Mike Ybarra, the former president of Blizzard Entertainment, has taken to social media to voice his opinions on the competitive landscape of first-person shooters. In a recent post on X, he boldly stated, “Battlefield will boot stomp CoD this year. But the real win here is CoD won’t be lazy anymore, and we’ll all get better FPS games for it.” This statement reflects a growing sentiment among gamers as Battlefield appears to be making a significant comeback, particularly with the upcoming release of Battlefield 6.
Resurgence of Battlefield
The latest entry in the Battlefield series is taking a back-to-basics approach, a strategy that contrasts sharply with the direction Call of Duty has taken in recent years. After a rocky launch with Battlefield 2042, EA seems to have recalibrated its focus, and early indicators suggest that Battlefield 6 is poised for a successful revival. The game’s open beta recently attracted over 250,000 players, signaling a robust interest from the gaming community.
Ybarra’s remarks resonate with a broader understanding that increased competition typically leads to improved products for consumers. When one entity dominates a market, stagnation often follows, and many believe this has been the case with Call of Duty. Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the franchise’s recent shift towards collaborations reminiscent of Fortnite, which some argue dilute its serious tone. In contrast, Battlefield is honing in on its core mechanics, striving to provide a more refined shooting experience.
However, Ybarra’s comments have not gone without scrutiny. Critics have pointed out that his disdain for Call of Duty may stem from its current ownership under Microsoft. Additionally, they highlighted that despite Infinite Warfare—one of the most criticized entries in the series—outselling Battlefield 1, Ybarra’s critiques seem to focus solely on the negatives of Call of Duty without acknowledging any strengths of the competitor.
In response to the backlash, Ybarra described Call of Duty as “a mess,” citing persistent issues such as cheating, cumbersome installation sizes, and a colorful aesthetic that some players find off-putting. While these are valid concerns, his critique lacks a balanced perspective, leaning more towards a comparative analysis that suggests Battlefield simply “sucks less” rather than offering genuine praise for its innovations.
The Future of FPS Games
As the gaming community watches closely, the question arises: can Battlefield 6 leverage this momentum to disrupt the long-standing dominance of Call of Duty? Activision remains confident in the franchise’s resilience, believing it is too entrenched to fail, especially in light of Battlefield 6‘s promising reception. Many players may continue to gravitate towards Call of Duty out of habit, but the potential for change looms large.
Set to release on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Battlefield 6 boasts modest hardware requirements, including a default 60 FPS mode even on the Series S consoles. As the open beta draws to a close, the anticipation surrounding the game is palpable, and EA is likely to keep the excitement alive as they aim to reclaim the military shooter crown, a title they last held with Battlefield 1.
Blizzard’s ex-CEO says Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty this year because the franchise has “gone downhill” — calls it a victory for players as COD “won’t be lazy” anymore
Mike Ybarra, the former president of Blizzard Entertainment, has taken to social media to voice his opinions on the competitive landscape of first-person shooters. In a recent post on X, he boldly stated, “Battlefield will boot stomp CoD this year. But the real win here is CoD won’t be lazy anymore, and we’ll all get better FPS games for it.” This statement reflects a growing sentiment among gamers as Battlefield appears to be making a significant comeback, particularly with the upcoming release of Battlefield 6.
Resurgence of Battlefield
The latest entry in the Battlefield series is taking a back-to-basics approach, a strategy that contrasts sharply with the direction Call of Duty has taken in recent years. After a rocky launch with Battlefield 2042, EA seems to have recalibrated its focus, and early indicators suggest that Battlefield 6 is poised for a successful revival. The game’s open beta recently attracted over 250,000 players, signaling a robust interest from the gaming community.
Ybarra’s remarks resonate with a broader understanding that increased competition typically leads to improved products for consumers. When one entity dominates a market, stagnation often follows, and many believe this has been the case with Call of Duty. Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the franchise’s recent shift towards collaborations reminiscent of Fortnite, which some argue dilute its serious tone. In contrast, Battlefield is honing in on its core mechanics, striving to provide a more refined shooting experience.
However, Ybarra’s comments have not gone without scrutiny. Critics have pointed out that his disdain for Call of Duty may stem from its current ownership under Microsoft. Additionally, they highlighted that despite Infinite Warfare—one of the most criticized entries in the series—outselling Battlefield 1, Ybarra’s critiques seem to focus solely on the negatives of Call of Duty without acknowledging any strengths of the competitor.
In response to the backlash, Ybarra described Call of Duty as “a mess,” citing persistent issues such as cheating, cumbersome installation sizes, and a colorful aesthetic that some players find off-putting. While these are valid concerns, his critique lacks a balanced perspective, leaning more towards a comparative analysis that suggests Battlefield simply “sucks less” rather than offering genuine praise for its innovations.
The Future of FPS Games
As the gaming community watches closely, the question arises: can Battlefield 6 leverage this momentum to disrupt the long-standing dominance of Call of Duty? Activision remains confident in the franchise’s resilience, believing it is too entrenched to fail, especially in light of Battlefield 6‘s promising reception. Many players may continue to gravitate towards Call of Duty out of habit, but the potential for change looms large.
Set to release on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Battlefield 6 boasts modest hardware requirements, including a default 60 FPS mode even on the Series S consoles. As the open beta draws to a close, the anticipation surrounding the game is palpable, and EA is likely to keep the excitement alive as they aim to reclaim the military shooter crown, a title they last held with Battlefield 1.