. Notable omissions include Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Alessandro Bastoni, though they may appear in later promotions. This marks the first major league release in the Team of the Season campaign.
Games Inbox: What video game has the most bugs and glitches?Readers discuss which video games are the buggiest, with Fallout: New Vegas and Cyberpunk 2077 being frequently mentioned. The conversation also touches on the merits of retro gaming versus modern titles and the challenges of releasing major games during the holiday season.
Full progression on Battlefield 6 Portal maps might be on the cards again, according to community managerEA has indicated that full progression may return to verified community-made Portal maps in Battlefield 2042. This follows community feedback and the success of detailed fan-made maps like Jungle Breach. Enabling full progression on these maps is seen as crucial for supporting the game's user-generated content ecosystem and improving long-term player engagement.- Battlefield 6 makes big changes to progression and revives, but it might be too late for some fansBattlefield 6 is receiving a significant update, version 1.2.3.0, on April 14th, introducing changes to progression and revive mechanics. The update aims to make progression more rewarding by awarding XP for active use of weapons and vehicles, and revives will now function with limited charges, similar to older titles. Despite these adjustments, some community members are expressing dissatisfaction, citing a perceived lack of content since launch and feeling the changes are 'too little, too late'.
Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service is ending support for game purchases and subscriptions from third-party stores, and users will lose streaming access to purchased third-party games in JuneAmazon's Luna cloud gaming service is ending support for purchasing games from third-party stores like EA, Ubisoft, and GOG, and will discontinue Ubisoft+ and Jackbox Games subscriptions. Previously purchased third-party games will remain streamable until June 10, 2026, after which access will be removed.
Battlefield 6 leaks show off Golmud Railway and a new M16 to bootLeaked gameplay footage for Battlefield 6 reveals a remastered Golmud Railway map with new destruction features and the M16A3 weapon. The map appears to have layout adjustments, including new vehicle spawn points and altered POIs, potentially leading to more urban combat and vehicle control dynamics. The leaks suggest changes aimed at reducing sniper dominance and offering new playstyles.
Battlefield 6 Update Makes A Major Change To Revives To Bring Them In Line With Classic GamesBattlefield Studios is implementing significant changes to the revive mechanic in Battlefield 6 with Update 1.2.3.0, reverting it to a system with limited charges similar to classic Battlefield titles. This update also introduces a new melee weapon, "The Ripper 14", and a limited-time mode called "Operation Augur". Despite recent staff reductions at Battlefield Studios by EA, the publisher maintains that quality map development will not be rushed.
Triple-I Initiative Showcase 2026: Castlevania, Dead As Disco, And Every Game ShownThe Triple-I Initiative Showcase featured 40 game announcements, including world premieres and DLC for existing titles. Highlights included new looks at Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Dead as Disco, and Windrose, alongside reveals for games like Final Sentence and Crop. Several titles announced release dates or entered early access, with many coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Xenonauts 2 review - a legally distinct XCOM 3Xenonauts 2 is a turn-based tactics game that serves as a spiritual successor to the original X-COM, focusing on intense battles and strategic base management. While it excels as a homage with improved graphics and a challenging difficulty, it offers few new ideas and relies heavily on the random elements that defined the original.
The rise, fall, and resurgence of Australian game developmentThe Australian game development industry has experienced a significant resurgence, transitioning from major studio closures after the 2008 financial crisis to a thriving indie scene supported by government tax incentives and funding. Despite challenges like a smaller talent pool, government initiatives like the Digital Games Tax Offset have made Australia an attractive investment destination, fostering growth for both indie and larger studios.- Buffs, Nerfs, and BugsBungie has implemented a significant nerf to a powerful weapon in Marathon, aiming to reduce its dominance within the game. Additionally, EA unexpectedly removed a map from Apex Legends without prior notice.
Game Devs Fire Back: ‘Updates Are a Bonus, Not a Right’Indie developers Peak and Aggro Crab have pushed back against player demands for constant game updates, stating that such updates are a bonus, not a right, especially for non-live service studios. The article highlights the disconnect between player expectations, fueled by live service games like Fortnite and Apex Legends, and the realities faced by smaller development teams who risk burnout from unrealistic demands.
An architect of GameStop's long-forgotten Steam competitor explains why he thinks Valve came out on top: 'What Steam did better than anybody else was to create a community'Former Impulse storefront architect Larry Kuperman explains Valve's success with Steam, attributing it to superior community building and a more open platform for developers. He contrasts Steam's approach with early competitors like GameStop's Impulse and Paradox's GamersGate, highlighting Steam's ability to foster indie survival and facilitate the sale of third-party games.
Ustwo Games to keynote Develop:Brighton 2026Ustwo Games executives Maria Sayans, Daniel Gray, and Peter Pashley will deliver the keynote at Develop:Brighton 2026, discussing the studio's 14-year history and its strategic shift towards PC as a primary platform. The studio, known for titles like Monument Valley and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, will explore its journey and future direction.
The Division 3 Losing Top Boss Is No Big Deal, Ubisoft Says; Confirms Division 2 Won't Go FreeUbisoft assures players that The Division 3 will proceed as planned despite the departure of executive producer Julian Gerighty, with senior producer Fredrik Brönjemark stating the roadmap is secure. The company also confirmed that The Division 2 will not transition to a free-to-play model, as it would require design changes Ubisoft is unwilling to make. Additionally, Ubisoft discussed the ongoing growth of The Division franchise, including the recent launch of The Division Resurgence and the cancellation of The Division Heartland.
Iconic Devs Say the Industry Feels 'Crashier' Now Than the Actual Video Game Crash of the 80sJohn and Brenda Romero, founders of Romero Games, believe the current state of the video game industry is more challenging than the 1983 crash. They cite difficulties in securing funding and widespread layoffs, even at successful studios like EA's Battlefield division, as evidence of the industry's instability.