This year's Battlefield is rumored to be set during World War 2

We know a new Battlefield game is releasing this year: publisher EA confirmed as much in January. So the most pressing question now is what kind of Battlefield game it will be, and according to new rumors, the October instalment will be set during World War 2.

That's according to anonymous sources "familir with EA's plans", speaking to GamesBeat. The sources claim the game will be called Battlefield V (because DICE and EA don't care about numbers running in order!), which is a name decided recently following the internal use of 'Battlefield 2'. 

And here's the reported logo, leaked earlier today on reddit.

US Gamer has heard similar. They report that sources have confirmed "loot boxes are back but cosmetic only. Way more customization options for your soldiers than previous games." As they note, cosmetic-centric loot boxes featured in Battlefield 1, too.

It makes sense that World War 2 would follow a World War 1 setting, though I had quietly suspected EA might release something more akin to Battlefield: Hardline this year (ie, a spin-off). But given that game's multiplayer component was consistently overshadowed by its predecessor Battlefield 4, it makes sense that DICE and EA would want to return to the series' roots. And it won't be long before we hear more: DICE's senior video director Randy Evans tweeted this week that the game's reveal trailer is underway.

And besides: Battlefield 1 has been a runaway success: it had been played by more than 21 million users as of July last year.

Shaun Prescott
Australian Editor

Shaun Prescott is the Australian editor of PC Gamer. With over ten years experience covering the games industry, his work has appeared on GamesRadar+, TechRadar, The Guardian, PLAY Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, and more. Specific interests include indie games, obscure Metroidvanias, speedrunning, experimental games and FPSs. He thinks Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed is an all-time classic that will receive its due critical reappraisal one day.

Latest in FPS
CS 1.6 remade in CS: Legacy.
A gorgeous ground-up remake of Counter-Strike 1.6 is on its way to Steam, and one of the game's original creators says 'it really gives me old vibes'
Metro Exodus
'I want to raise this glass to our fans, to our community': 4A Games celebrates Metro 2033's 15th anniversary and hints at next Metro game
Official artwork of Valorant showing the game's characters in a row
Valorant dev accepts there's too much random crap cluttering up the screen: 'The balance team generally agrees with this take'
Fragpunk FPS
Fragpunk review
Battlefield 1
The best Battlefield game of the last decade is 95% off until Thursday
Grab the brilliant Doom 2016 for its lowest price ever
Latest in News
Three sheep with big guns in Palworld.
It was 'super popular to hate Palworld' after launch, says community manager: 'A lot of companies might crumble under the threats, under the pressure'
Palworld Ancient Civilization Parts - Grizzbolt with a minigun
'It was a very depressing day': Palworld community manager reveals studio's reaction to Nintendo lawsuit
CS 1.6 remade in CS: Legacy.
A gorgeous ground-up remake of Counter-Strike 1.6 is on its way to Steam, and one of the game's original creators says 'it really gives me old vibes'
Portal P3 pinball table
There's a new Portal game and it costs $12,500
MrBeast posing in front of a stack of cashing, promoting Beast Games season 2
Beast Games opens casting for season 2: MrBeast lost a ton of money on season 1 but apparently not enough that he won't do it again
Ark: Lost Colony teaser still.
Ark 2 is still on: The next Ark expansion 'leads into the events of Ark 2,' says Studio Wildcard