Marcus Lehto recently joined Battlefield as game director. Now he is once again turning to fans to get their opinions on gameplay and game design.
What will the next Battlefield look like, and what will 2042 be like? These questions are not only asked by fans, but EA is also thinking about how to bring the series back to its former success. As a member of the new management team, Marcus Lehto now turns to the fans and gets some interesting answers to his questions about game design and more.
What do fans want?
Who is Marcus Lehto anyway? If you’re wondering what Lehto actually does at Battlefield and why he was chosen for the job, here’s a brief answer: At Battlefield, the developer is the game director responsible for the overall story of the series. Marcus Lehto previously worked at Bungie for 15 years and is considered the co-creator of Halo.
Now quickly to the actual topic: On Twitter, Lehto posed three different questions to which he hoped for honest feedback from the fans:
Style and tone of Battlefield
First, the game director asked about which style players liked best so far:
OK, so I asked about Battlefield music earlier, now I want to know which is your favourite title for style and tone. Gritty, heroic, fun?
All of your responses have been absolutely fantastic BTW. Thank you for engaging.– Marcus Lehto 🇺🇦 (@game_fabricator) August 13, 2022
Following the troubled launch of Battlefield 2042, the leadership of the shooter series has been replaced and key posts have been filled with several high profile personnel.
Battlefield 2042 had previously received a lot of criticism because of its unexpectedly less gloomy atmosphere and the – now removed – sayings of the Specialists at the end of the round.
Accordingly, many fans apparently also want the style of Battlefield 3 and 4 back, i.e. that of a more serious shooter. YouTuber Westie, for example, notes that the rough tone there was accompanied by appropriate music, sound effects and soldier voices, and gets a lot of encouragement for this. In terms of atmosphere, however, some fans also see Battlefield 1 as an excellent example.
The grit and harsh tones of games like BF3 and BF4. Both knew they were modern military shooters and had VO, music and sound to reflect that.
BF3 has the best soldier VO, some great lines 👌https://t.co/n3Ul6dY5BG
– Westie (@MrProWestie) August 13, 2022
Destruction
He loves the destruction in Battlefield and how it can influence decision making in combat at any time, Lehto writes on Twitter. Addressing fans, he questions whether they like the destructible buildings and map elements because of the maps they change or the sheer spectacle. 2042 has also previously been criticised for a lack of destruction.
I love the destruction I’ve experienced in Battlefield throughout the years and how it impacts minute to minute decision making.
Do you love destruction for design evolution or for pure spectacle?– Marcus Lehto 🇺🇦 (@game_fabricator) August 18, 2022
From the responses to his post, most fans seem to particularly like the tactical options that come with destruction in Battlefield. Relatively unanimously, the majority of commenters also agree that the gameplay element was best implemented in Battlefield 3, 4 and 1.
Aircraft and helicopters
Further, Lehto also asks the community about the control and use of jets and helicopters in single and multiplayer. There are a wide variety of answers to the broader question.
Jets and helos in Battlefield MP & SP.
What usages of them in both did you like or dislike the most?Would also love to know your honest opinions on the control schemes for each.
– Marcus Lehto 🇺🇦 (@game_fabricator) August 20, 2022
Some players apparently think back wistfully to older titles like Battlefield 3 and 4 here too. It is mentioned, for example, that in these games each map could use a fixed selection of vehicles. In Battlefield 2042, instead, a certain number of each vehicle class is available.
The balance of maps and vehicles was also a major point of criticism after the launch of Battlefield 2042, to which the developers have already tried to respond. How the game feels in the meantime after numerous updates!
What is your answer to Game Director Marcus Lehto’s questions? Do you agree with other Battlefield fans about your criticisms? Or do you possibly have your own opinion about the future of Battlefield 2042 and the whole series? Feel free to post your thoughts in the comments
