EA Delays Battlefield to Avoid GTA 6 Clash

2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for triple-A video games, with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its exclusive titles leading the charge. The lineup for the latter part of the year is equally impressive, featuring major releases 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* title from Activision, likely slated for an October or November release.

The biggest anticipated release, however, is *Grand Theft Auto 6* from Rockstar Games, set for a fall 2025 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Despite some uncertainty about potential delays, Take-Two remains committed to the fall 2025 window. This uncertainty, combined with the plethora of other major titles, presents a significant challenge for EA's upcoming *Battlefield* game, which is scheduled for release within the company's 2026 fiscal year, before April 2026.

EA's next *Battlefield* game is poised to enter a highly competitive market, potentially overlapping with *GTA 6*, *Call of Duty*, and *Borderlands 4*. The timing of these releases is a critical factor for EA, as acknowledged by CEO Andrew Wilson during a recent financial call. He noted that EA is prepared to consider delaying *Battlefield* if necessary to ensure its success.

"We operate in a competitive landscape," Wilson stated, reflecting on his 25 years with the company. "We've put more into this *Battlefield* than any before, with four studios and ample time. We're aiming for this to be our biggest *Battlefield* yet. We want to launch when we can fully realize the game's potential and expand our community to match the game's scale."

Wilson also acknowledged the unique challenges of 2025, hinting at potential adjustments to the launch timing. "If we approach our target window and it's not ideal, we'll explore other windows to ensure the game gets the attention and player base it deserves."

99 Details in the GTA 6 Trailer - Slideshow

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Currently, the new *Battlefield* is expected to launch before April 2026, potentially in November 2025, following the release patterns of *Battlefield 2042* and *Battlefield 5*. If *GTA 6* coincides with this timeframe, EA might consider shifting *Battlefield* to the first quarter of 2026, still within its fiscal year.

However, if EA plans a Q1 2026 release for *Battlefield* and Rockstar delays *GTA 6* to the same period, EA might either advance *Battlefield*'s release or delay it further into the next fiscal year. Such a decision, as Wilson indicated, is one EA is willing to make to optimize *Battlefield*'s market performance.

The entire industry is on tenterhooks, waiting for Rockstar to announce the *GTA 6* release date. Once that's clarified—whether it sticks to fall 2025 or shifts into 2026—the dominoes will start to fall, and other publishers will adjust their plans accordingly.