2025 promises an exciting lineup of triple-A video games. Alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 debut and its exclusive titles, major releases like Borderlands 4, Mafia: The Old Country, and Ghost of Yōtei are slated for late 2025. Activision’s next Call of Duty is also expected in October or November.
The highlight, however, is Rockstar’s colossal Grand Theft Auto 6, set for a fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Will it face a delay? Take-Two, Rockstar’s parent company, remains committed to the fall 2025 window, but this uncertainty, combined with other major shooters, poses challenges for EA’s Battlefield in securing its market space.
EA has scheduled the next Battlefield for its 2026 fiscal year, before April 2026—a period overlapping with GTA 6’s potential launch, and possibly Call of Duty and Borderlands 4. So, how much does EA weigh competitors’ release dates when planning Battlefield’s launch?
Quite significantly, according to EA CEO Andrew Wilson, who suggested a potential delay during a recent financial call.
“We operate in a highly competitive market,” Wilson noted, addressing an analyst’s question on the topic. “Having been with this company for 25 years, we’ve successfully navigated competition with our major franchises over time.
“That said, we’ve invested more in this Battlefield than any before. With four studios involved and substantial development time, we aim to make this the most ambitious Battlefield yet. We want to launch in a window that allows us to fully realize the game’s potential and grow its community to match its scale.
“This year could be particularly competitive. Certain market dynamics might prompt us to adjust our launch timing. While the team is targeting an FY 26 window and we believe the game will be ready, if that timeframe doesn’t seem ideal, we’d explore an alternative to ensure the game has the time, focus, and player acquisition opportunities it needs to succeed.”
99 Details in the GTA 6 Trailer - Slideshow
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Currently, the new Battlefield is planned for release before April 2026, possibly in November 2025, following the pattern of Battlefield 2042 (November 2021) and Battlefield 5 (November 2018). If GTA 6 launches around the same time, EA might shift Battlefield to Q1 2026, still within its fiscal year.
But what if EA plans a Q1 2026 release and Rockstar delays GTA 6 to that period? Could EA move Battlefield earlier? Alternatively, EA might push it beyond the fiscal year into 2026—a significant move, but one Wilson’s comments suggest EA is open to.
It’s clear why EA and other third-party publishers are anxiously awaiting Rockstar’s announcement of GTA 6’s release date. Once confirmed—whether it sticks to fall 2025 or slips into 2026—the industry’s scheduling puzzle will likely fall into place.
