Is EA Shutting Down Battlefield Heroes?
The fate of Battlefield Heroes, an online multiplayer first-person shooter, has been a subject of concern among fans of the game. Battlefield Heroes was first released in 2009 and was hailed as a successful addition to the Battlefield series. However, in 2015, Electronic Arts (EA) announced that it would be shutting down the game’s servers, much to the dismay of the fan community.
Reason for Shutdown
According to various sources, including an EA press release, the game was shut down due to several factors. One of the main reasons was that EA was looking to pivot away from the game’s traditional free-to-play model. Battlefield Heroes was known for its unique business model, which relied on in-game purchases and microtransactions rather than a subscription fee.
Another reason for the shutdown was the game’s poor performance in terms of gameplay and technical issues. According to EA, the game’s servers were plagued with issues, including frequent server crashes, lag, and other technical problems that hindered the player experience. In an interview, an EA representative stated, "We’ve made significant improvements to the game over the years, but ultimately, we’ve come to the conclusion that the time is right to close Battlefield Heroes."
Which Battlefield Games are Being Shut Down?
So, which Battlefield games are being shut down? The short answer is that only a few games are being retired by EA. The exact list of games includes:
| Game Title |
|---|
| Battlefield 1943 |
| Bad Company, Bad Company 2 |
| Crysis 3 |
| Dante’s Inferno |
| FIFA 18, 19, 20, and 21 |
| Battlefield Heroes |
It is important to note that Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 4 are still actively maintained by EA and have large communities of players. Battlefield V, the latest game in the series, received critical acclaim and has maintained a strong player base.
Why is EA removing these games?
But why is EA removing these games from its active list? The main reason seems to be the expiration of the EA and FIFA licensing deal. The licensing deal was set to expire on July 31, 2023, and since it has not been extended or renewed, the EA games based on the deal, including FIFA 18, 19, 20, and 21, will no longer be playable.
Will Battlefront be affected?
In a recent press conference, EA announced that their flagship game, Battlefield Heroes, would be shutting down along with several other titles from their library. When questioned about the fate of EA’s other popular titles like Battlefield V, they explained that those games were on their own servers and not affected by the shutting down of Battlefield Heroes. They also hinted at working on new Battlefield game which is currently under production and is expected to hit the market soon.
Can I still play Battlefront?
To this, EA representatives had two clear answers: You can still play the other Battlefront games as before. However, for reasons such as licensing and quality of gameplay, certain parts of the game library such as FIFA 18-21, Crysis 3, and others. EA will be retiring servers but those who still play game would still be able to access their games online on existing servers. But again no new content, features or updates will be published after a certain period from this point.
A Silver Lining for Long-Term Fans
However, for long-term fans of the Battlefield series, there is a silver lining. The shutting down of Battlefield Heroes may actually result in a renewed focus on other titles in the series. With the EA representative’s statement that other Battlefront games were safe, fans can take hope that their beloved franchises are not being discontinued outright.