EA Delays Battlefield to Avoid GTA 6 Clash

2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for triple-A video games, with a plethora of high-profile releases on the horizon. The gaming world is eagerly anticipating the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside its exclusive titles. However, the lineup doesn’t stop there. Later in the year, we're expecting major titles like Borderlands 4, Mafia: The Old Country, and Ghost of Yōtei. Of course, we can't forget the annual tradition of a new Call of Duty game from Activision, likely hitting shelves in October or November.

The crown jewel of 2025’s releases, however, is undoubtedly Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6), slated for a fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. While Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, remains committed to this timeline, the looming possibility of a delay adds a layer of uncertainty. This uncertainty, combined with the sheer number of other blockbuster games launching around the same time, poses a significant challenge for Electronic Arts (EA) as it plans the release of the next Battlefield game.

EA has scheduled the next Battlefield for its 2026 fiscal year, which ends in April 2026. This timing places it squarely in the shadow of GTA 6 and potentially other major releases like Call of Duty and Borderlands 4. The question then becomes how much EA needs to consider the release dates of these competing games when deciding on a launch window for Battlefield.

In a recent financial call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson acknowledged the competitive nature of the marketplace. "Certainly, we exist in a competitive marketplace," Wilson stated, responding to an analyst's question on the topic. He emphasized the significant investment in the upcoming Battlefield, noting it's the most ambitious project in the franchise's history. "We have four studios. We've had a meaningful amount of time. We're looking for this to be the biggest Battlefield we've ever made," he said, highlighting the importance of choosing the right launch window to maximize the game's potential and community growth.

Wilson also hinted at the possibility of adjusting the release date if necessary. "There may be some things happening in the year that may cause us to think differently about our launch timing," he added. While the current plan is to release the game within the fiscal year 2026 window, Wilson indicated that EA would consider alternative dates if the original timeframe proves less than ideal for player acquisition and overall game performance.

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Assuming the new Battlefield is set for a November 2025 release, similar to previous entries like Battlefield 2042 and Battlefield 5, the proximity to GTA 6's potential launch date could force EA to reconsider. If GTA 6 launches around the same time, EA might opt to delay Battlefield to the first quarter of 2026, still within its fiscal year.

Conversely, if EA plans for a Q1 2026 release and Rockstar delays GTA 6 to the same period, EA might decide to move Battlefield forward or even push it out of the fiscal year entirely. This decision, though significant, is one EA seems prepared to make based on Wilson's comments.

The gaming industry is holding its breath, waiting for Rockstar to announce the final GTA 6 release date. Once that's revealed, whether it sticks to the fall 2025 schedule or shifts to 2026, the dominoes will likely fall into place, affecting the release strategies of many other games, including EA's next Battlefield.